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Gym Class Heroes
Background information
Origin Geneva, New York, USA
Genre(s) Hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Indie
Years active 1997–present
Label(s) Decaydance Records, Fueled by Ramen, Atlantic Records, Lava Records
Website www.GymClassHeroes.com
Members
Travis McCoy
Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo
Eric Roberts
Matt McGinley
Former members
Ryan Geise
Milo Bonacci
Sie One
Gym Class Heroes is a hip hop band from Geneva, New York. The band is best
known for their Billboard Hot 100 top 5 single "Cupid's Chokehold" from The
Papercut Chronicles. Rather than using the conventional tools of hip hop
production, Gym Class Heroes use live instruments, similar to artists such
as Stetsasonic, The Roots, k-os, and Crown City Rockers.
Band history
In 1997, MC Travis "Schleprok" McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley became
friends during physical education class at their local high school in
Geneva, New York. The band officially came together in 2001. The original
GCH began playing birthday parties, clubs, and festivals which eventually
led to numerous larger venues throughout the northeast, including two years
on Warped Tour (2003, 2004). During 2004, guitarist Milo Bonacci parted ways
with the band and was replaced with current guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo.
In mid 2005, right before their success started to really take off, bassist
Ryan Geise left the band and was replaced by their friend, bassist Eric
Roberts. Gym Class Heroes first taste at success occurred after the release
of "...For the Kids," lead singer Travis McCoy won MTV's Direct Effect MC
Battle and as a prize, appeared in Styles P's video "Daddy Get That
Cash".[1] Aside from "...For the Kids," the group released three other CDs
from 1999 to 2004, including "Hed Candy," "Greasy Kids Stuff," and "Papercut
Chronicles EP".
Decaydance Records, mainstream success
After hearing the song "Taxi Driver", Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy invited
the band to one of his shows. Gym Class Heroes then went on to join Pete
Wentz's label, Decaydance Records, an imprint of Fueled by Ramen. Travis
later said that Stump's support, coupled with the label's touring ethics and
family atmosphere, led the band to signing with Decaydance/Fueled by
Ramen.[2]
Gym Class Heroes appeared on the Warped Tour in the summer of 2005 and 2006.
The band completed their leg of a tour with The All-American Rejects on
November 29 in Las Vegas. The band recently finished headlining The Daryl
Hall For President Tour '07 with the RX Bandits, k-os and P.O.S.. During the
tour, the band held a contest for fans to "pimp out" their myspace pages
"gym class" style. The grand prize winner won an Xbox 360.
They will open for Gwen Stefani on her The Sweet Escape Tour in Australia
and New Zealand during July and August 2007.[3]
Gym Class Heroes is said to go on tour with Fall Out Boy and The Academy
Is... sometime in the future.
Discography
* 2001: ...For the Kids
* 2005: The Papercut Chronicles
* 2006: As Cruel as School Children
Recurring lyrical elements
* Travis frequently references other songs by Gym Class Heroes.
* In "Cupid's Chokehold", he references "Makeout Club" ("and I know you
heard that last song/about those girls that didn't last long").
* In "Make Out Club", he references "Girl or Dog" from Travis's solo album
'Bernie Allen' ("That girl I talked about/In that 'Girl or Dog' song/Yeah,
the poster girl for Paxil/Almost made me lose my grip").
* In their cover of "Under the Bridge", they reference "Simple Living"
("from the poorest of poor to the richest of rich/I already told you once
before, simple living's a bitch"). "
* In "Clothes Off", he references "Naked Peekaboo", a song done in drunken
collaboration with The Academy Is... ("Possibly reconvene and play some
naked peekaboo").
* On The Papercut Chronicles, "Papercuts" is referenced in a number of GCH
songs (in addition to the remix of Papercuts): "Band Aids", "through all the
papercuts and all the broken hearts..." ; "Pillmatic", "a couple meds to
ease the pain of the papercuts..."
* In the song "Pillmatic" they also reference a previous album, ...For the
Kids. ("this ain't a song for the kids like our last album.")
* GCH has frequently referenced Bob Ross, even dedicating two songs to him
("To Bob Ross, with Love" (The Papercut Chronicles), and "Happy Little
Trees" (For the Kids)). (To Bob Ross with Love features and additional verse
then that found on Happy Little Trees)
* "Band Aids" and "On My Own Time (Write On)" also thank their hometown,
people who have helped through the years, and other artists.
References
1. ^ Biography at allmusic.com
2. ^ Pete Wentz interviews Travis McCoy and they discuss how they met.
3. ^ http://www.gwenstefani.com/news/?nid=7482 Gwenstefani.com
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