Consequence of Sound » Kottonmouth Kings http://consequenceofsound.net Think Fast, Listen Slowly Thu, 31 May 2012 16:30:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-RC1-20950 Gathering of the Juggalos’s 2011 lineup video is here! http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/06/gathering-of-the-juggaloss-2011-lineup-video-is-here/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/06/gathering-of-the-juggaloss-2011-lineup-video-is-here/#comments http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2011/06/gatheringofthejuggalos.jpg Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:40:34 +0000 Harry Painter http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=126324 With the festival market so cluttered with repeat acts this year, it’s a breath of — well, it is what it is — to come upon a festival bearing no overlap whatsoever with other fests. That’s right, the 2011 infomercial for the annual Gathering of the Juggalos is up on YouTube! Whoop, whoop, ninjas.

The 12th edition of Insane Clown Posse’s own festival will take place in Cave-in-Rock, Illinois August 11-14 and feature the usual Psycopathic Records heavy-hitters: Twiztid, Dark Lotus, Anybody Killa, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Psycopathic Rydas, Marz, and of course ICP themselves will be performing at the festival.

As if that weren’t enough (what are you, crazy?), the Gathering will be graced by the presence of several big-name outsiders as usual. Get ready for a list of names that will blow away your inner 1999. Confirmed for the Gathering are Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Mystikal, Juvenile, DJ Quik, Kottonmouth Kings, Kittie, Dope, and Saliva. Also, not only do they have Ice Cube, but they got Vanilla Ice!

The music lineup is rounded out by George Clinton and the P-Funk All Stars, Xzibit, MC Hammer, E-40, Paris, DJ Clay, Lil Wyte, CKY, Tech N9ne, The Dayton Family, and more, including “two huge surprise names” that will not be revealed until the weekend of. We’re banking on Kid Rock and Kris Kross.

Of course, no juggalo gathering would be complete without a bunch of other random shit to distract ticket-buyers from the fact that all the musicians they came to see are washed up. Thus, the Gathering will feature ladies’ oil wrestling, open mics, karaoke, freestyle battles, a Faygo wet t-shirt contest, a “Miss Juggalette” contest, helicopter rides, astro jumps, the neden game (don’t ask), comedy, and of course wrasslin’.

There will be Oddball (hardcore) wrestling and Legends of Wrestling, featuring names from Terry Funk and Jerry “The King” Lawler to Rhino and one-legged Zach Gowen. There will also be Juggalo Championship Wrestling tryouts, so fans who dream of one day falling backwards through a flaming table onto thumbtacks for next to nothing can have their shot at the Gathering.

What might be the most intriguing aspect of this year’s gathering is the comedy lineup. Bonnaroo, you’ve been outdone. Not only will there be names like Brian Posehn, Big Money Hustlas‘ Harland Williams, and Jimmie “J.J.” Walker of Good Times, but the Gathering will provide a forum for several wrestlers to try their hand out at comedy! The Iron Sheik, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Raven, King Kong Bundy, Colt Cabana, and Mick “Cactus Sac” Foley will all unlace the boots and grace the stage. That’s right, Tom Green in 2010, Dude Love in 2011.

If, somehow, this doesn’t knock your fuckin’ wigs off, maybe a corny video featuring Violent J, Vanilla Ice, DJ Clay, and some obnoxious chick (we’ll call her Tila Tequila 2011) will better accomplish that. In the video below, which varies between intentionally and unintentionally hilarious, Vanilla Ice describes the juggalos as the “greatest, most open-minded people on Earth” and, apparently not recognizing any irony whatsoever, he describes the Gathering as “completely void of staleness.” The infomercial’s narrator later champions the phenomenon by which “total strangers become your brothers and sisters” and wonders aloud why it’s so easy to get laid at the Gathering. Let’s hope that question answers itself.

Tickets are available at the Gathering’s website and at select Hot Topic stores. Of course, be warned — this is no Coachella, and as the infomercial suggests, “If you have a problem with juggalos, then you can stay home sitting on your dumb bitch ass!” Or you can go to Outside Lands, if that’s more your speed.

]]> Big Money Hustlas' Harland Williams, and Jimmie "J.J." Walker of Good Times, but the Gathering will provide a forum for several wrestlers to try their hand out at comedy! The Iron Sheik, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, Raven, King Kong Bundy, Colt Cabana, and Mick "Cactus Sac" Foley will all unlace the boots and grace the stage. That's right, Tom Green in 2010, Dude Love in 2011. If, somehow, this doesn't knock your fuckin' wigs off, maybe a corny video featuring Violent J, Vanilla Ice, DJ Clay, and some obnoxious chick (we'll call her Tila Tequila 2011) will better accomplish that. In the video below, which varies between intentionally and unintentionally hilarious, Vanilla Ice describes the juggalos as the "greatest, most open-minded people on Earth" and, apparently not recognizing any irony whatsoever, he describes the Gathering as "completely void of staleness." The infomercial's narrator later champions the phenomenon by which "total strangers become your brothers and sisters" and wonders aloud why it's so easy to get laid at the Gathering. Let's hope that question answers itself. Tickets are available at the Gathering's website and at select Hot Topic stores. Of course, be warned -- this is no Coachella, and as the infomercial suggests, "If you have a problem with juggalos, then you can stay home sitting on your dumb bitch ass!" Or you can go to Outside Lands, if that's more your speed. [youtube 5gKE67L97SA 500 325]]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2011/06/gathering-of-the-juggaloss-2011-lineup-video-is-here/feed/ 1 Coolio, Kottonmouth Kings, ICP get soggy in Charlotte (5/17) http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/05/coolio-kottonmouth-kings-icp-get-soggy-in-charlotte-517/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/05/coolio-kottonmouth-kings-icp-get-soggy-in-charlotte-517/#comments http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/05/DSCI0229_3.jpg Wed, 19 May 2010 20:01:55 +0000 David Buchanan http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=42098 As covered previously, it is well known how Insane Clown Posse loves to throw down an intense party. Faygo showers, tit flashes, costumes, confetti, and mayhem galore — all part of the standard fare, really. Naturally, when the Happy Daze Tour 2010 had ICP topping the bill, with the horror-core duo making another stop in Charlotte, NC, so soon after the last, we had to see how they’d manage an outdoor venue with California herb-supporters Kottonmouth Kings and hip-hop novelty Coolio on board. To make things clear, Kittie was also on the bill as one of two opening acts, but between navigating downtown Charlotte and dealing with (yet another) incompetent staff, sadly we missed that performance. Props to Uptown Music Amphitheater for giving the press such a warm welcome in 60-degree winds and a downpour of rain, it was heartily appreciated.

To the line-up — I would say that Coolio being on the bill was a die-hard shock, but given the Juggalo Gathering’s past booking of Vanilla Ice and so on, I’m not terribly surprised. Unfortunately, age and drug use have not been kind to the ill-fated-but-otherwise-positive rapper. Gathered with his son and nephew on stage (yes, his son is a grown adult and also a rapper … a much better one, even), Coolio opened with his most recent song, “From The Bottom 2 The Top”, while hundreds of people stood in the drenching rain to play “spot the downward spiral/upward hairline.”

Coolio’s worst song was the best performance he gave all evening, and this is a shame with a streak of bad luck; couple that with technical difficulties (staged or not) and having the fewest lyrical deliveries throughout his whole collaborative set beyond “From The Bottom 2 The Top” and “Gangster’s Paradise”, the 46-year-old former hip-hop star has become a shell of himself. He should not be touring right now, period — he is embarrassing the remaining fans of his work, old and new, but more importantly, he is embarrassing his own being. Better to burn out, specifically if you’re burning one in the process that you shouldn’t be (not necessarily the ganj).

By the time our weather began to clear, this tiny outdoor setting (complete with no overhang and no press pit) began preparations for Kottonmouth Kings to perform. KK is one of those acts, much like ICP, who do not need nor wish to be taken all that seriously by mainstream media outlets. The lyrics can be redundant or dated at times, and I wholeheartedly agree that their newest album is merely the same ol’ same, but to be fair — that is KK and always has been, and more often than not the members’ respective song deliveries tend to outshine the content with a modicum of worthy skill, even if the subject matter never changes. Meanwhile, the crowd was awash in the aroma of fresh greens (inconspicuously palmed in unison when needed, I’m sure) and Daddy X’s on-stage banter about legalization and finding jobs for the American public. At least he’s adamant, no?

The set list was peppered with tracks from all over the band’s discography, while also introducing the newest steady member, The Dirtball, who was a highlight of the evening’s rap personae. “Full Throttle” and “Where’s the Weed At?” were expected inclusions and brought everything from mosh pits to singalongs, while the newest tracks from Long Live the Kings such as “Stomp” and “Rampage” were proof that even the weakest of KK can still bring a house down if the fans are loyal enough. D-Loc and Dirtball seemed to be the ones most capable on their toes, whereas Daddy X emerged looking like Koopa from the Super Mario Bros. live-action film and came off nearly as ridiculous, despite his attempts to sincerely engage the audience. In retrospect, KK topped Coolio easily, but is that really saying much?

As night swelled and the rain restarted in a mild misting, black curtains and loudspeakers repeatedly cock-teased the Juggalos and Juggalettes before our ringmaster rang in the festivities to announce, verbatim, “The most hated band in the world” — Insane Clown Posse.

ICP entered with the usual bombast and carnival antics, opening on The Great Milenko favorite “Hokus Pokus” for a proper trade-off introduction. To make light of the positives, this set was more about fan service and less about promoting the newest record, Bang! Pow! Boom!, a noticeable difference from the last tour.

Gone were “To Catch a Predator” and “Chop Chop Slide”, instead replaced with The Amazing Jeckel Brothers classics “Assassins”, “Fuck the World”, and my personal favorite, “Terrible” — a song that, while spearheaded by two guys whom we can all agree are not very talented rappers, holds merit for pointing out the misguidance in today’s media and the ignorance of bigotry. There were performances of Bang! Pow! Boom! that everyone did expect and did receive, such as the boastful “In Yo Face”, the finale charge of its titular track, and the newest mock-ful Internet meme “Miracles”, but if there was a complete absence of B!P!B!, people might talk. The party was glazed with some danceable “Tiltawhirl” and “Homies” before becoming a full-on fanatical raucous.

Once again, Insane Clown Posse managed to steal the show away from everyone on board, and while not a big feat as relative to Coolio, Kottonmouth Kings held their own that night, and ICP still overthrew the spectators with typical anarchical celebrations the likes of which no one I’ve seen has yet to top. Let me make this as plain as I can without drowning myself in unneeded superlatives: Insane Clown Posse is not a hearty, intellectual, or quasi-political rap game statement; Shaggy and J are not icons of a burgeoning American music scene, they are just themselves — on tainted Halloween candy perhaps, but that’s open to opinion.

Casual fans can shuffle their iPods and go from Animal Collective to “I Want My Shit”, because ICP is something else — nothing like the roster of Psychopathic Records exists elsewhere; dedicated fans can experience a family aesthetic at these concerts much like a Dylan fan gets intimacy from his acoustic sets, because it is a sense of belonging to be with those who are frowned upon in society and feel welcomed. ICP has repeatedly lauded the deeper meaning in what it represents beyond carnage and necrophiliac-based rhymes, and though we can chalk it off as one publicity stunt after another, people truly believe in the perverse joy this duo brings to the table.

In the end, as pissed off as some of us may be at the world (and its inclement weather, especially during this event), as much as those frustrations can lead us to venting our anger by constructive means like moshing or reciting “Fuck the World” — we still know how to party, and we still know that life’s too short to be taken seriously. Have a Faygo, America, and a happy daze to you all.

Oh, and stay the hell out of Charlotte venues, that city’s staff is about as helpful as an ax to the cranium.

Photography by Sabrina Roman

]]> Faygo showers, tit flashes, costumes, confetti, and mayhem galore -- all part of the standard fare, really. Naturally, when the Happy Daze Tour 2010 had ICP topping the bill, with the horror-core duo making another stop in Charlotte, NC, so soon after the last, we had to see how they'd manage an outdoor venue with California herb-supporters Kottonmouth Kings and hip-hop novelty Coolio on board. To make things clear, Kittie was also on the bill as one of two opening acts, but between navigating downtown Charlotte and dealing with (yet another) incompetent staff, sadly we missed that performance. Props to Uptown Music Amphitheater for giving the press such a warm welcome in 60-degree winds and a downpour of rain, it was heartily appreciated. To the line-up -- I would say that Coolio being on the bill was a die-hard shock, but given the Juggalo Gathering's past booking of Vanilla Ice and so on, I'm not terribly surprised. Unfortunately, age and drug use have not been kind to the ill-fated-but-otherwise-positive rapper. Gathered with his son and nephew on stage (yes, his son is a grown adult and also a rapper ... a much better one, even), Coolio opened with his most recent song, "From The Bottom 2 The Top", while hundreds of people stood in the drenching rain to play "spot the downward spiral/upward hairline." Coolio's worst song was the best performance he gave all evening, and this is a shame with a streak of bad luck; couple that with technical difficulties (staged or not) and having the fewest lyrical deliveries throughout his whole collaborative set beyond "From The Bottom 2 The Top" and "Gangster's Paradise", the 46-year-old former hip-hop star has become a shell of himself. He should not be touring right now, period -- he is embarrassing the remaining fans of his work, old and new, but more importantly, he is embarrassing his own being. Better to burn out, specifically if you're burning one in the process that you shouldn't be (not necessarily the ganj). By the time our weather began to clear, this tiny outdoor setting (complete with no overhang and no press pit) began preparations for Kottonmouth Kings to perform. KK is one of those acts, much like ICP, who do not need nor wish to be taken all that seriously by mainstream media outlets. The lyrics can be redundant or dated at times, and I wholeheartedly agree that their newest album is merely the same ol' same, but to be fair -- that is KK and always has been, and more often than not the members' respective song deliveries tend to outshine the content with a modicum of worthy skill, even if the subject matter never changes. Meanwhile, the crowd was awash in the aroma of fresh greens (inconspicuously palmed in unison when needed, I'm sure) and Daddy X's on-stage banter about legalization and finding jobs for the American public. At least he's adamant, no? The set list was peppered with tracks from all over the band's discography, while also introducing the newest steady member, The Dirtball, who was a highlight of the evening's rap personae. "Full Throttle" and "Where's the Weed At?" were expected inclusions and brought everything from mosh pits to singalongs, while the newest tracks from Long Live the Kings such as "Stomp" and "Rampage" were proof that even the weakest of KK can still bring a house down if the fans are loyal enough. D-Loc and Dirtball seemed to be the ones most capable on their toes, whereas Daddy X emerged looking like Koopa from the Super Mario Bros. live-action film and came off nearly as ridiculous, despite his attempts to sincerely engage the audience. In retrospect, KK topped Coolio easily, but is that really saying much? As night swelled and the rain restarted in a mild misting, black curtains and loudspeakers repeatedly cock-teased the Juggalos and Juggalettes before our ringmaster rang in the festivities to announce, verbatim, "The most hated band in the world" -- Insane Clown Posse. ICP entered with the usual bombast and carnival antics, opening on The Great Milenko favorite "Hokus Pokus" for a proper trade-off introduction. To make light of the positives, this set was more about fan service and less about promoting the newest record, Bang! Pow! Boom!, a noticeable difference from the last tour. Gone were "To Catch a Predator" and "Chop Chop Slide", instead replaced with The Amazing Jeckel Brothers classics "Assassins", "Fuck the World", and my personal favorite, "Terrible" -- a song that, while spearheaded by two guys whom we can all agree are not very talented rappers, holds merit for pointing out the misguidance in today's media and the ignorance of bigotry. There were performances of Bang! Pow! Boom! that everyone did expect and did receive, such as the boastful "In Yo Face", the finale charge of its titular track, and the newest mock-ful Internet meme "Miracles", but if there was a complete absence of B!P!B!, people might talk. The party was glazed with some danceable "Tiltawhirl" and "Homies" before becoming a full-on fanatical raucous. Once again, Insane Clown Posse managed to steal the show away from everyone on board, and while not a big feat as relative to Coolio, Kottonmouth Kings held their own that night, and ICP still overthrew the spectators with typical anarchical celebrations the likes of which no one I've seen has yet to top. Let me make this as plain as I can without drowning myself in unneeded superlatives: Insane Clown Posse is not a hearty, intellectual, or quasi-political rap game statement; Shaggy and J are not icons of a burgeoning American music scene, they are just themselves -- on tainted Halloween candy perhaps, but that's open to opinion. Casual fans can shuffle their iPods and go from Animal Collective to "I Want My Shit", because ICP is something else -- nothing like the roster of Psychopathic Records exists elsewhere; dedicated fans can experience a family aesthetic at these concerts much like a Dylan fan gets intimacy from his acoustic sets, because it is a sense of belonging to be with those who are frowned upon in society and feel welcomed. ICP has repeatedly lauded the deeper meaning in what it represents beyond carnage and necrophiliac-based rhymes, and though we can chalk it off as one publicity stunt after another, people truly believe in the perverse joy this duo brings to the table. In the end, as pissed off as some of us may be at the world (and its inclement weather, especially during this event), as much as those frustrations can lead us to venting our anger by constructive means like moshing or reciting "Fuck the World" -- we still know how to party, and we still know that life's too short to be taken seriously. Have a Faygo, America, and a happy daze to you all. Oh, and stay the hell out of Charlotte venues, that city's staff is about as helpful as an ax to the cranium. Photography by Sabrina Roman ]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/05/coolio-kottonmouth-kings-icp-get-soggy-in-charlotte-517/feed/ 0 Album Review: Kottonmouth Kings – Long Live the Kings http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/04/album-review-kottonmouth-kings-long-live-the-kings/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/04/album-review-kottonmouth-kings-long-live-the-kings/#comments http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/51fg5lrvv0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:59:54 +0000 Nick Freed http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=37010 Okay. I’m not sure how to write this review and not seem like a total close-minded asshole. Maybe I’m being too hard on myself. Maybe this won’t come off as totally one-sided and angry and cynical, but I doubt it. I don’t know if this review will set off a flame war of epic proportions in the comments section, but it might. I know that the Kottonmouth Kings have a pretty big fan base (somehow)—what with their connection to Insane Clown Posse and their Juggalo army. But how many of those fans read this website? That I don’t know. Regardless of that, this album is just awful. I have tried hard to find some highlights to the album, but I just can’t wrap my mind around it. Not that it’s so obscure and weird that I can’t understand it. Far from it. It’s more that I can’t understand how a band like this has lasted as long as they have making songs about one topic. Just one: smoking pot.

Kottonmouth Kings have produced 24 albums, live recordings, EPs, compilations, and remix albums (not to mention numerous films that they are involved with in some way) all about smoking pot and the craaaazy hijinks that come from the past time. I suppose one thing to praise is being able to get not only the 20 tracks of the new album Long Live the Kings (released on April 20th…4/20…get it?) out of the concept, but also those 24 albums over 12 years. 24 releases. One topic. That’s where the half star I gave comes in.

To be fair, there are other topics investigated on Long Live the Kings other than pot. There is the club banger “Mushrooms” which is about…mushrooms, “Fuck the Police” which features Insane Clown Posse and is about the protagonists being pulled over for…smoking pot while driving, their serious, slow-jam “Kill the Pain” about just getting through life, “Stomp” whose chorus is “Stomp on them bugs/Stomp on ‘em”…I don’t get it either, and “Black Smoke” which is about some mysterious black smoke that is taking over everything (which I hope is some way tied to the Dark Carnival that ICP raps about, or maybe Lost). So I guess, as you can see, my blanketed statement about everything being about pot was wrong. Sorry Kottonmouth Kings. I won’t generalize from here on.

So let’s get past the terrible idea and philosophy that is the band and get to the music itself because after all that’s what you want to hear about. The album has three different flows on it basically. One is a quick sort of Eminem-type pacing with quick syllables and fast delivery, as heard on member Dirt Ball’s verse for “Long Live the Kings”, “Rampage”, and “Great When You’re High”. Then there’s another flow that seems to be more on the mainstream level. This more or less matches word and beat one for one, which is quite prevalent on the album’s titular track. This melody is repeated in “Let’s Do Drugs” and “Let the Indo Blow”, making it the predominant flow on the album. The final one is the standard rap singing flow that you can hear on “Kill the Pain” and “Simple and Free”.

Now I know that most rappers have a standard flow. You can tell a Ludacris or Mystikal song from a mile away usually, but the difference is lyrical content and they know how to switch it up when needed. Also their flow is typically different and interesting. The Kottonmouth Kings make it boring. Incredibly boring. It’s all the same things song-to-song. Even the beats all sound incredibly similar, save for the slower tracks. To top it all off, every track is slickly produced and clean.

And speaking of the lyrics, master poets the Kings are not. Again, while I commend them on finding every possible word for pot and then rhyming things with it, it still makes for boring songwriting. Some of my favorite lyrical gems that stuck out on the album were:

­”Do you want to be the one on the cross/or do you wanna be bangin’ nails” – from “Lucky Day”

“I love Obama. I love all people. I just can’t believe the plant’s not legal” – from “Reefer Madness”

“Doin’ drugs by yourself is fun/but doin’ drugs with friends is better” – from “Let’s Do Drugs”, which also includes a poorly placed clip of cheering kids in the chorus right after this line.

They aren’t exactly Talib Kweli or Mos Def or Maya Angelou or anything, but then again they have a limited vocabulary base. Not that they are unintelligent, but that there are only so many euphemisms you can use for doing drugs, so they limit themselves. Maybe for their next album the Kottonmouth Kings could try rapping about other things. Maybe they could just pick something from the list of random crap that ICP talks about in their “Miracles” video? Rainbows? The Kings could get high and rap about why magnets work?

But then again, if they rap about something else, what will happen? The seas might shift, the sky might turn dark and ominous, animals may start fighting back against humans! Dogs and cats… living together… mass hysteria! Rappin’ about pot is what the Kottonmouth Kings do. It’s their shtick. Kanye West has crazy super ego rants, Jay-Z has money and the Marcy Projects, Ludacris has Atlanta, and the Kings have pot. And while I wish this review could dissuade anyone and everyone from going to buy this album and assaulting their brains with this mindless drivel, I know the album will probably sell thousands of copies. Their fan base is deep and strong (somehow) and they come out in droves. Why do you think ICP’s Gathering of the Juggalos is always well attended? Rabid, die-hard fan base. You gotta give them credit for that at least—if for nothing else.

Let the flame wars commence.

]]> craaaazy hijinks that come from the past time. I suppose one thing to praise is being able to get not only the 20 tracks of the new album Long Live the Kings (released on April 20th…4/20…get it?) out of the concept, but also those 24 albums over 12 years. 24 releases. One topic. That’s where the half star I gave comes in. To be fair, there are other topics investigated on Long Live the Kings other than pot. There is the club banger “Mushrooms” which is about…mushrooms, “Fuck the Police” which features Insane Clown Posse and is about the protagonists being pulled over for…smoking pot while driving, their serious, slow-jam “Kill the Pain” about just getting through life, “Stomp” whose chorus is “Stomp on them bugs/Stomp on ‘em”…I don’t get it either, and “Black Smoke” which is about some mysterious black smoke that is taking over everything (which I hope is some way tied to the Dark Carnival that ICP raps about, or maybe Lost). So I guess, as you can see, my blanketed statement about everything being about pot was wrong. Sorry Kottonmouth Kings. I won’t generalize from here on. So let’s get past the terrible idea and philosophy that is the band and get to the music itself because after all that’s what you want to hear about. The album has three different flows on it basically. One is a quick sort of Eminem-type pacing with quick syllables and fast delivery, as heard on member Dirt Ball’s verse for “Long Live the Kings”, “Rampage”, and “Great When You’re High”. Then there's another flow that seems to be more on the mainstream level. This more or less matches word and beat one for one, which is quite prevalent on the album's titular track. This melody is repeated in “Let’s Do Drugs” and “Let the Indo Blow”, making it the predominant flow on the album. The final one is the standard rap singing flow that you can hear on “Kill the Pain” and “Simple and Free”. Now I know that most rappers have a standard flow. You can tell a Ludacris or Mystikal song from a mile away usually, but the difference is lyrical content and they know how to switch it up when needed. Also their flow is typically different and interesting. The Kottonmouth Kings make it boring. Incredibly boring. It’s all the same things song-to-song. Even the beats all sound incredibly similar, save for the slower tracks. To top it all off, every track is slickly produced and clean. And speaking of the lyrics, master poets the Kings are not. Again, while I commend them on finding every possible word for pot and then rhyming things with it, it still makes for boring songwriting. Some of my favorite lyrical gems that stuck out on the album were: ­"Do you want to be the one on the cross/or do you wanna be bangin’ nails" – from “Lucky Day” "I love Obama. I love all people. I just can’t believe the plant’s not legal" – from “Reefer Madness” "Doin’ drugs by yourself is fun/but doin’ drugs with friends is better" – from “Let’s Do Drugs”, which also includes a poorly placed clip of cheering kids in the chorus right after this line. They aren’t exactly Talib Kweli or Mos Def or Maya Angelou or anything, but then again they have a limited vocabulary base. Not that they are unintelligent, but that there are only so many euphemisms you can use for doing drugs, so they limit themselves. Maybe for their next album the Kottonmouth Kings could try rapping about other things. Maybe they could just pick something from the list of random crap that ICP talks about in their “Miracles” video? Rainbows? The Kings could get high and rap about why magnets work? But then again, if they rap about something else, what will happen? The seas might shift, the sky might turn dark and ominous, animals may start fighting back against humans! Dogs and cats... living together... mass hysteria! Rappin’ about pot is what the Kottonmouth Kings do. It’s their shtick. Kanye West has crazy super ego rants, Jay-Z has money and the Marcy Projects, Ludacris has Atlanta, and the Kings have pot. And while I wish this review could dissuade anyone and everyone from going to buy this album and assaulting their brains with this mindless drivel, I know the album will probably sell thousands of copies. Their fan base is deep and strong (somehow) and they come out in droves. Why do you think ICP’s Gathering of the Juggalos is always well attended? Rabid, die-hard fan base. You gotta give them credit for that at least—if for nothing else. Let the flame wars commence.]]> 10 http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/04/album-review-kottonmouth-kings-long-live-the-kings/feed/ 3 Insane Clown Posse announces pretty much the best tour ever http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/insane-clown-posse-announces-pretty-much-the-best-tour-ever/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/insane-clown-posse-announces-pretty-much-the-best-tour-ever/#comments http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/03/icp2.jpg Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:20:05 +0000 Philip Cosores http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=30226 With the amount of time Insane Clown Posse has been slinging their clothing in Hot Topics the world over, you have to figure these guys must be pushing 40. Wrap your head around that. Imagine you are a high school kid and you have to tell people your father dresses up like a scary clown and performs rap-metal for a living. Somehow, someway, there is still a market for this. I guess being a troubled teenager never goes out of style.

Well, those messed-up little dudes are about to shit themselves and anyone who is looking for a good group Halloween costume idea has just hit a gold mine. Not only are ICP rolling out a lengthy summer tour, but they are bringing some of their A-list friends, according to the AV Club. Does the name Coolio get you excited? Do you own a Kitty ball-gag? Do you skip over all the words in this story that exceed six letters? Well, this tour is for you (and apparently there are some of “you” in Anaheim, which freaks me out). Kitty apparently has trouble finding tour mates, noting on Twitter: “Finally a band with enough balls to take us on tour.” No, Kitty, it’s not that. Fun Loving Criminals already had some state fair obligations to attend to.

Fans of responsible cannabis use Kottonmouth Kings round out the bill that begins in Memphis on May 9th. Let’s just hope this doesn’t come too close to the Paramore/Tegan & Sara tour because I think that is how black holes are born.

Tickets are now available via Ticketmaster.com.

Insane Clown Posse 2010 Tour Dates:
05/09 – Memphis, TN @ The New Daisy Theatre
05/10 – Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom
05/13 – Louisville, KY @ InnPlace Hotel and Conference Center
05/14 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
05/16 – Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion
05/17 – Charlotte, NC @ The Uptown Amphitheatre
05/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
05/20 – Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Concert Pavilion
05/21 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
05/22 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
05/24 – Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Pavilion
05/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze
05/27 – Council Bluffs, IA @ Westfair Amphitheater
05/29 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Cap Fed Park at Sandstone Amphitheater
05/31 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks
06/01 – Magna, UT @ Saltair
06/03 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House
06/04 – Portland, OR @ Expo Center
06/05 – San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre
06/07 – Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim
06/08 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
06/09 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater
06/10 – Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
06/12 – Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum

]]> Insane Clown Posse 2010 Tour Dates: 05/09 - Memphis, TN @ The New Daisy Theatre 05/10 - Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom 05/13 - Louisville, KY @ InnPlace Hotel and Conference Center 05/14 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave 05/16 - Columbus, OH @ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion 05/17 - Charlotte, NC @ The Uptown Amphitheatre 05/19 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory 05/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Pier Six Concert Pavilion 05/21 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 05/22 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 05/24 - Cleveland, OH @ Nautica Pavilion 05/26 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze 05/27 - Council Bluffs, IA @ Westfair Amphitheater 05/29 - Bonner Springs, KS @ Cap Fed Park at Sandstone Amphitheater 05/31 - Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks 06/01 - Magna, UT @ Saltair 06/03 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory Concert House 06/04 - Portland, OR @ Expo Center 06/05 - San Francisco, CA @ Warfield Theatre 06/07 - Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim 06/08 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater 06/09 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theater 06/10 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues 06/12 - Albuquerque, NM @ Tingley Coliseum]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/03/insane-clown-posse-announces-pretty-much-the-best-tour-ever/feed/ 5 311 continues the Uplifter into the fall http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/311-continues-the-uplifter-into-the-fall/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/311-continues-the-uplifter-into-the-fall/#comments Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:05:47 +0000 Alex Young http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=19378 Looking to make the most out of what proved to be the band’s highest charting album to date, 311 has announced another round of tour dates in support of Uplifter. Beginning on November 11th, the quintet will launch a month long affair that will include a stop in the band’s hometown of Omaha and two nights in the Big Apple and feature support from be Kottonmouth Kings and State Radio. Tickets will be available first via a pre-sale on the band’s website beginning Tuesday, September 8th.

In other news, 311 plans to announce details for 3-11 Day 2010 in the coming days. So stay tuned for that.

311 2009 Tour Dates:
09/26 – Tokyo, JP @ Tokyo Zepp
11/11 – Temecula, CA @ Pechanga Casino
11/13 – Loveland, CO @ Budweiser Event Center *
11/14 – Omaha, NE @ Mid America Center *
11/15 – Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater *
11/17 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mystic Lake Casino
11/18 – Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom *
11/19 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore *
11/21 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Casino #
11/22 – Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun $
11/24 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ Mid Huston Civic Center $
11/25 – Portland, ME @ Cumberland Civic Center $
11/27 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom $
11/28 – New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom $
11/29 – Richmond, VA @ The National $
12/01 – Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park Amphitheatre $
12/02 – Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live $
12/04 – New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena $
12/05 – Dallas, TX @ Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie $
12/06 – Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater $
12/08 – Austin, TX @ Music Hall

* = w/ Kottonmouth Kings
# = w/ Slightly Stoopid
$ = w/ State Radio

]]> Uplifter. Beginning on November 11th, the quintet will launch a month long affair that will include a stop in the band's hometown of Omaha and two nights in the Big Apple and feature support from be Kottonmouth Kings and State Radio. Tickets will be available first via a pre-sale on the band's website beginning Tuesday, September 8th. In other news, 311 plans to announce details for 3-11 Day 2010 in the coming days. So stay tuned for that. 311 2009 Tour Dates: 09/26 - Tokyo, JP @ Tokyo Zepp 11/11 - Temecula, CA @ Pechanga Casino 11/13 - Loveland, CO @ Budweiser Event Center * 11/14 - Omaha, NE @ Mid America Center * 11/15 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater * 11/17 - Minneapolis, MN @ Mystic Lake Casino 11/18 - Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom * 11/19 - Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore * 11/21 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Borgata Casino # 11/22 - Uncasville, CT @ Mohegan Sun $ 11/24 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ Mid Huston Civic Center $ 11/25 - Portland, ME @ Cumberland Civic Center $ 11/27 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom $ 11/28 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom $ 11/29 - Richmond, VA @ The National $ 12/01 - Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park Amphitheatre $ 12/02 - Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live $ 12/04 - New Orleans, LA @ UNO Lakefront Arena $ 12/05 - Dallas, TX @ Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie $ 12/06 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater $ 12/08 - Austin, TX @ Music Hall * = w/ Kottonmouth Kings # = w/ Slightly Stoopid $ = w/ State Radio]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/311-continues-the-uplifter-into-the-fall/feed/ 2 Smoke Out Festival 2009 offers reunited bands and munchies… http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/smoke-out-festival-2009-offers-reunited-bands-and-munchies/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/smoke-out-festival-2009-offers-reunited-bands-and-munchies/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:30:45 +0000 Alex Young http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=19273 As we reported yesterday, a Sublime reunion, or at least the closest possibility to a Sublime reunion, will be taking place at Cypress Hill’s Smoke Out Festival 2009. But that won’t be the only act of note offered at this year’s festival, which is scheduled from October 23-24 at the San Manuel Amphitheatre in San Bernardino, California.

Slipknot, Deftones, Pennywise (minus its frontman), Method Man & Redman, and Kottonmouth Kings head the festivities, while Bad Brains, Immortal Technique, K’Naan, and Mix Master Mike are all also scheduled to make an appearance. Also confirmed will be reunions by Goodie Mob, The Geto Boys, Hieroglypics, and Living Legends. Oh and of course, Cheech and Chong will be hosting the event. Find the complete lineup here.

And as the name indicates, the festivities will also included a number of non-musical, cannabis-themed events, such as a medical marijuana expo, vendor village, and massive munchie gardens.

Pre-sale tickets will be available beginning Wednesday, September 9th. The general public will get its opportunity on Saturday, September 12th. Ticketmaster.com and Livenation.com will be the places of purchase.

]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2009/09/smoke-out-festival-2009-offers-reunited-bands-and-munchies/feed/ 1