Monoxide Child
Encyclopedia
Paul Robert Methric is an American
rapper
from Detroit, Michigan
. Methric is most commonly known as Monoxide Child of the rap group Twiztid
. He is also a member of the two supergroups Dark Lotus
and Psychopathic Rydas
.
would freestyle
with other kids, though the two felt they were never great at promptly coming up with rhymes. Both recall going to school with late-rapper Proof
and seeing him freestyle, describing him as "the mecca of freestyling". Methric and Spaniolo also participated in freestyle battles at the Hip Hop Shop on a weekly basis.
under the pseudonym Hektic. Along with Mr. Bones
and The R.O.C., the original House of Krazees released five albums between 1993 and 1996. Problems with the group's label, Latnem Entertainment, led House of Krazees to leave the label, and the group disbanded after its 1996 album Head Trauma.
called Chainsmoker LP
.
to join Psychopathic Records
in 1997, Spaniolo and Methric accepted and reemerged as Twiztid
. Upon signing with the label, the duo revamped their image, and set out to prove themselves to the Juggalo
fanbase. Twiztid opened shows for Insane Clown Posse, most of the time receiving boos from the crowds and occasionally getting into fights with them. In 1997, Twiztid's debut album, Mostasteless
, was released. With the release, a shift in reaction toward Twiztid occurred, and Juggalos slowly began to receive the duo well. Twiztid, however, continued to open for Insane Clown Posse and appear with them at in-store tours, improving their rapport with the fanbase.
In 1999, Insane Clown Posse persuaded Island Records
to sign Twiztid. During Twiztid's brief stint with the label, Mostasteless was pulled from shelves and re-released under Island Records. The following year, the duo went back to Psychopathic Records and released Freek Show
. Freek Show debuted at #51 on Billboard charts, and Twiztid's fan base grew immensely. Twiztid has remained with Psychopathic Records since, and have helped to sign artists Blaze Ya Dead Homie
and The R.O.C to the label. The duo's 2009 album, W.I.C.K.E.D.
, peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200
. With the position, Spaniolo says that "it shows relevance. It shows that [we're] not just a sideshow act. It shows that we're not just protoges, we're not just coattail riders. We are here."
and Joseph Utsler
of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau. Each member is said to "act as a 'petal' of the lotus," and it was announced that there would be six members. After switching between two different "sixth members," Marz and Anybody Killa
, Dark Lotus decided to keep the group to only five.
. The group's current lineup consists of Bruce (Bullet), Utsler (Full Clip), Methric (Foe Foe), Spaniolo (Lil' Shank), Rouleau (Cell Block) and David Hutto
(Yung Dirt).
Psychopathic Rydas reuses the beats of popular rappers within the genre without paying to license the original songs or requesting permission from copyright owners to use the music, effectively making their albums bootleg
s and resulting in the releases becoming difficult to find in some markets.
has had a major influence on his music. Spaniolo describes the work of Twiztid "as if there was a Halloween
or Friday the 13th on wax and Jason
and Michael Myers
could actually rap
." Methric's stage name
is an allusion to the carbon monoxide
that comes from cigarette
s. The title of his solo album, Chainsmoker LP, is taken from the practice of chain smoking
.
. The duo brought Spaniolo and Methric along with them to shows backstage, being fans of wrestling themselves. After Insane Clown Posse left the WWF, they started a wrestling tour called the "Hellfire Wrestling" tour. Again, both Spaniolo and Methric were brought along backstage.
, which was won by Evil Dead
. Spaniolo and Methric continued to sporadically wrestle for JCW until 2003. Both are untrained and have had several wrestlers show them moves backstage at shows. When asked in a 2009 interview if they were planning on returning to wrestling, Spaniolo replied, "No, we're not wrestlers. Every time we step into the ring, something bad happens. Either somebody gets hurt, or we get hurt ... There are things in life that you're good at, and not good at. [We're] not good at [wrestling]." He added that they will stick to simply watching wrestling.
. Methric also enjoys the use of supernatural
styles in films. He himself has an interest in getting into acting as well, and currently has gigs booked as typecasted
and background characters.
Methric is also an avid fan of both video games and tobacco. He plays Xbox 360
online with the gamertag "infamousballer," and has cited Madden NFL 10
as one of his favorite games. Twiztid's internet radio
show for WFKO is called Ashtrays and Action Figures, alluding to Methric's love of cigarettes and Spaniolo's passion for collector items and memorabilia.
Methric is a fan of professional wrestling
. He is a playable character in Eidos Interactive
's video game Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home
as Monoxide Child.
In October 2011, Methric, along with Jamie Spaniolo
and Blaze Ya Dead Homie
, was arrested in Tampa, Florida
for marijuana possession
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
from Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. Methric is most commonly known as Monoxide Child of the rap 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...
. He is also a member of the two supergroups Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau.-History:Dark Lotus made its...
and Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas is an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1999, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of mainstream gangsta rap...
.
Early life
Paul Methric began rapping as a teenager while he was in high school. In school, Methric and friend Jamie SpanioloJamie 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...
would freestyle
Freestyle rap
Freestyle rap commonly refers to rap lyrics which are improvised through a acapella or with instrumental beats, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head"...
with other kids, though the two felt they were never great at promptly coming up with rhymes. Both recall going to school with late-rapper Proof
Proof (rapper)
DeShaun Dupree Holton better known as Proof his stage name, was an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he was a member of the groups Goon Squad, 5 Elementz, Promatic, and most notably D12...
and seeing him freestyle, describing him as "the mecca of freestyling". Methric and Spaniolo also participated in freestyle battles at the Hip Hop Shop on a weekly basis.
House of Krazees (1993-1997)
Methric started his musical career in 1993 as an original member of House of KrazeesHouse of Krazees
House of Krazees was an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. The group was composed of the rappers R.O.C., Paul Methric and Jamie Spaniolo. House of Krazees performed a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore and was active from 1993 until 1997....
under the pseudonym Hektic. Along with Mr. Bones
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 The R.O.C., the original House of Krazees released five albums between 1993 and 1996. Problems with the group's label, Latnem Entertainment, led House of Krazees to leave the label, and the group disbanded after its 1996 album Head Trauma.
Solo career (2004-present)
In 2004, Methric released his first solo LPLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
called Chainsmoker LP
Chainsmoker LP
Chainsmoker LP is the debut solo album of American rapper Paul Methric, better known as Monoxide. Released in 2004, it is the rapper's first solo release, known as a member of Twiztid and a former member of House of Krazees...
.
Twiztid (1997–present)
After receiving an offer from Insane Clown PosseInsane 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...
to join Psychopathic Records
Psychopathic 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 1997, Spaniolo and Methric accepted and reemerged as 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...
. Upon signing with the label, the duo revamped their image, and set out to prove themselves to the Juggalo
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. Twiztid opened shows for Insane Clown Posse, most of the time receiving boos from the crowds and occasionally getting into fights with them. In 1997, Twiztid's debut album, Mostasteless
Mostasteless
Mostasteless is the first album by Twiztid. Released on November 25, 1997, it was the first album on Psychopathic Records by an artist other than the label's founders, Insane Clown Posse, although an extended play by Project Born had previously been released on the label...
, was released. With the release, a shift in reaction toward Twiztid occurred, and Juggalos slowly began to receive the duo well. Twiztid, however, continued to open for Insane Clown Posse and appear with them at in-store tours, improving their rapport with the fanbase.
In 1999, Insane Clown Posse persuaded Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
to sign Twiztid. During Twiztid's brief stint with the label, Mostasteless was pulled from shelves and re-released under Island Records. The following year, the duo went back to Psychopathic Records and released Freek Show
Freek Show
Freek Show is the second studio album by Twiztid. Released on October 31, 2000, the album peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200. In his review of the album, Allmusic's Brad Mills wrote that "this kind of music appeals to a small sector of hip-hop listeners and will probably do well within [its] niche...
. Freek Show debuted at #51 on Billboard charts, and Twiztid's fan base grew immensely. Twiztid has remained with Psychopathic Records since, and have helped to sign artists 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:...
and The R.O.C to the label. The duo's 2009 album, W.I.C.K.E.D.
W.I.C.K.E.D.
W.I.C.K.E.D. is the seventh studio album by American hip hop group Twiztid. Released on March 17, 2009, it is the group's highest charting album, peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200...
, peaked at #11 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...
. With the position, Spaniolo says that "it shows relevance. It shows that [we're] not just a sideshow act. It shows that we're not just protoges, we're not just coattail riders. We are here."
Dark Lotus (1999-present)
Formed in 1999, Dark Lotus consists of 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,...
and Joseph Utsler
Joseph Utsler
Joseph 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...
of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau. Each member is said to "act as a 'petal' of the lotus," and it was announced that there would be six members. After switching between two different "sixth members," Marz and 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:...
, Dark Lotus decided to keep the group to only five.
Psychopathic Rydas (1999-present)
Psychopathic Rydas formed in 1999, and consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of mainstream gangsta rapGangsta 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...
. The group's current lineup consists of Bruce (Bullet), Utsler (Full Clip), Methric (Foe Foe), Spaniolo (Lil' Shank), Rouleau (Cell Block) and David Hutto
Boondox
David Hutto is an American rapper from Covington, Georgia. Hutto is most commonly known as Boondox, whose stage persona is that of a killer scarecrow. He is currently signed to Psychopathic Records.-Biography:...
(Yung Dirt).
Psychopathic Rydas reuses the beats of popular rappers within the genre without paying to license the original songs or requesting permission from copyright owners to use the music, effectively making their albums bootleg
Bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
s and resulting in the releases becoming difficult to find in some markets.
Style and influences
Methric's interests in both horror movies and tobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
has had a major influence on his music. Spaniolo describes the work of Twiztid "as if there was a Halloween
Halloween (franchise)
Halloween is an American horror franchise that consists of ten slasher films, novels, and comic books. The franchise focuses on the fictional character of Michael Myers who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for the murder of his older sister, Judith Myers...
or Friday the 13th on wax and Jason
Jason Voorhees
Jason Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th series of slasher films. He first appeared in Friday the 13th , as the son of camp cook-turned-murderer, Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari Lehman. Created by Victor Miller, with contributions by Ron Kurz, Sean S...
and Michael Myers
Michael Myers (Halloween)
Michael Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his older sister, then fifteen years later returns home to murder more teenagers...
could actually rap
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
." Methric's stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
is an allusion to the carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
that comes from cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
s. The title of his solo album, Chainsmoker LP, is taken from the practice of chain smoking
Chain smoking
Chain smoking is the practice of lighting a new cigarette for personal consumption immediately after one that is finished, sometimes using the finished cigarette to light the next one. It is a common form of addiction.-Causes:...
.
Beginning (1999)
In 1999, Insane Clown Posse began a stint in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF)World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. The duo brought Spaniolo and Methric along with them to shows backstage, being fans of wrestling themselves. After Insane Clown Posse left the WWF, they started a wrestling tour called the "Hellfire Wrestling" tour. Again, both Spaniolo and Methric were brought along backstage.
Professional wrestling (1999-2003)
On December 19, 1999, both Spaniolo and Methric participated in the first "Juggalo Championshit Wrestling" event. As Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child, they were featured in a 20-man battle royal to crown the first JCW Heavyweight ChampionJCW Heavyweight Championship
The JCW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship in Juggalo Championship Wrestling. It was established in 1999 at JCW's first show, the taping for the DVD JCW Volume 1, with Evil Dead winning a 20-man battle royal...
, which was won by Evil Dead
Robert Bruce (rapper)
Robert Bruce is a former American rapper, Psychopathic Records don, and professional wrestler, and currently works as a paramedic in Detroit, Michigan.Bruce is most commonly known by his stage name Jumpsteady...
. Spaniolo and Methric continued to sporadically wrestle for JCW until 2003. Both are untrained and have had several wrestlers show them moves backstage at shows. When asked in a 2009 interview if they were planning on returning to wrestling, Spaniolo replied, "No, we're not wrestlers. Every time we step into the ring, something bad happens. Either somebody gets hurt, or we get hurt ... There are things in life that you're good at, and not good at. [We're] not good at [wrestling]." He added that they will stick to simply watching wrestling.
Personal life
Along with Spaniolo, Methric is a fan of horror movies. As children, the two often watched The Evil DeadThe Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
. Methric also enjoys the use of supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
styles in films. He himself has an interest in getting into acting as well, and currently has gigs booked as typecasted
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
and background characters.
Methric is also an avid fan of both video games and tobacco. He plays Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
online with the gamertag "infamousballer," and has cited Madden NFL 10
Madden NFL 10
For the tenth installment in the Madden series, see Madden 64Madden NFL 10 is an American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 21st annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise...
as one of his favorite games. Twiztid's internet radio
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
show for WFKO is called Ashtrays and Action Figures, alluding to Methric's love of cigarettes and Spaniolo's passion for collector items and memorabilia.
Methric is a fan of professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He is a playable character in Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
's video game Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home
Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This at Home
Backyard Wrestling is a video game developed by Paradox Development, and published by Eidos Interactive in 2003 for Xbox and PlayStation 2.- General summary :The goal of backyard wrestling is largely to use the environment to defeat an opponent....
as Monoxide Child.
In October 2011, Methric, along with 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 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:...
, was arrested in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
for marijuana possession
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...
.
Film appearances
- Big Money HustlasBig Money HustlasThe film's music was written by Psychopathic Records producer Mike E. Clark. A soundtrack album was released in 2001, and featured new music from the film, in addition to previously released tracks by Insane Clown Posse and Twiztid, and the theme to the 1976 film The Human Tornado, performed by...
(2000), as Lil' Poot - Born Twiztid: Behind The Freekshow (2000), as Monoxide Child
- The Purple Show (2003), as Monoxide Child
- A Family Underground (2009), as Monoxide
- Big Money RustlasBig Money RustlasBig Money Rustlas is an American Western comedy film directed by Paul Andresen. The film is the prequel to the 2000 film Big Money Hustlas. Joseph Bruce wrote the story, and he, Andresen, and Studebaker Duchamp adapted the story into a screenplay. Their writing was influenced by classic Western...
(2010), as Dusty Poot
Television and internet programs
- Go To Hell With Twiztid (2007), as Monoxide
- 5 Min. Fury (2007), as Monoxide
- Freestyle 101 (2009), as Monoxide
- The Rave TV (2009), as Monoxide