Notes & Personnel Info |  | Kottonmouth Kings: Brad Daddy X, D-Loc, Pakelika Presents, Richter (vocals); Lou Dog (drums); Bobby B (scratches, turntables). | | Additional personnel: Doug Carrion (guitar, bass guitar); Danny P (guitar); Brad Gordon (keyboards); Paul Ill (bass guitar); Josh Freese, Tom Brayton, Scott Garrett, Byron McMackin (drums); Humble Gods, Casey Royer. | | In the 2004 post-9/11 world with America facing one of its most divided elections, the suburban kids need something less complex to rebel and scream about. Hip-hop's street-level thug life has been cabled into kid's bedrooms, so Footloose-styled rebellion is out of the question and labeling Avril Lavigne "punk" hasn't fooled all of them. Times are perfect for the Kottonmouth Kings, and as they should, adults with "taste" dismiss them as crap. It's something the Kings wear as a badge on Fire It Up, another album that gives the finger to nonbelievers. This time the finger comes with an extra helping of hip-hop and less of the garbage punk the Kings used to fill half of their albums with. The punk parts are short and the hip-hop -- more fan boy than authentic -- is as sticky and dank as what's in the band's Baggies. Speaking of which, this is one of the least weed-oriented albums from the band. Instead, the Kings focus on building the ICP-style cult and their cottage industry, Suburban Noize Records. When the bandmembers infer they're spearheading a street-level revolution, it's hard to take, but no doubt there's a ton of heart on the record. Respect them for giving it up to the fans and it gets easier to ignore their shortcomings. The production is better than ever and "Bring It On" should place in the band's top three songs of all time. Borrow a teenager's iPod, turn it up loud, and party like the the Beasties never went to Tibet. Hurry up, before someone skateboards by and gives you the finger. ~ David Jeffries | | Like their friends in Insane Clown Posse, Kottonmouth Kings have cultivated a large fanbase by combining the most accessible and fun elements of hardcore gangsta rap, West Coast punk rock, and heavy metal, delivering the stew with a testosterone-fueled panache that virtually guarantees intense teenage loyalty. Whereas ICP and its offshoots deal in Gwar-style slasher-flick theatrics, Kottonmouth Kings distill the impetus behind their group's activities to a single guiding principle--the active consumption of marijuana. On songs such as the title track and "Skunk One," D-Loc and the boys celebrate the glories of ganja over lazy G-funk grooves and irresistibly catchy samples. FIRE IT UP gets the party going with a minimum of fuss and remains entertaining throughout its endlessly creative variations on a single smoky theme. |
Producer: Daddy X; Kumagai |
Engineer: Patrick Shevelin; Mike Kumagai |
Musical Guests | | Humble Gods | | Casey Royer |
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