Grayskul
| Grayskul | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Seattle, Washington |
| Genres | Alternative hip hop, Northwest hip hop |
| Years active | 2003-present |
| Labels | Rhymesayers Entertainment, Fake Four Inc. |
| Associated acts | Oldominion, Maker, Xperience, Debaser, Fakts One, Mr. Hill, Aesop Rock, Cage, Slug |
| Members |
JFK Onry Ozzborn Rob Castro |
Grayskul is an alternative hip hop group from Seattle, Washington.
History
In 2003, Onry Ozzborn and JFK, both members of the Pacific Northwest hip hop collective Oldominion, teamed up with bassist Rob Castro to form Grayskul. They recorded about 55 songs in 8 months at ATB Studios; these would eventually become the albums Creature, Thee Adventures! and Deadlivers.[1] After opening for Eyedea & Abilities, their music was brought to the attention of Rhymesayers Entertainment.[2]
Grayskul's label debut, Deadlivers, was released in 2005.[3] It featured guest appearances from Canibus, Mr. Lif and Abstract Rude.[4]
In 2007, Grayskul released their second album on Rhymesayers Entertainment, Bloody Radio,[5] this time with Ozzborn going by the name Count Draven and JFK going by the name Count Magnus.[6] While this album excluded Rob Castro,[7] Cage, Slug and Aesop Rock provided guest verses.[8]
In 2009, Grayskul in collaboration with producer Maker released Graymaker on Taxidermy Records.[9] In an interview with Seattle Weekly, Onry Ozzborn said: "Of the albums we've done in the past, we've never had a whole project that's straight-ahead hip-hop ... People always say our stuff is dark, weird, bugged-out, but I think this one will catch people by surprise. [Maker's] beats in general made us write different. He uses more breakbeats, slower BPMs, so you'll be able to hear that."[10]
In 2013, Grayskul released Zenith on Fake Four Inc.[11]
Style and influences
Members of Grayskul cited Cannibal Ox's The Cold Vein as their major influence.[12]
Discography
Albums
- Creature (2004)
- Thee Adventures! (2004)
- Deadlivers (2005)
- Wand and the Gun (2005)
- Name in Vain (2006)
- Blood Sweat and Fears (2006)
- Facefeeder (2007)
- Bloody Radio (2007)
- Graymaker (2009) with Maker
- Zenith (2013)
Singles
- "Prom Quiz" (2005)
- "Scarecrow" (2007)
- "Mod Volatile" b/w "At the Time" (2009)
Guest appearances
- Boom Bap Project - "War of the Roses" from Reprogram (2005)
- Fakts One - "Set the Mood" from Long Range (2008)
- The Insects - "Fear" from Gone (2009)
- Sleep - "Hesitation Wounds" from Hesitation Wounds (2009)
- IAME - "Tight" from I Am My Enemy (2009)
- Sapient - "Cold How We Keep It" from Famine Friends (2009)
- The Kid Espi and The Wright Family - "Am Flag" from Here and Happy (2010)
References
- ↑ "Catching Up With Grayskul". Super Happy Wax.
- ↑ "Grayskul". Fake Four Inc.
- ↑ Mudede, Charles (February 17, 2005). "Grayskul's 'Deadlivers' is Dark Matter for Dark Days". The Stranger.
- ↑ Stoneage, Daryl (May 2005). "Grayskul Deadlivers". Exclaim!.
- ↑ Patashnik, Ben (September 27, 2007). "Album Review: Grayskul - Bloody Radio". Drowned in Sound.
- ↑ Scanlon, Tom (November 16, 2007). "Spreading the Grayskul word to the world". Seattle Times.
- ↑ Gonzalez, Jose (April 16, 2009). "Grayskul". Phoenix New Times.
- ↑ Marx, Nick (October 24, 2007). "Grayskul - Bloody Radio". Tiny Mix Tapes.
- ↑ Cole, Zach (November 22, 2009). "Grayskul & Maker - Graymaker". Potholes in My Blog.
- ↑ Cunningham, Jonathan (October 7, 2009). "Grayskul Gives Way to Blue - JFK and Onry finally add color to their typically dark palette.". Seattle Weekly.
- ↑ Gugich, Chul (October 9, 2013). "Album Review: Grayskul - Zenith". Beats Per Minute.
- ↑ Mudede, Charles (December 4, 2003). "We Got Next - Grayskul Are the Future of Northwest Hiphop". The Stranger.