2 Skinnee J's
Encyclopedia
2 Skinnee J's is the name of a musical band characterized as nerdcore hip hop
. The band was founded in 1991 by Special J (vocals), Rabbi J-Slim (vocals), Joey Viturbo (guitar), Sammy B (bass guitar), DJ Casper (keyboards), and Andy Action (drums). With numerous line-up changes, the band was active through the 1990s until 2003, when they officially disbanded. The group recorded several demos, 2 EPs, and 3 studio albums; SuperMercado!
on Capricorn Records
, Volumizer
on Volcano Records
, and Sexy Karate on Dolphins vs. Unicorns. The band went through several key membership changes before its breaking up in 2003, although they briefly reunited for reunion tours in 2005, 2008 and 2010.
in New York City
. The original line-up was Special J and Rabbi J-Slim (vocals), Joey Viturbo (guitar), Sammy B (bass), DJ Casper (keyboards), and Andy Action (drums). Their first independent release was on cassette, titled 6 Songs for 5 Bucks. They attracted a fan following through heavy touring in their early years. A second cassette release entitled American Heroes, was released in 1994 with the band titled "Too Skinnee J's". Several personnel changes saw original rapper J-Slim, bass player Sammy B and guitarist Joey Viturbo part with the band; whilst J Guevara and Stevie Spice were recruited. King Vitamin (a/k/a original bassist, Sammy B) rejoined in 1995, now playing guitar.
They started to break through into the mainstream in 1998 after signing with Capricorn and releasing SuperMercado!
, which found airplay on modern-rock radio stations. 2 Skinnee J's performed at Woodstock '99 and later criticized the event. Relations soured with Capricorn and the label delayed release of the second album on 2 Skinnee J's two-album contract, Volumizer, produced by Mickey Petralia, for two years after it was recorded. The label folded and the band's contract was bought by Volcano Records. When the album was officially released in 2002, many critics refused to review it again as they had reviewed a pre-release version years earlier. Rockworthy says the delay and its fallout, which left the band without a label, were a major problem and contributed to their decision to break up in 2003. Sexy Karate was released on indie label Dolphins vs Unicorn that year, before their farewell tour in 2003. They returned for a "Five Nights of Fury" tour in 2005 and another five-show reunion tour in 2008.
In 2009 the band website announced the premier in September 2009 of Get In The Van a film shot during the 2008 reunion tour.
Special J, Eddie Eyeball, Lance Rockworthy and Andy Action got together for the band's next reunion tour, billed as "acoustically-charged, tell-all brawls," of which there were seven dates between Feb. 12 and April 16, 2010. These shows were a unique way for fans to connect personally with the band, as they were held at small, intimate venues, and featured heavy audience participation, through Q&As and singalongs. In between acoustic versions of selections from their entire catalog of songs, each band member told stories about how songs were written, life on the road and the evolution of the band. J Guevara was scheduled to join the band for two of the April shows, and several hints were dropped about plans for a "full-on electric" tour to follow in summer 2010.
Nerdcore hip hop
Nerdcore hip hop, is a sub-genre of hip hop music characterized by themes and subject matter considered to be of general interest to nerds, though it can appeal to others as well. Self-described nerdcore musician MC Frontalot has the earliest known recorded use of the term in the 2000 song...
. The band was founded in 1991 by Special J (vocals), Rabbi J-Slim (vocals), Joey Viturbo (guitar), Sammy B (bass guitar), DJ Casper (keyboards), and Andy Action (drums). With numerous line-up changes, the band was active through the 1990s until 2003, when they officially disbanded. The group recorded several demos, 2 EPs, and 3 studio albums; SuperMercado!
SuperMercado!
SuperMercado! is the major-label debut for the band 2 Skinnee J's. A music video was made for the single, "Riot Nrrrd."-Track listing:#"Pluto" - 3:20#"Wild Kingdom" - 3:49#"The Best" - 4:03#"Ball Point Man" - 3:00#"In The Clutches Of The Diabolical Sgt...
on Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records
Capricorn Records was an independent record label which was launched by Phil Walden, Alan Walden, and Frank Fenter in 1969 in Macon, Georgia.-First Incarnation:...
, Volumizer
Volumizer
Volumizer is 2 Skinnee J's second major-label album. It was originally completed and set to be released on September 12, 2000 through Capricorn Records. However, once Capricorn was absorbed by Volcano Records, Volumizer was shelved...
on Volcano Records
Volcano Records
Volcano Entertainment is an American rock record label founded in 1996 best known for reissuing albums by Scotti Brothers Records and releasing albums by Tool, 311, Survivor and "Weird Al" Yankovic...
, and Sexy Karate on Dolphins vs. Unicorns. The band went through several key membership changes before its breaking up in 2003, although they briefly reunited for reunion tours in 2005, 2008 and 2010.
History
2 Skinnee J's formed in 1991 at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The original line-up was Special J and Rabbi J-Slim (vocals), Joey Viturbo (guitar), Sammy B (bass), DJ Casper (keyboards), and Andy Action (drums). Their first independent release was on cassette, titled 6 Songs for 5 Bucks. They attracted a fan following through heavy touring in their early years. A second cassette release entitled American Heroes, was released in 1994 with the band titled "Too Skinnee J's". Several personnel changes saw original rapper J-Slim, bass player Sammy B and guitarist Joey Viturbo part with the band; whilst J Guevara and Stevie Spice were recruited. King Vitamin (a/k/a original bassist, Sammy B) rejoined in 1995, now playing guitar.
They started to break through into the mainstream in 1998 after signing with Capricorn and releasing SuperMercado!
SuperMercado!
SuperMercado! is the major-label debut for the band 2 Skinnee J's. A music video was made for the single, "Riot Nrrrd."-Track listing:#"Pluto" - 3:20#"Wild Kingdom" - 3:49#"The Best" - 4:03#"Ball Point Man" - 3:00#"In The Clutches Of The Diabolical Sgt...
, which found airplay on modern-rock radio stations. 2 Skinnee J's performed at Woodstock '99 and later criticized the event. Relations soured with Capricorn and the label delayed release of the second album on 2 Skinnee J's two-album contract, Volumizer, produced by Mickey Petralia, for two years after it was recorded. The label folded and the band's contract was bought by Volcano Records. When the album was officially released in 2002, many critics refused to review it again as they had reviewed a pre-release version years earlier. Rockworthy says the delay and its fallout, which left the band without a label, were a major problem and contributed to their decision to break up in 2003. Sexy Karate was released on indie label Dolphins vs Unicorn that year, before their farewell tour in 2003. They returned for a "Five Nights of Fury" tour in 2005 and another five-show reunion tour in 2008.
In 2009 the band website announced the premier in September 2009 of Get In The Van a film shot during the 2008 reunion tour.
Special J, Eddie Eyeball, Lance Rockworthy and Andy Action got together for the band's next reunion tour, billed as "acoustically-charged, tell-all brawls," of which there were seven dates between Feb. 12 and April 16, 2010. These shows were a unique way for fans to connect personally with the band, as they were held at small, intimate venues, and featured heavy audience participation, through Q&As and singalongs. In between acoustic versions of selections from their entire catalog of songs, each band member told stories about how songs were written, life on the road and the evolution of the band. J Guevara was scheduled to join the band for two of the April shows, and several hints were dropped about plans for a "full-on electric" tour to follow in summer 2010.
Members
- Special J (MC)
- J Guevara (MC)
- Andy Action (drums)
- Eddie Eyeball (bass guitar)
- Lance Rockworthy (guitar)
- Stevie Spice (trombone, Keyboards)
- A.J. Stumpy Johnson (Owner/Manager)
Former members
- J Slim (MC)
- Joey Viturbo (Guitar)
- J Jonah Jameson (MC)
- DJ Casper (Keyboards)
- King Vitamin (Guitar)
- DJ Ariel (turntables)
- A.Mays (Guitar)
- Capital R (Guitar)
- Mikey B (Drums)
- D. Summerz (Drums)
(Former)Horn Players
- Robbashanks (Baritone Sax)
- Small Wonder (Trombone)
- Funky Dollar Bill (Trumpet)
- Scotty Ball Games (Alto Sax)
- Alex Graham (Alto Sax)
- Nurse Ratchet (Andre)(Tenor Sax)
(Former) 2 Skinnee Champions
- Ultra Mega Mel
- Brandor Stevens aka Bran.B
- Eddie "Champion" Hauser
Discography
- 6 Songs for 5 Bucks
- American Heroes
- Return of the New & Improved
- Sing, Earthboy, Sing!
- SuperMercado!SuperMercado!SuperMercado! is the major-label debut for the band 2 Skinnee J's. A music video was made for the single, "Riot Nrrrd."-Track listing:#"Pluto" - 3:20#"Wild Kingdom" - 3:49#"The Best" - 4:03#"Ball Point Man" - 3:00#"In The Clutches Of The Diabolical Sgt...
- VolumizerVolumizerVolumizer is 2 Skinnee J's second major-label album. It was originally completed and set to be released on September 12, 2000 through Capricorn Records. However, once Capricorn was absorbed by Volcano Records, Volumizer was shelved...
- Sexy Karate
- 718: Live Farewell Extravaganza
- Enter the Gold Hat: Sexy Karate Live!
- The Good, The Bad & The Serious!
External links
- Official Page
- 2 Skinnee J's MySpace page
- [ 2 Skinnee J's] on AllMusic Guide