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Gym Class Heroes
Biography
Melding elements of rap, rock, R&B, and funk into one cohesive and melodic sound, upstate New York's Gym Class Heroes had diverse appeal based on their impressive musical dexterity. Often touring with indie rock and pop-punk bands, they didn't fit comfortably into one specific genre; the quartet's music was rooted in traditional hip-hop, but featured live instruments instead of looped samples or beats. Lyrics were often socially conscious, but also incorporated humor and wry perceptiveness. The band's roots date to 1997 in Geneva, NY, when MC Travis "Schleprok" McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley became friends during high-school gym class. Wanting to create a new palette for hip-hop, the duo worked with other musicians before Gym Class Heroes was officially born in 2001 with the addition of guitarist Milo Bonacci and bassist Ryan Giese. The guys self-released For the Kids that same year. Touring nonstop, they recorded The Papercut Chronicles in 2003, which caught the attention of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz before it was even finished. The Heroes were officially signed to his Fueled by Ramen imprint, Decaydance, by September 2004 at which point Bonacci was replaced by guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo.