Kung Fu Vampire
Encyclopedia
Kung Fu Vampire is an American
rapper
from San Jose, California
and the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He has opened for Twiztid
, 2 Live Crew
, Tha Alkaholiks
, Digital Underground
, Kool Keith
, KRS-One
, Papa Roach
and The Pharcyde
, in addition to collaborating with musicians such as Eddie Gale
and Spice 1
.
. He formed a band, LSP. In 1999, he adopted the name "Kung Fu Vampire" during a conversation with his friends in which he discussed the idea of a martial arts film
featuring vampire
s. LSP disbanded, and Kung Fu Vampire formed a new band based on the "kung fu vampire" concept. Concepts from an unpublished novel he wrote also formed the basis for the group's stage act. In 2006, the group was voted as the "Best Local Band" by Metro Silicon Valley readers, and performed at the release party for Saw III
, as well as at The Playboy Mansion
.
, funk
and electro. Kung Fu Vampire referred to this style as "gothic hip hop" and "goth hop" to describe the true sound and separate himself from generic genre labeling, but later learned that it was also similar to the preexisting style horrorcore
. Kung Fu Vampire has collaborated with Jazz Trumpeter and Blue Note Recording Artist Eddie Gale
, Brother J of X Clan, Cougnut
and Spice 1
.
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 San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He has opened for 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...
, 2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew
2 Live Crew was a hip hop group from Miami, Florida. They caused considerable controversy with the sexual themes in their work, particularly on their 1989 album As Nasty As They Wanna Be.- Early career :...
, Tha Alkaholiks
Tha Alkaholiks
Tha Alkaholiks, also known as Tha Liks, was an American hip hop group from Los Angeles, California. Since the early 1990s they have produced funky, upbeat, hedonism-themed party music with a hardcore hip hop edge, powered by the beats of DJ and producer E-Swift and the lively, comedic rhymes of...
, Digital Underground
Digital Underground
Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour....
, Kool Keith
Kool Keith
Keith Matthew Thornton, better known by his stage name Kool Keith, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York. A founding member of Ultramagnetic MCs, Kool Keith has recorded prolifically both as a solo artist and in group collaborations. Kool Keith is the self-proclaimed inventor of...
, KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
, Papa Roach
Papa Roach
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest . The group's success continued with their gold album Lovehatetragedy , their platinum album Getting Away with Murder , The Paramour Sessions , and Metamorphosis...
and The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde
The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...
, in addition to collaborating with musicians such as Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale is an American trumpeter known for his work in free jazz, especially with the Sun Ra Arkestra.-Biography:Early in life, he studied trumpet with Kenny Dorham...
and Spice 1
Spice 1
Robert L. Green, Jr., better known by his stage name Spice 1, is an American rapper from Hayward, California. He has consistently been releasing solo and group albums since 1992. Spice 1 was ranked number 56 in The Source magazine's Top 115 Hip-Hop Artists from 1988–2003...
.
History
Kung Fu Vampire began breakdancing at the age of six, and taught himself how to rap and sing. At the age of twelve, his aunt began taking him to see concert performances, and introduced him to a Gothic style of dressGothic fashion
Gothic fashion is a clothing style worn by members of the Goth subculture; a dark, sometimes morbid, eroticized fashion and style of dress. Typical Gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips and black clothes. Both male and female goths wear dark eyeliner and dark fingernails. Styles are...
. He formed a band, LSP. In 1999, he adopted the name "Kung Fu Vampire" during a conversation with his friends in which he discussed the idea of a martial arts film
Martial arts film
Martial arts film is a film genre. A sub-genre of the action film, martial arts films contain numerous fights between characters, usually as the films' primary appeal and entertainment value, and often as a method of storytelling and character expression and development. Martial arts are frequently...
featuring vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s. LSP disbanded, and Kung Fu Vampire formed a new band based on the "kung fu vampire" concept. Concepts from an unpublished novel he wrote also formed the basis for the group's stage act. In 2006, the group was voted as the "Best Local Band" by Metro Silicon Valley readers, and performed at the release party for Saw III
Saw III
Saw III is a 2006 Canadian-American horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell and story by James Wan and Whannell. Wan and Whannell directed and wrote Saw and Bousman wrote and directed Saw II. It is the third film in the seven-part Saw film series and stars...
, as well as at The Playboy Mansion
The Playboy Mansion
The Playboy Mansion is the home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. Located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the mansion became famous during the 1970s through media reports of Hefner's lavish parties.-History:The house is described as being in the "Gothic-Tudor" style...
.
Style and influences
Kung Fu Vampire performs a style of Hip Hop fusing gothGothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and electro. Kung Fu Vampire referred to this style as "gothic hip hop" and "goth hop" to describe the true sound and separate himself from generic genre labeling, but later learned that it was also similar to the preexisting style 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:...
. Kung Fu Vampire has collaborated with Jazz Trumpeter and Blue Note Recording Artist Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale
Eddie Gale is an American trumpeter known for his work in free jazz, especially with the Sun Ra Arkestra.-Biography:Early in life, he studied trumpet with Kenny Dorham...
, Brother J of X Clan, Cougnut
Cougnut
-Biography:Cougnut, real name Ronald Fields was a rap artist from Lakeview, San Francisco.As frontman of rap group Ill Mannered Playas , and later as solo artist he was known for his real street credibility. His best known release is I.M.P...
and Spice 1
Spice 1
Robert L. Green, Jr., better known by his stage name Spice 1, is an American rapper from Hayward, California. He has consistently been releasing solo and group albums since 1992. Spice 1 was ranked number 56 in The Source magazine's Top 115 Hip-Hop Artists from 1988–2003...
.
Band members
Current- Kung Fu Vampire — vocals
- Jeremy Pollett — bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Chris Paxton - drums
- Deborah Spake - back up vocals
Discography
- Spacebar (1999)
- Blood Bath Beyond (2003)
- Dead SexyDead SexyDead Sexy is the third studio album by American rapper Kung Fu Vampire, released on October 31, 2008 by Mad Insanity Records. It was re-released in 2010 with a slightly altered track list.-Track listing:...
(2009) - Love Bites (TBA)