Releases

To say the alternative hip-hop group Wylde Bunch blazes trails is an understatement.  Comprised of family members and long-time friends, the South Central Los Angeles natives have pioneered a sound infusing elements of funk, soul, rock, and world music into an incredible hip-hop sound.  “Nothing is what you expect and everything raises the hip hop standard” says 1340 Mag’s Mark Fisher.  Strengthened by an amazing off-the-hook live show that rocks beyond description they have become known on the live circuit as the “alternative hip-hop band”.

Bonded by blood, friendship and a love for music, most of the members of Wylde Bunch started off as schoolmates.  Raised in a city racked with social ills and the complexities of a relentless gang culture, the boys rarely went to weekend and evening outings or parties. Nighttime activity always revolved around the band.  Nevertheless, the group, known for their practical jokes, party crashing, and enough charisma to fill the Staples Center, found sanctuary during jam sessions at the family home of emcee and producer, Dame.  Consequently, the frequent private performances began to produce some mind-blowing results.
 
By high school, the blossoming musicians became bored with playing standards and current popular tunes.  They began writing and performing their own joints, as well as generating independent CDs.  This early music impressed people to the point where they started receiving paid gigs.  The mischievous bunch of teens, now maturing into men, moved their act to the club scene. This transition was carefully chaperoned by the band’s elder, “Popz,” who saw to it that the adult clubs did not unleash their various “distractions” on the band. Wylde Bunch rapidly grew into an established local hip-hop crew, garnering a solid following that eventually captured the interest of the music industry, leading to their critically acclaimed major label debut CD Wylde Times at Washington High on Sony.

Wylde Bunch has created an undeniable niche with their explosive sound.  If there is perhaps a misperception by some that live bands aren’t a part of hip-hop, Wylde Bunch is seeing to it that myth is destroyed.  Also, Ish and Dame, the main producers of the group, work through their own production company, The Drop Squad.  When they have any down time from the band, most of the members have made a point to return to childhood schools in Los Angeles, teaching music at schools lacking in funds.  Giving back to the community is of the utmost importance to this inner city band.
 
Their story and journey was even big enough to land a spot on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” featuring Wylde Bunch member Dame. They have since been a part of a series of tours, television appearances, major collaborations and features.

The Players

Dame – Emcee Speed – Emcee Janey – Emcee & Trumpet Ish – Drums C-Reezie – Sax Jay – Trombone Aroyn – Bass Daniel – Keys Popz – Guitar Byg Sexy – Vocals

 

The New Mixtape

Reviewed by Darone Bower

If I could sum this project from L.A.s Wylde Bunch up in one word it’s Growth! 10 years removed from their debut, Wylde Bunch has made an album that speaks more of who they are and what they can do than any project since their first. Known as a superb live act thats toured and opened for the best in Hip Hop Music (De La Soul, Black Eyed Peas, etc.,) it seemed difficult to hear the transfer of electricity from stage to album. Is This Thing On finally shows them sounding like theyre having fun again and pushing the lines of their old school musician roots together with their L.A. upbringing of Hip-Hop. On Here We Go they spit confidently over the Dr. Dre inspired beat, with Inglewoods Skeme.  Choices (with a solid verse from legendary Pharcyde MC Tre) shows their knack of storytelling. I Want Some brings their much talked about live show to record, something that hasnt been this street sounding ever in their career. This album feels like a new beginning for the group, sounding more comfortable and very focused. Chapter 2 of the Wylde Bunch Story is starting to already seem like a huge improvement over the last.  The M.C.s could balance out each other more, and the stories could be more personal, but this is a true re-introduction of the Wylde Bunch. With L.A.s Hip-Hop scene finally broadening past the gangsta rap stigma thats haunted it for so long, its great to see the pioneers of its versatility stand up!

 

Key Tracks:  Choices, Here We Go, I Want Some

Track Listing

1. Yeah Yeah (Stomp The Bleachers)
2. Dumb
3. Nanana
4. Clash
5. Lose It
6. On Top