Laze & Royal
Encyclopedia
Laze & Royal is a Hip Hop
, Dubstep
, Pop
group hailing from North Hollywood, CA. The group is made up of two 22-year old twin brothers, Bennett "Laze" Armstrong and Justyn "Royal" Armstrong. Laze & Royal originally started as a group named 2XL which was later renamed Hollywood High School which was finally changed to "Laze & Royal."
As the hip hop duo 2XL, the group released the full length album Neighborhood Rapstar
via Monopoly Music and Tommy Boy Records
. The album was released on February 20, 2007 and most notably featured super producer Scott Storch
, DJ/Producer DJ Unk, bay area veteran E-40
and several others. The album's singles were "Kitty Kat" featuring E-40
and "Magic City" featuring Cherish.
, Eve 6
and Nirvana
."
Having traveled the country on multiple nationwide tours, collaborating with E-40
, Scott Storch, DJ Unk, Cherish, along with scoring many major movie and television shows (CSI: Miami
, Four Brothers
, Barbershop 2, Bring it On 2, Like Mike 2, etc.) Laze & Royal began singing and rapping, since the age of 11 when they were discovered by producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Atlanta-based co-creator of Rihanna's "Umbrella"). The situation soon ended leaving Laze & Royal no choice but to become self contained artists and producers. "We realized that if we took music seriously it could be a career, we could make something out of it", says Royal. "So when we were 12 our mom bought us a little recording set-up. She had no money so she couldn't pay the electricity bill that month so we had to wait a month, but we started getting it together." In 2003, Laze & Royal met David Esterson, CEO of Monopoly Music. As a manager and production company, he supplied them with everything they needed to get to the next step. Together they would travel regionally to stations gaining heavy radio play and quickly becoming noticed by major labels.
Then bad news struck. Their mother Rhea received a terminal brain-cancer diagnosis when the brothers were 6. She initially beat cancer, only to be subsequently diagnosed a second time when Laze & Royal were 13 and third time when they were 16. Incredibly, she has outlived all three terminal diagnoses, and while currently hospitalized her health is improving. "She's a huge inspiration for us", says Laze. "Knowing how hard she's fought keeps us motivated." As Royal puts it, "Our mother is our biggest fan. We talk to her every day, and when we visit her in the hospital she's got our records and t-shirts around her bed. She put as much into our career as any single mother possibly could."
In 2008, their song "Like A Pistol" grabbed the attention of world famous songwriter/producer and newly appointed judge on American Idol
, Kara DioGuardi
. Having created platinum hits for artists including Christina Aguilera
, Celine Dion
, Gwen Stefani
, Kelly Clarkson
, and Santana
, DioGuardi fell in love with Laze & Royal right away.
As Laze explains: "In February 2008 we were sending out CDRs we burned ourselves, and sending emails blasts to A&Rs. We already knew who Kara DioGuardi was, she's such a huge songwriter, and we got a call that she wanted to meet us at Warner Bros. We came in thinking it'd be just another label meeting and we'd go see Iron Man afterwards. Kara said, 'You've got a hot record. What else you got?' We played her some other songs along with beats we had produced and she said, 'You're not leaving. Hold on.' Within twenty minutes she'd walked us into [Warner Bros' CEO] Tom Whalley's office and they were saying, 'We want this. We need you here.' We said, 'Can we go get some food and talk this over?' And they said, 'No. We'll bring food in. You're not leaving.' Eight hours later the deal was signed."
After touring the country with acts such as Pretty Ricky
, Shwayze
, and Tyga
, they are currently wrapping up their reality show which also features Kara Dioguardi. Laze & Royal are also busy in the studio with artists such as Christina Milian
, Scott Storch
, Brian Kennedy
, Cisco Adler
, Tyga
, along with many others. Laze & Royal are also hard at work on their debut album which is Executive-produced by Kara and Laze & Royal themselves.
While the tracks that will make their album have yet to be determined, Laze & Royal promise that their diverse musical tastes will be represented. "We're a product of America", says Laze. "We represent diversity, just like a lot of other kids." Royal picks up the idea: "In society everything has to fit a category. 'Put it in rock or put it in hip-hop.' 'That belongs over there.' 'That person is black and Asian but they look more Asian so put them in the Asian category.' But that's not how it is nowadays. Kids on their iPods go from 50 Cent
to Jesse McCartney
to Green Day
, that's the way we listen to music. So we do what we feel, we do what comes natural. To us, music doesn't have boundaries. It's either good or it's not."
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, Dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
, Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
group hailing from North Hollywood, CA. The group is made up of two 22-year old twin brothers, Bennett "Laze" Armstrong and Justyn "Royal" Armstrong. Laze & Royal originally started as a group named 2XL which was later renamed Hollywood High School which was finally changed to "Laze & Royal."
As the hip hop duo 2XL, the group released the full length album Neighborhood Rapstar
Neighborhood Rapstar
Neighborhood Rapstar is the debut album from hip-hop duo Laze & Royal , released on February 20, 2007.-Track listing:# "Rock On"# "Like It Like That"# "Wannabe"# "Magic City"...
via Monopoly Music and Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
. The album was released on February 20, 2007 and most notably featured super producer Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, DJ/Producer DJ Unk, bay area veteran E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
and several others. The album's singles were "Kitty Kat" featuring E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
and "Magic City" featuring Cherish.
Background
Born to an African-American father (who sang tenor for The Platters) and an Austrian/Sicilian mother (herself a stage singer), the brothers were raised in Los Angeles solely by their mother. "Our mom was always playing everything in the house from Al Green to Kenny G, or The Platters", says Laze. "Of course for us like every other young kid at first we were all about Michael Jackson. Then through our older brother Jeff we got into Snoop, N.W.A, SublimeSublime (band)
Sublime was an American ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell , Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh . Michael "Miguel" Happoldt also contributed on a few Sublime songs, such as "New Thrash." Lou Dog, Nowell's...
, Eve 6
Eve 6
Eve 6 is an American rock band from Southern California, who are most well known for their hit singles "Inside Out", "Leech", and the slow anthem "Here's to the Night". They disbanded in 2004, returned in 2007 with a new lineup, and finally reunited with all three original members in March 2011...
and Nirvana
Nirvana (band)
Nirvana was an American rock band that was formed by singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic in Aberdeen, Washington in 1987...
."
Having traveled the country on multiple nationwide tours, collaborating with E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
, Scott Storch, DJ Unk, Cherish, along with scoring many major movie and television shows (CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
, Four Brothers
Four Brothers (film)
Four Brothers is a 2005 action crime film directed by John Singleton. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin and Garrett Hedlund. The film was shot in Detroit, Michigan and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada...
, Barbershop 2, Bring it On 2, Like Mike 2, etc.) Laze & Royal began singing and rapping, since the age of 11 when they were discovered by producer Christopher "Tricky" Stewart (Atlanta-based co-creator of Rihanna's "Umbrella"). The situation soon ended leaving Laze & Royal no choice but to become self contained artists and producers. "We realized that if we took music seriously it could be a career, we could make something out of it", says Royal. "So when we were 12 our mom bought us a little recording set-up. She had no money so she couldn't pay the electricity bill that month so we had to wait a month, but we started getting it together." In 2003, Laze & Royal met David Esterson, CEO of Monopoly Music. As a manager and production company, he supplied them with everything they needed to get to the next step. Together they would travel regionally to stations gaining heavy radio play and quickly becoming noticed by major labels.
Then bad news struck. Their mother Rhea received a terminal brain-cancer diagnosis when the brothers were 6. She initially beat cancer, only to be subsequently diagnosed a second time when Laze & Royal were 13 and third time when they were 16. Incredibly, she has outlived all three terminal diagnoses, and while currently hospitalized her health is improving. "She's a huge inspiration for us", says Laze. "Knowing how hard she's fought keeps us motivated." As Royal puts it, "Our mother is our biggest fan. We talk to her every day, and when we visit her in the hospital she's got our records and t-shirts around her bed. She put as much into our career as any single mother possibly could."
In 2008, their song "Like A Pistol" grabbed the attention of world famous songwriter/producer and newly appointed judge on American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
, Kara DioGuardi
Kara DioGuardi
Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, music publisher, A&R executive, composer and TV personality. She writes music primarily in the light pop-rock, dance, and R&B genres. DioGuardi has worked with many popular artists; her songs have appeared on more than 159...
. Having created platinum hits for artists including Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
, Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Clarkson
Kelly Brianne Clarkson is an American pop rock singer-songwriter and actress. Clarkson came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of the television series American Idol in 2002 and would later become the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003.In 2003,...
, and Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
, DioGuardi fell in love with Laze & Royal right away.
As Laze explains: "In February 2008 we were sending out CDRs we burned ourselves, and sending emails blasts to A&Rs. We already knew who Kara DioGuardi was, she's such a huge songwriter, and we got a call that she wanted to meet us at Warner Bros. We came in thinking it'd be just another label meeting and we'd go see Iron Man afterwards. Kara said, 'You've got a hot record. What else you got?' We played her some other songs along with beats we had produced and she said, 'You're not leaving. Hold on.' Within twenty minutes she'd walked us into [Warner Bros' CEO] Tom Whalley's office and they were saying, 'We want this. We need you here.' We said, 'Can we go get some food and talk this over?' And they said, 'No. We'll bring food in. You're not leaving.' Eight hours later the deal was signed."
After touring the country with acts such as Pretty Ricky
Pretty Ricky
Pretty Ricky is an American R&B/hip hop group originally made up of Diamond "Baby Blue" Smith, Spectacular Smith, Corey "Slick 'em" Mathis, and Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper. In 2007, Pleasure P left the group to pursue a solo career...
, Shwayze
Shwayze
Aaron Smith , better known by his stage name Shwayze, is an American rapper.Born and raised in Malibu, California, Shwayze worked at a local Starbucks coffee shop until he met Whitestarr frontman Cisco Adler at a nightclub. One night Shwayze jumped on stage during Whitestarr's performance and...
, and Tyga
Tyga
Michael Stevenson , better known by his stage name Tyga , is an American rapper signed to Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records. He is of Vietnamese and Jamaican descent...
, they are currently wrapping up their reality show which also features Kara Dioguardi. Laze & Royal are also busy in the studio with artists such as Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
, Scott Storch
Scott Storch
Scott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
, Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy
Brian Kennedy is the name of:*Brian Kennedy , journalist and activist who helped set up the London Lesbian and Gay Centre in 1985*Brian Kennedy , Irish singer-songwriter and author...
, Cisco Adler
Cisco Adler
Cisco Sam Adler is an American musician and former frontman for the band Whitestarr.Adler is the son of music producer and director Lou Adler and Phyllis Somer. He is also a relative of actress Daryl Hannah through his father's marriage to her sister Page Hannah.In 2008 Adler left Whitestarr, and...
, Tyga
Tyga
Michael Stevenson , better known by his stage name Tyga , is an American rapper signed to Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records. He is of Vietnamese and Jamaican descent...
, along with many others. Laze & Royal are also hard at work on their debut album which is Executive-produced by Kara and Laze & Royal themselves.
While the tracks that will make their album have yet to be determined, Laze & Royal promise that their diverse musical tastes will be represented. "We're a product of America", says Laze. "We represent diversity, just like a lot of other kids." Royal picks up the idea: "In society everything has to fit a category. 'Put it in rock or put it in hip-hop.' 'That belongs over there.' 'That person is black and Asian but they look more Asian so put them in the Asian category.' But that's not how it is nowadays. Kids on their iPods go from 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...
to Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney is an American singer-songwriter, actor and voice actor. McCartney achieved fame in the late 1990s on the daytime drama All My Children as JR Chandler. He later joined boy band Dream Street, and eventually branched out into a solo musical career...
to Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, that's the way we listen to music. So we do what we feel, we do what comes natural. To us, music doesn't have boundaries. It's either good or it's not."
Albums
| Information we are the |
|---|
| Neighborhood Rapstar Neighborhood Rapstar Neighborhood Rapstar is the debut album from hip-hop duo Laze & Royal , released on February 20, 2007.-Track listing:# "Rock On"# "Like It Like That"# "Wannabe"# "Magic City"...
|
| Hollywood Ate Me Alive!
|
Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B | U.S. Rap Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
UK | Irish Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Kitty Kat Kitty Kat Katharina Löwel , better known under her stage name Kitty Kat or Kitten Ket, became famous as an Aggro Berlin member, where she was signed from 2006 to 2009.-Biography:... " (featuring E-40 E-40 Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut... ) |
- | - | - | 30 | - | Neighborhood Rapstar Neighborhood Rapstar Neighborhood Rapstar is the debut album from hip-hop duo Laze & Royal , released on February 20, 2007.-Track listing:# "Rock On"# "Like It Like That"# "Wannabe"# "Magic City"... |
| 2007 | "Magic City" (featuring Candy Hill) | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007 | "Magic City (Remix)" (featuring Cherish & Unk Unk Anthony Platt , commonly known as Unk, is a DJ/rapper. He began spinning records in 1998. After meeting DJ Jelly and DJ Montay, he joined their DJ entourage, the Southern Style DJs. They performed for high school parties, proms, pep rallies, and other events around the state of Georgia. In 2000... ) |
TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR | TBR | |
| 2011 | "You & Me" (featuring Myah Marie!) | - | - | - | - | - | Hollywood Ate Me Alive! |
Mixtapes
- 2009: When Worlds Collide Vol. 1 (Hosted by DJ Vlad)
- 2009: Kiss Myself Goodbye (Hosted by DJ Ill Will & DJ Rockstar)
- 2010: When Worlds Collide Vol. 2
- 2010: Kiss Myself Goodbye 2