Gang Rags
Encyclopedia
Gang Rags is the fourth studio album of American
hip hop
artist Blaze Ya Dead Homie
. Released on June 22, 2010, Gang Rags was produced by Mike E. Clark
, and features appearances by guests Kottonmouth Kings
, The Dayton Family
, Anybody Killa
and Insane Clown Posse
. One of five different colored bandanas was included in the packaging of each album. Gang Rags debuted number 52 on the Billboard 200
. The following year, Blaze released Gang Rags Extended Version (Uncut + Uncensored).
[were] what it was all about back then." Blaze noted that "I may never be a designer or some shit, but I do know my music," so he decided to use the name "Gang Rags" for his next album.
revealed through his Twitter
account that Gang Rags would be produced by Mike E. Clark
. In April, Bruce announced that he would join Clark in producing the album, marking the first time that the two would collaborate on an album by Blaze. Gang Rags also marked the first time that the members of hip hop group Twiztid
, Jamie Spaniolo
and Paul Methric, did not provide any production on a Blaze album. Bruce and Clark helped Blaze develop new vocal styles, utilizing different voices and rhyme styles. Clark notes that they "tried to do a lot of different stuff on this record." Bruce adds that the album is "still very much Blaze, but ... the sounds and concepts around him have changed."
Bruce praised Clark's production on the album, saying that Clark "makes Blaze sound louder and stronger than he ever has," while Blaze added that Clark "is a genius at his craft. His ear is like no other." Clark attributed the success of the album to the group's ability to work well together. He described Gang Rags as "bangin’, bumpin’, crushin’ & ruthless!," while Blaze said that the album is "some straight dope Juggalo music."
-based gangsta rap
with darker lyrical content based in the horrorcore
style. The song "Swine Flu" discusses crooked police officers. "Dub Sack" follows a drug dealer as he sells baggies of marijuana
for 20 dollars a piece, known as dub sacks. In "Damn Bitch," Blaze and guests The Dayton Family praise the beauty and physical features of their female Juggalette
fanbase. "Monster Inside" reveals the inner turmoil of a man while his sinister inner beast awaits to break free of its mortal shell. The song incorporates guitars in a way that Kik Axe Music reviewer James Zahn says "recalls early Cypress Hill
."
In "Party," Blaze and guest Anybody Killa speak about drinking, smoking, and constant partying without any worry of the consequences. The song "Lights Out" follows through what life would be like if the sun never rose. Surrounded by total darkness, panic would arise, people would grow pale and cold, and "the moon would be the new sun."
in December 2009. In promotion of the album, Bruce claimed that Gang Rags "will make a milestone in the career of the Dead Man, no doubt. This is the one. This is the album." The album's release was preceded with a nationwide in-store tour beginning in June, and followed by a 10-day tour. Gang Rags was released in five variant editions, each with its own colored bandana. Each colored bandana represented a fictional gang referenced in the album's lyrics: Red Rage, Redemption Ride (white), Zombie King (black), Dollar Domination (green) and Ice Cold Killers (blue). A music video for the song "Dead Man Walking" is set to be produced.
While on the 2011 Drive-By Tour, Blaze released Gang Rags Extended Version (Uncut + Uncensored). The tour-exclusive album features twelve songs originally recorded for Gang Rags.
Top Independent Albums chart
and number 52 on the Billboard 200
. Allrovi reviewer David Jeffries gave the album 3.5 out of 5 and praised its production and various mustical styles. Jeffries wrote that "Blaze’s gruff delivery bounces off thumping basslines and speaker-ripping electro throughout the album," and that the "Parliament/Funkadelic
-styled choruses ... [are] a welcome influence from the rapper and producer’s hometown of Detroit." The album was also favorably received by Kik Axe Music reviewer James Zahn, who called it "one of the best releases from Psychopathic in recent memory". Zahn praised the production of Mike E. Clark and Violent J, and said that the album "could easily break from the underground
to attract outside attention."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
artist Blaze Ya Dead Homie
Blaze Ya Dead Homie
Chris Rouleau, also known as Blaze Ya Dead Homie, is an American rapper from Romeo, Michigan. His stage persona is that of a reincarnated gang member killed in the late 1980s, and his music is a fusion of gangsta rap and horrorcore.-Biography:...
. Released on June 22, 2010, Gang Rags was produced by Mike E. Clark
Mike E. Clark
Mike Earl Clark is an American record producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan currently signed to Hatchet House.Clark is best known for his work with Insane Clown Posse, for which he has produced nine studio albums...
, and features appearances by guests Kottonmouth Kings
Kottonmouth Kings
Kottonmouth Kings is an American rap rock group from Placentia, Orange County, California. Kottonmouth Kings officially formed in 1994, and describe themselves as "psychedelic hip-hop punk rock"...
, The Dayton Family
The Dayton Family
The Dayton Family is an American hip hop group from Flint, Michigan. The group is composed of Ira Dorsey, Raheen Peterson, and Matt Hinkle, who perform under the respective personas of Bootleg, Shoestring, and Backstabba...
, Anybody Killa
Anybody Killa
James Lowery, also known as Anybody Killa, or ABK, is a Native American rapper from Detroit, Michigan whose stage persona is that of a Native American warrior. He is signed to Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
and Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
. One of five different colored bandanas was included in the packaging of each album. Gang Rags debuted number 52 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. The following year, Blaze released Gang Rags Extended Version (Uncut + Uncensored).
Concept
Blaze had been interested in the concept of bringing back the style of the late '80s to mid 90's for several years prior to the recording of Gang Rags. He thought that the best way to bring back "the old school [was] in the form of clothing. Gang ragsKerchief
A kerchief is a triangular or square piece of cloth tied around the head or around the neck for protective or decorative purposes...
[were] what it was all about back then." Blaze noted that "I may never be a designer or some shit, but I do know my music," so he decided to use the name "Gang Rags" for his next album.
Production
On December 24, 2009, Joseph BruceJoseph Bruce
Joseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
revealed through his Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account that Gang Rags would be produced by Mike E. Clark
Mike E. Clark
Mike Earl Clark is an American record producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan currently signed to Hatchet House.Clark is best known for his work with Insane Clown Posse, for which he has produced nine studio albums...
. In April, Bruce announced that he would join Clark in producing the album, marking the first time that the two would collaborate on an album by Blaze. Gang Rags also marked the first time that the members of hip hop group Twiztid
Twiztid
Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Warren, Michigan. The group is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child...
, Jamie Spaniolo
Jamie Spaniolo
James Spaniolo is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. Spaniolo is most commonly known as Jamie Madrox of the rap group Twiztid. He is also a member of the two supergroups Dark Lotus and Psychopathic Rydas...
and Paul Methric, did not provide any production on a Blaze album. Bruce and Clark helped Blaze develop new vocal styles, utilizing different voices and rhyme styles. Clark notes that they "tried to do a lot of different stuff on this record." Bruce adds that the album is "still very much Blaze, but ... the sounds and concepts around him have changed."
Bruce praised Clark's production on the album, saying that Clark "makes Blaze sound louder and stronger than he ever has," while Blaze added that Clark "is a genius at his craft. His ear is like no other." Clark attributed the success of the album to the group's ability to work well together. He described Gang Rags as "bangin’, bumpin’, crushin’ & ruthless!," while Blaze said that the album is "some straight dope Juggalo music."
Music and lyrics
Gang Rags fuses late '80s to early 90's West CoastWest Coast hip hop
West Coast hip hop is a hip hop music subgenre that encompasses any artists or music that originates in the westernmost region of the United States, as opposed to East Coast hip hop, based originally in New York alone...
-based gangsta rap
Gangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
with darker lyrical content based in the horrorcore
Horrorcore
Horrorcore is a subgenre of hip hop music based in horror-themed lyrical content and imagery. While the style is rarely popular, some performers have sold well in the mainstream scene.-Origins:...
style. The song "Swine Flu" discusses crooked police officers. "Dub Sack" follows a drug dealer as he sells baggies of marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
for 20 dollars a piece, known as dub sacks. In "Damn Bitch," Blaze and guests The Dayton Family praise the beauty and physical features of their female Juggalette
Juggalo
Juggalo or Juggalette is a name given to fans of Insane Clown Posse or any other Psychopathic Records hip hop group. Juggalos have developed their own idioms, slang, and characteristics.-History:...
fanbase. "Monster Inside" reveals the inner turmoil of a man while his sinister inner beast awaits to break free of its mortal shell. The song incorporates guitars in a way that Kik Axe Music reviewer James Zahn says "recalls early Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
."
In "Party," Blaze and guest Anybody Killa speak about drinking, smoking, and constant partying without any worry of the consequences. The song "Lights Out" follows through what life would be like if the sun never rose. Surrounded by total darkness, panic would arise, people would grow pale and cold, and "the moon would be the new sun."
Release and promotion
The album's title was revealed by Psychopathic RecordsPsychopathic Records
Psychopathic Records, also known as "The Hatchet", is an American independent record label based in Farmington Hills, Michigan that specializes in hip hop music. The label was founded in 1991 by Alex Abbiss and hip hop group Insane Clown Posse....
in December 2009. In promotion of the album, Bruce claimed that Gang Rags "will make a milestone in the career of the Dead Man, no doubt. This is the one. This is the album." The album's release was preceded with a nationwide in-store tour beginning in June, and followed by a 10-day tour. Gang Rags was released in five variant editions, each with its own colored bandana. Each colored bandana represented a fictional gang referenced in the album's lyrics: Red Rage, Redemption Ride (white), Zombie King (black), Dollar Domination (green) and Ice Cold Killers (blue). A music video for the song "Dead Man Walking" is set to be produced.
While on the 2011 Drive-By Tour, Blaze released Gang Rags Extended Version (Uncut + Uncensored). The tour-exclusive album features twelve songs originally recorded for Gang Rags.
Reception
Gang Rags debuted at number 5 on the BillboardBillboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top Independent Albums chart
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and number 52 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. Allrovi reviewer David Jeffries gave the album 3.5 out of 5 and praised its production and various mustical styles. Jeffries wrote that "Blaze’s gruff delivery bounces off thumping basslines and speaker-ripping electro throughout the album," and that the "Parliament/Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament-Funkadelic is a funk, soul and rock music collective headed by George Clinton. Their style has been dubbed P-Funk. Collectively the group has existed under various names since the 1960s and has been known for top-notch musicianship, politically charged lyrics, outlandish concept albums...
-styled choruses ... [are] a welcome influence from the rapper and producer’s hometown of Detroit." The album was also favorably received by Kik Axe Music reviewer James Zahn, who called it "one of the best releases from Psychopathic in recent memory". Zahn praised the production of Mike E. Clark and Violent J, and said that the album "could easily break from the underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
to attract outside attention."
Track listing
Musicians
- Anybody KillaAnybody KillaJames Lowery, also known as Anybody Killa, or ABK, is a Native American rapper from Detroit, Michigan whose stage persona is that of a Native American warrior. He is signed to Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
- vocals - Axe Murder BoyzAxe Murder BoyzAxe Murder Boyz are an American hip hop duo from Denver, Colorado. The group consists of brothers Mike and James Garcia, who perform under the names Bonez Dubb and Otis.-Biography:...
- vocals - Blaze Ya Dead HomieBlaze Ya Dead HomieChris Rouleau, also known as Blaze Ya Dead Homie, is an American rapper from Romeo, Michigan. His stage persona is that of a reincarnated gang member killed in the late 1980s, and his music is a fusion of gangsta rap and horrorcore.-Biography:...
- vocals - The Dayton FamilyThe Dayton FamilyThe Dayton Family is an American hip hop group from Flint, Michigan. The group is composed of Ira Dorsey, Raheen Peterson, and Matt Hinkle, who perform under the respective personas of Bootleg, Shoestring, and Backstabba...
- vocals - Kottonmouth KingsKottonmouth KingsKottonmouth Kings is an American rap rock group from Placentia, Orange County, California. Kottonmouth Kings officially formed in 1994, and describe themselves as "psychedelic hip-hop punk rock"...
- vocals - Michelle Rapp - vocals
- Mike E. ClarkMike E. ClarkMike Earl Clark is an American record producer and DJ from Detroit, Michigan currently signed to Hatchet House.Clark is best known for his work with Insane Clown Posse, for which he has produced nine studio albums...
- arranger, composer, vocals, producer, mixing - Shaggy 2 DopeJoseph UtslerJoseph William "Joey" Utsler is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, professional wrestler and actor. Utsler is known as Shaggy 2 Dope of the hip hop group Insane Clown Posse. He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow Insane Clown Posse rapper Joseph Bruce and...
- vocals - Violent JJoseph BruceJoseph Frank "Joe" Bruce is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler and actor. Bruce is most commonly known as Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse . He is the co-founder of the record label Psychopathic Records, with fellow ICP rapper Joseph Utsler and their former manager,...
- composer, vocals, producer
Additional personnel
- E-Wolf - photography
- Jim Kissling - mastering
- Jim Neve - bandana design, cover design, layout
Chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
52 |
| Top Independent Albums | 5 |
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 13 |
| Top Rap Albums | 9 |