Deuce (singer)
Encyclopedia
Aron Erlichman better known by his stage name Deuce, is an American singer, rapper
, record producer
, and songwriter
. Brought to fame as one of the co-founders and lead vocalist of rap rock
band Hollywood Undead
, Deuce has since branched into solo work and is preparing to release his label debut in November 28, 2011 through 10th Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music
. He is also involved in a movement with fellow rapper The Truth called "Nine Lives" (often stylized as '9LIVES'), which includes a clothing line and record label, among other things. Deuce has announced that his debut solo album will go by the same name.
with Jorel Decker and sang clean vocals for the band, until he was evicted in 2010.
as a vocalist and producer with close friend Jorel Decker (J-Dog), The band began their musical career with the creation of the rap-rock song "The Kids" which was greatly promoted by Jeffree Star
. Deuce initially adopted and recorded songs with the band under the pseudonym "Tha Producer" due to his role in production but shortened this pseudonym to "Deuce" shortly after. At the time of Deuce's departure, Hollywood Undead had gained success with Swan Songs
, which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200
in its first week. A few EPs were released, the Swan Songs B-Sides EP
and the Swan Songs Rarities EP
in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In 2009, Hollywood Undead released their first live album, Desperate Measures
, which peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200.
In early 2010, Hollywood Undead announced that Deuce had left the band due to musical differences. Hints of Deuce's departure were noticed when he did not take part in the Vatos Locos tour. Deuce was later replaced permanently as Hollywood Undead's clean vocalist by Daniel "Danny" Murillo. Deuce later released two songs attacking Hollywood Undead, "Story of a Snitch" and "When We Ride", the latter being a redone version of Hollywood Undead's "Dead in Ditches". The subject was brought up by interviewer Bryan Stars during an interview with Johnny 3 Tears and Da Kurlzz. The pair told the interviewer that the band had to "constantly satisfy Deuce while touring." "It was so bad, that I don't think there would've been another record if he was still with us," Da Kurlzz told the interviewer. "We bent over backwards to accommodate Deuce," he said. Johnny 3 Tears, growing weary about the subject, said "It was just that he didn't like being on the road, so we would have to do things to make him happy. He also claimed to be writing all the songs, and all this B.S.." The band decided to drop the subject afterwards, saying that they have moved on from the situation and would prefer not putting in too much detail.
Martini Beerman of World Famous Rock interviewed Charlie Scene and J-Dog, and the two decided to explain the final events that led up to the split. Charlie Scene told the interviewer, "He wanted to have his personal assistant come on the tour. None of us have personal assistants, we're not egomaniacs. We don't need that, and he wanted the band to pay for it and we did for like four months. After that we were like, 'we're not gonna pay $800 a week to have your buddy out on tour'. We went to the airport to fly out for our next tour, and he didn't show up. We were like, what the fuck do we do? We called him and he didn't answer. So for the first 2 weeks of that tour, I sang all his parts."
is also closely involved with Deuce and is featured on many of his songs, with his earliest work with Deuce being the demo song "Turn Off the Lights" with Hollywood Undead.
Deuce has been unable to release independent albums since 2010 due to contract issues with A&M/Octone Records
which he signed while with Hollywood Undead, Deuce could not own the rights to his solo-music until he was free of his contract. However, Deuce was able to produce and release remixes, so long as they did not incur a profit. As a result, Deuce independently created songs using instrumentals from various artists, including: 50 Cent
, Eminem
, Tupac
, and Jay-Z
. Many of these "remixes" or "mixtape style songs" made it on to his 2011 re-release mixtape Call Me Big Deuce, which was released to promote his debut solo album. The album will be released under label; 10th Street Entertainment and will contain collaborations with Travie McCoy
, Ronnie Radke and Skee-Lo
, and others. The album's lead single, "Let's Get It Crackin'", was released November 28th with an accompanying music video. It was also announced that the album will be released on March 27, 2012. Deuce also announced that a song titled "America" will be released as a single, but does not yet have a release date.
In September 2010, Deuce made his first official live performance as a solo artist at California
's Epicenter
music festival, opening for Eminem
, Blink-182
, Kiss
, Bush
, Rise Against
, and others.
External Links =
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”...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. Brought to fame as one of the co-founders and lead vocalist of rap rock
Rap rock
Rap rock is a cross-genre fusing vocal and instrumental elements of hip hop with various forms of rock. Rap rock is often confused with rap metal and rapcore, subgenres that include heavy metal-oriented and hardcore punk-oriented bands, respectively....
band Hollywood Undead
Hollywood Undead
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011...
, Deuce has since branched into solo work and is preparing to release his label debut in November 28, 2011 through 10th Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music
Eleven seven music
Eleven Seven Music is a record label founded by Allen Kovac, who is the CEO of 10th Street Entertainment.Eleven Seven has recently enjoyed success with the rejuvenated Buckcherry, whose label debut has been certified Platinum by the RIAA. Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe and Sixx:A.M...
. He is also involved in a movement with fellow rapper The Truth called "Nine Lives" (often stylized as '9LIVES'), which includes a clothing line and record label, among other things. Deuce has announced that his debut solo album will go by the same name.
Musical beginnings (2001-2005)
Deuce began creating rock-based music under his birth-name Aron Erlichman, early in 2001. He released three tracks, "Franny", "Surface Air", "Breaking Through" on "Broadjam" internet sharing site for opinions and ratings in 2005 and gained little recognition. He later co-founded Hollywood UndeadHollywood Undead
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011...
with Jorel Decker and sang clean vocals for the band, until he was evicted in 2010.
Hollywood Undead and departure (2005-2010)
Deuce co-founded the band Hollywood UndeadHollywood Undead
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011...
as a vocalist and producer with close friend Jorel Decker (J-Dog), The band began their musical career with the creation of the rap-rock song "The Kids" which was greatly promoted by Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star
Jeffree Star is an American model, fashion designer, make-up artist, DJ, and singer-songwriter residing in the Beverly Hills area...
. Deuce initially adopted and recorded songs with the band under the pseudonym "Tha Producer" due to his role in production but shortened this pseudonym to "Deuce" shortly after. At the time of Deuce's departure, Hollywood Undead had gained success with Swan Songs
Swan Songs (Hollywood Undead album)
Swan Songs is the debut album by Hollywood Undead, released through Octone Records. The album was released on September 2, 2008. "Everywhere I Go" was the first single to be released, it was a web single and was available for download only on iTunes...
, which peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200
Billboard (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...
in its first week. A few EPs were released, the Swan Songs B-Sides EP
Swan Songs B-Sides EP
Swan Songs B-Sides EP is an EP by Hollywood Undead, that was released on June 23, 2009, and consists of 4 b-side songs that were recorded during the sessions of the album Swan Songs but didn't make the album....
and the Swan Songs Rarities EP
Swan Songs Rarities EP
Swan Songs: Rarities - EP is an online purchase only EP, that was released on April 20, 2010, and consists of three remastered Hollywood Undead songs that were released on Myspace before the release of the band's first studio album Swan Songs...
in 2009 and 2010, respectively. In 2009, Hollywood Undead released their first live album, Desperate Measures
Desperate Measures (Hollywood Undead album)
-Disc Two :Live at the Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Marquee Theater, Tempe, Arizona-Chart positions:-Personnel:Hollywood Undead*Charlie Scene - vocals, lead guitar*Da Kurlzz – drums, percussion, screams, vocals Deuce- Lead vocals...
, which peaked at number 29 on the Billboard 200.
In early 2010, Hollywood Undead announced that Deuce had left the band due to musical differences. Hints of Deuce's departure were noticed when he did not take part in the Vatos Locos tour. Deuce was later replaced permanently as Hollywood Undead's clean vocalist by Daniel "Danny" Murillo. Deuce later released two songs attacking Hollywood Undead, "Story of a Snitch" and "When We Ride", the latter being a redone version of Hollywood Undead's "Dead in Ditches". The subject was brought up by interviewer Bryan Stars during an interview with Johnny 3 Tears and Da Kurlzz. The pair told the interviewer that the band had to "constantly satisfy Deuce while touring." "It was so bad, that I don't think there would've been another record if he was still with us," Da Kurlzz told the interviewer. "We bent over backwards to accommodate Deuce," he said. Johnny 3 Tears, growing weary about the subject, said "It was just that he didn't like being on the road, so we would have to do things to make him happy. He also claimed to be writing all the songs, and all this B.S.." The band decided to drop the subject afterwards, saying that they have moved on from the situation and would prefer not putting in too much detail.
Martini Beerman of World Famous Rock interviewed Charlie Scene and J-Dog, and the two decided to explain the final events that led up to the split. Charlie Scene told the interviewer, "He wanted to have his personal assistant come on the tour. None of us have personal assistants, we're not egomaniacs. We don't need that, and he wanted the band to pay for it and we did for like four months. After that we were like, 'we're not gonna pay $800 a week to have your buddy out on tour'. We went to the airport to fly out for our next tour, and he didn't show up. We were like, what the fuck do we do? We called him and he didn't answer. So for the first 2 weeks of that tour, I sang all his parts."
Solo career and Nine Lives (2010-present)
Since his departure from Hollywood Undead, Deuce formed an eponymous band which also focuses on rap rock music. The band is fronted by him and is mostly a solo project, but has live members and frequently featured artists Jimmy Yuma (who assisted in writing the song "This Love, This Hate" on Swan Songs), Arina Chloe, and "Truth", one of Deuce's best friends and fellow musicians. Transgender musician and model Jeffree StarJeffree Star
Jeffree Star is an American model, fashion designer, make-up artist, DJ, and singer-songwriter residing in the Beverly Hills area...
is also closely involved with Deuce and is featured on many of his songs, with his earliest work with Deuce being the demo song "Turn Off the Lights" with Hollywood Undead.
Deuce has been unable to release independent albums since 2010 due to contract issues with A&M/Octone Records
A&M/Octone Records
A&M/Octone Records is an American record label and a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Octone Records, also known as OctoScope Music...
which he signed while with Hollywood Undead, Deuce could not own the rights to his solo-music until he was free of his contract. However, Deuce was able to produce and release remixes, so long as they did not incur a profit. As a result, Deuce independently created songs using instrumentals from various artists, including: 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Tupac
Tupac
Tupac is a relatively uncommon male name. Notable people with the name include:*Túpac Inca Yupanqui , tenth Sapa Inca of the Incan Empire*Túpac Amaru , last indigenous leader of the Inca people in Peru...
, and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
. Many of these "remixes" or "mixtape style songs" made it on to his 2011 re-release mixtape Call Me Big Deuce, which was released to promote his debut solo album. The album will be released under label; 10th Street Entertainment and will contain collaborations with Travie McCoy
Travie McCoy
Travie Lazarus McCoy is an American singer and rapper. He is the lead vocalist of the alternative hip-hop band Gym Class Heroes. He released his debut solo album Lazarus on June 8, 2010....
, Ronnie Radke and Skee-Lo
Skee-Lo
Antoine Roundtree , better known as Skee-Lo, is an American rapper. He is best known for his 1995 song, "I Wish", which became a top-40 hit in several countries....
, and others. The album's lead single, "Let's Get It Crackin'", was released November 28th with an accompanying music video. It was also announced that the album will be released on March 27, 2012. Deuce also announced that a song titled "America" will be released as a single, but does not yet have a release date.
In September 2010, Deuce made his first official live performance as a solo artist at California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Epicenter
Epicenter (music festival)
Epicenter is an annual music festival in Southern California presented by Right Arm Entertainment and features acts on multiple stages.-External links:** at MySpace* at Twitter*...
music festival, opening for Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
, Blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
, Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
, Bush
Bush (band)
Bush are an alternative rock band formed in London in 1992 shortly after vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale and guitarist Nigel Pulsford met in a London nightclub. Realising they shared a love for such diverse artists as the Pixies, Bob Marley, The Jesus Lizard, MC5, Nirvana, Hüsker Dü, and Big...
, Rise Against
Rise Against
Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath , Zach Blair , Joe Principe and Brandon Barnes .Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it...
, and others.
Band members
Deuce, although a solo artist, has a seven-piece band for the purpose of touring with some members helping in production and promotion.- b.LaY - vocals; backup singer/rapper; appears as b.LaY.
- Truth - vocals; appears as "featuring artist".
- Jimmy Yuma - Co-production, lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
for live performances - Jim Lowery - Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for live performances - Arina Chloe - Keyboards, backing vocals
- Tye - drums & percussion for live performances. Provides drums for When We Ride (remixed and mastered version of Hollywood UndeadHollywood UndeadHollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011...
's "Dead in Ditches") - Chase - percussion, provided additional percussion at Epicenter
Nine Lives
A common misconception is that "Nine Lives", or "9Lives", is the name of Deuce's band, however the project began as a motto or saying and has since evolved into a music group (including several different artists, including Deuce, Truth, GML & Serve), an organization, and a soon-to-be clothing line. The Truth, a close collaborator and frequent featured artist on Deuce's solo songs, is considered the C.E.O. and founder of both the music company and clothing company. Truth plans to eventually evolve the project further into a legitimate record label, as well as a clothing line.Legal issues
Deuce filed a lawsuit against the A&M/Octone label claiming a breech of contract. The suit alleges that the label refused to release his solo music claiming it was not commercial enough.with Hollywood Undead (2005-2010)
- 2008: Swan SongsSwan Songs (Hollywood Undead album)Swan Songs is the debut album by Hollywood Undead, released through Octone Records. The album was released on September 2, 2008. "Everywhere I Go" was the first single to be released, it was a web single and was available for download only on iTunes...
- 2009: Desperate MeasuresDesperate Measures (Hollywood Undead album)-Disc Two :Live at the Sunshine Theater, Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Marquee Theater, Tempe, Arizona-Chart positions:-Personnel:Hollywood Undead*Charlie Scene - vocals, lead guitar*Da Kurlzz – drums, percussion, screams, vocals Deuce- Lead vocals...
Solo (2005, 2008-present)
- 2005: Aron
- 2008: The Two Thousand Eight EPThe Two Thousand Eight EPThe Two Thousand Eight EP was the first solo effort released of former Hollywood Undead front man Deuce. The EP was available from iTunes only, however was removed due to legal implications with A&M/Octone Records. A law suit was later settled, and Deuce is now permitted to release these songs once...
- 2011: The Call Me Big Deuce EPThe Call Me Big Deuce EPThe Call Me Big Deuce EP is the first official release by DEUCE as a solo artist. The mixtape features his friends The Truth and GML and also features guests such as: Jeffree Star, and Gadjet of Kinda Major.- Track listing :...
- 2012: Nine LivesNine Lives (Deuce album)Nine Lives is the official solo debut studio album by former Hollywood Undead frontman Deuce. The album is expected to be released on March 27, 2012 through 10th Street Entertainment, Eleven Seven Music, and Five Seven Music. The album uses both original songs and demo songs recorded following...
External Links =