Kottonmouth Kings
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Kottonmouth Kings |
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10 YEARS IN THE GAME AND STILL REEKING HAVOC
THE GUILTY PARTIES: D-Loc - vocals For most hip-hop acts, being in the game for a decade is reason enough to feel content. But for Southern
California's own Kottonmouth Kings, blending rap and punk rock styles is only the beginning of the story. Releasing eight
albums over the past eight years, the Kottonmouth Kings are more than a seven-man hip-hop crew. FIRE IT UP, the 6th studio
full-length release, is due out April 20 on Suburban Noize Records.
KMK is at the epicenter of a constantly growing movement - a subculture of sorts - that brings thousands
of fans from all walks of life together for exciting live shows and incredible music that extends further to albums by the
10 to 15 other artists on their highly successful independent label, Suburban Noize Records. "It's an open-minded, loyal fan
base," said emcee-producer Brad "Daddy" X, who founded the Kottonmouth Kings in 1994. "They range from people who love hip-hop
to punk rock to stoners to hippies to young kids to old kids to girls. It's a diverse, eclectic mix of people, which is what's
so beautiful about it. That's further proof that the Kottonmouth Kings break down barriers between people. There's all types
of people at a Kottonmouth Kings show. There's hippies, punkers, hip-hoppers. That's what's great about it. You can't really
stereotype it. They're just free-thinking individuals."
The FIRE IT UP album is sure to add to the Kings' already thrilling live show - from
the party song "In Da House" to "Rip the Night Away," which would work great as a closer with fans holding up their lighters.
The album title and the song "Fire It Up" were inspired by the fans, who began chanting "Kottonmouth Kings, fire it up, fire
it up, fire it up!" at concert venues across the country. Meanwhile, on another poignant song, the band questions "Who's The
Criminal?" - those who smoke marijuana illegally or those who carry guns legally. "It just once again goes to show that in
this society the use of force and violence always seems to have the upper hand and is the answer and the accepted norm," Brad
X said. "I think, as a human being, that personally doesn't make any sense to me. I don't see how anyone can outlaw a plant,
yet a gun is legal. That's just so backwards to me."
The song "Bad Habits" is about addictions, which range from drugs and alcohol to caffeine and sugar.
The song "Let's Fuck" focuses on sex. "It's about the ultimate human connection of two people coming together, two worlds
colliding," Brad X said. "We cut to the chase with 'Let's Fuck.' We get directly to the point. There's no beating around the
bush." Meanwhile, singer Casey Royer of the veteran Southern California punk rock band D.I. lends his vocals to a cover of
his band's song "Johnny's Got A Problem." In addition to Royer being a longtime friend of Brad X, the song works well because
it makes reference to Kottonmouth Kings emcee Johnny Richter's substance abuse problems. "Between Johnny Richter's drinking
and weed smoking and pill popping and womanizing, the guy lives a very extreme and somewhat dangerous lifestyle," said Brad
X.
Another song, "Bring It On," includes the line "So many years in this game and we're still strong.
So many haters that we had to prove dead wrong." The Kottonmouth Kings have been spreading awareness regarding the need to
legalize marijuana and promoting personal freedom for roughly 10 years. "Kottonmouth Kings and Suburban Noize, even still
what we do to this day I think largely is ignored by the mainstream press - the Rolling Stones, the Spin magazines, the Source
magazines. This is the sixth full-length chapter in the story that is the Kottonmouth Kings. It's become an institution, an
underground subculture in America. It's definitely an underground thing that exists without mainstream radio and MTV and all
the mainstream press. It completely thrives in the underground."
In addition to 20 new tracks by the Kottonmouth Kings, FIRE IT UP includes bonus tracks
by D-Loc and Richter's King Spade project and from Brad X's Organic Soul project. Fans who preorder the album from www.kottonmouthkings.com,
the band's official Web site, will also get access to five previously unreleased tracks. And the album will come with the
band's fourth DVD, "Down 4 Tha Krown," which features interviews with fans and videos from a variety of Suburban Noize artists.
Following a tour of Japan in early April and a CD release party April 20, the Kings will kick off their
FIRE IT UP tour of the United States on May 20. The tour will run through August. "Every time we do a new
album, it's fun to go on tour," Brad X said. "We add new songs to the set and try to take the show to another level. What
excites me about it is getting back to the people and bringing the music live to the people that support it and love it and
keep us doing this. Kottonmouth Kings is a different breed than everyone else. That's what makes it unique and special. It's
a new beginning in a lot of ways and it's a liberating time for our camp. We're able to work at our own pace, make our own
decisions and just run with it. It's been an amazing experience cultivating this following. And when this is all said and
done, the Kottonmouth Kings will live on in the underground for years and years and years to come. So fans who like us now,
their kids will be listening to us someday." More interesting KMK facts and history Pakelika
the masked man worked as a mime in front of the world famous Hollywood Wax Museum when the band was forming… Brad X who
over sees the production duty for all the KMK and Sub-Noize releases started off singing for the punk rock nuisances “
Doggystyle” …X was also signed with another group by Easy E’s Ruthless Records…Front man for the infamous
“Humble Gods” who suffered the death of two bass players “Jason Thirsk” of Pennywise fame and Bianca
Butthole of Betty Bluetorch fame…Doug Carrion guitar player of Humble Gods performs all the guitar work on the KMK records…Doug
also helps run Sub-Noize Records and was one time member of the Descendents and Dag Nasty… D.J Bobby
B has been supplying beats and spinning in clubs for over a decade…Bobby B was at one time the D.J for the underground
hip hop group, “Da’ Neighborhoods” Bobby was a sponsored body boarder and is a Expert Freestyle Motocross
rider, who rides with the godfather of motocross Mike Metzger who can be seen on KMK’s new lifestyle concert video “
Stoners Reekin Havoc”… When D-Loc
is not spittin rhymes he is busy riding motocross, skateboarding or putting out DJ records under his alias “Shaky Bonez”…pretty
impressive for a kid that smokes weed all day…D-Loc was also a all county basketball stand out in high school… Johnny Richter
is a high school drop-out, childhood buddy of D-Loc who was shipped around to six schools in one year before getting shipped
off to boarding school, where he sang in the choir to avoid cleaning duties…Richters singing premiered on KMK new CD
“ Rollin Stoned” it’s the secret weapon…he’s been waiting to unleash…Richter’s flows
are the foundation of the kings rhyme game…he never allows his vocals to be punched in the studio…He has a photo
graphic memory and memorizes his rhymes on the spot then performs them…truly a gifted young talent…A dope slanging
street hustler who raises exotic iguanas and reptiles …went from moving pounds to moving units…Richter’s
party pad which was used in the filming of KMK’s first video “Suburban Life” …Had four kegs on tap
and two full size Nitrous tanks…in operation at all times… Lou Dog,
KMK’s drummer invented his innovative three-wheel low-rider drum kit in a stoned haze in Hollywood, CA… Lou Dog
was also band mates of Brad X’s “ Doggystyle” and “Humble Gods” …Brad X and Lou Dog were
partners in a production Company called “ Artist Groove Network” who promoted concerts, events, raves and clubs
in LA for a decade…Some of those legendary clubs were: Truth, Orbit, Boogie Lounge, Society, Opium Den, Century Club,
Roxbury, Shelter and the list goes on and on… Lou
dog is a legend in the LA Nightclub scene and has a personal library of over 100 adult home videos…he produced and stars
in…His wish is to have them sold on E-Bay to the highest bidder… When he passes he will donate the proceeds to
the Make A Wish Foundation… The Artist
Groove Network was a concept to provide a platform for artist, DJ’s and musicians to make money so they could pursue
their art without having to be constricted to a 9-5…Here are some interesting people that we have worked with them when
they were starving artist: Tony and Gwen from No Doubt, Brian Baker form Bad Religion, Minor Threat fame, Yogi from Buck Cherry,
Ron Goldman murder victim of O.J Simpson, Ricky Vodka from Motochrist and Humble Gods and countless others…AGN was also
partners in the club Truth…with Steve Levy owner of “ Moonshine Music”… AGN’s
premier DJ Rob Harris, was also KMK’s 1st DJ before he was tragically killed in a skydiving accident
while filming a Mountain Dew commercial… Suburban
Noize records was founded by Brad X to give underground artists a chance to put there material out to the world. The label
is a close nit group of people that wish to further each others careers. SRH was founded
by Kevin Zinger in the early 90s in Mission Beach, San Diego. The company promoted shows for bands like Pennywise, Sublime,
311 etc. After years of promoting clubs and concerts SRH started there clothing line to represent the style that they
promted. Zinger met Brad X when he booked the Humble Gods on a Blink 182 show SRH put on in San Diego. On the first
day of recording KMK, debut release of “Royal Highness” D-Loc had to be bailed out of jail on a shoplifting and
possession charge…D-Loc was also sited with a possession charge, when the Redondo Beach Police raided DJ Bobby B’s
home studio…They proceeded to smash Bobby B’s entire glass bong collection…hand blown and custom pieces,
but they missed the grow room in the basement! Richter was also charged with a possession charge in the incident… DJ Bobby
had 2 DJ records on Suburban Noize Records “99 Rips” and “Built from Scratch”…and a 3rd
on the way and Bobby B is currently producing Pakelika’s solo debut album "Another Cult Classic," which is out now. Brad X’s
brother Spike is the Corporate Avenger… X produced their full length
“Freedom is a State of Mind”… Johnny Richter’s
infamous VW bus is a custom detailed show car which is referenced in numerous KMK’s songs… Pakelika
worked with Janet Jackson and was featured in “Go Deep” and “Together Again” videos…Before the
KMK, Pak played Lumitor on the “Mighty Power Rangers Tour”…Paks house is a shrine of bongs and masks. His
corridors are decorated with his mask collection which people have given him through out his travels with the Kings…Pak
has 4 heavy duty glad bags of mask from every KMK performance…One day Pak wishes to donate his archives to science and
research development and better understanding of the long lost art form of hydro-mechanix…Pakalika currently holds the
Undisputed Heavyweight Pot Smoking Championship Belt of the World…Pak ignites joints across America and beyond on Kottonmouth
stages as an act of Civil Defiance and personal freedom…Pak is a street dancing legend in the club and underground
culture…Pak was recently up for the featured roll in the classic ”Creature from the Black Lagoon” conflict
in touring schedule kept it from happening, just a small glimpse of why Paks referred to as the “Greatest Entertainer
in the Universe”… The intro
of “Rolling Stoned” KMK new full length if performed by Brad X’s 3 year old daughter “Sky Blue”…who
is also on the track “Sleepers” and “Light it up”…She can often be found on stage with the Kings…Brad
X is married to playmate Anna Rose…a devoted yoga and holistic healer… Interlude in Rolling Stoned captured Sweet Dick Willy
the vagabond street coach who connected the Kings together…Also world rewound Green Thumb and Curator of the Kings Blend
Hopper performed interludes…KMK once collaborated with Incubus guitar player Mike Einziger on track “Shouts Going
Out” …DJ Bobby B performed on Tommy Lee’s Methods of Mayhem Record … The Kings have shared the stage and played with the
following groups: Janes Addiction, Bad Brains, 311, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Offspring, Green Day, Pennywise, Cypress Hill,
Redman and Method Man, Insane Clown Posse, No Doubt, Incubus, Moby, Papa Roach, Eminem, D-12, Long Beach Dub All-Stars, NOFX,
Sugar Ray, P.O.D, Slip Knot, Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock, Rage Against the Machine and Blink 182, Fishbone, Digital Underground,
Rimshot and the Alkoholiks and the list goes on and on… KMK is an institution in our American subculture
and will be passed on to future generations…it is a movement and a lifestyle… |
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9 years of touring under their belts, over 1 million records sold, over 1 million tickets purchased,
675,000 miles traveled, over 1,500 quality shows delivered, over 100 pounds of marijuana consumed in the form of 272 strain,
250,000 cases of beer drank, 25 trips to the emergency room, arrested and or banned in Virginia Beach, VA…Huntington
Beach, CA…Tucson, AZ…Springfield, MO…New Orleans, LA…Las Vegas, NV...Los Angeles, CA…Orlando
FL…Cleveland, OH…West Virginia…Salt Lake City, UT…Redondo Beach, CA…Orange County, CA…San
Diego, CA… and Mojave Desert…One Cannabis Cup victory, one High Times Magazine Band of the Year…