Kevin Bronson on December 1st, 2008

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The Gray Kid arrived in L.A. a couple of years ago with gym bag full of catchy raps, a pretty fair jumpshot (for a left-hander) and enough moxie to negotiate more than one velvet rope. Since then, he’s become a local club favorite and earned some attention for his collaborations in the People-Food arts collective — including the hilarious parody video “PaxilBack.”

But recently he’s forgone his one-man-band schtick and, with analog wonk Computer Jay and ex-Oliver Future bandmates Jesse Ingalls and Jordan Richardson, has been making music and performing as Spirit Animal. It’s the same infectious hybrid of hip-hop, pop and electro that first got the Gray Kid attention, only more fully realized.

“It’s like a revelation,” says the performer born Steve Cooper. “It’s more a community now. A lot of people have been a part of it.”

Indeed, some 18 musicians appear on the Gray Kid’s forthcoming six-song EP, “Free Music!!!,” which will be released Feb. 10. A single from that EP, “Soothsayer,” will be available for free download on his website beginning Jan. 1. In the meantime, the Gray Kid and Spirit Animal have been writing and recording tunes for their debut album, “The Cost of Living.”

With Ingalls and Richardson currently committed to the new Ben Harper project, Relentless 7, the Gray Kid will perform Tuesday night at the Echoplex (and Friday at the Studio at Webster Hall in New York) with a different live lineup. Still, for anybody who saw him perform in the early days with only backing tracks, it will indeed be a revelation.

||| Live: The Gray Kid, Karin Tatoyan, Love Grenades and Light play this week’s edition of Indie 103.1’s Check One Twosdays at the Echoplex.