Kottonmouth Kings aren’t just another hip hop or punk band. Kings that wear many crowns describe the multi-talented members of KMK. The Kottonmouth Kings are sharp businessmen as well as great hip-hop/punk musicians. Touched by the reggae spirit, the Kottonmouth Kings have spread their love for music and people all over the world in non-stop touring breaking a million in both attendance and sells. The Kottonmouth Kings started Suburban Noize Records, and benefited from a joint venture with Capitol Records to fund their Indie label in the early stages of development. Thousands of concerts later, touring every continent and all over North America, Suburban Noize Records is no longer a boutique Indie label, but is keeping their label independent and continuously growing having added over two dozen bands that include touring partner Hed P.E. and Wicked Wisdom. There are even side- related businesses that include a clothing line and drumming equipment. AAM caught up with Brad who is better known as Daddy X, and KMK has many surprises in store including Koast II Koast to be released 6-6-06 and the video premiere of “Everybody Move” on 5-25-06. Catch their single and video, “Where’s the Weed at?”
May 25, 2006
By Laura Phillips
AAM: You’ve stayed in the game for over a dozen years along with getting ready to release your 8th album Koast II Koast on 6-6-06. When most bands in the underground movement consider it a major accomplishment to make it to ten years; how has the Kottonmouth Kings kept it going all these years in such good spirit?
Brad “Daddy” X: I think it is an accomplishment for any band to survive in this biz, for any relationship to last over ten years is a feat in itself. We realize the blessing we have been given to make music for a living and touch so many lives.
AAM: Your non-stop touring has been part of the key to your success. What is the chemistry for your band like when you’re out on tour, and how excited are you about Kottonmouth Kings co-headlining with Hed P.E. this summer?
Brad “Daddy” X: At this stage we are vets and are conditioned to the road so it becomes second nature, everyone gives each other space and respect and realizes the most important of your day is to deliver the best set every night, we just returned from Japan with Hed P.E. and had a great trip. We are both dropping records on June 6th, so I think there will be a great energy to the shows this summer. We are stoked to have them on the label and part of the Sub Noize family.
AAM: Kottonmouth also has a joint venture with Daddy X. How has this challenged and benefited both your respective bands?
Brad “Daddy” X: Having the platform of Suburban Noize enables all of the Kings to do side projects. D Loc and Richter have Kings Spade, I have Daddy X Solo Records, DJ Bobby B has a series of records, and Lou Dog the drummer has his Lourider Drum business. So I think everyone having outside opportunities only helps people grow as artists and be creatively fulfilled.
AAM: There’s also a new deluxe box set being currently promoted for the Kottonmouth Kings along with the highly anticipated release of Koast II Koast that drops on 6-6-06. How exciting is this musical venture?
Brad “Daddy” X: KMK does not have a box set; there is a Subnoize Box called Underground Ammo which has different Subnoize Releases...We do have a live DVD coming out this August called, “THE JOINT IS ON FIRE" which was filmed over seven live shows on the West Coast. It will also contain new videos of "Koast to Koast."
AAM: Another key to your band’s success is that you started your own record label and spread the love out so other underground bands could benefit. At an early point in your career were you seeking a major label or disgusted by the majors deciding that Kottonmouth Kings would be better starting a label from scratch?
Brad “Daddy” X: When I started Suburban Noize, the goal was to release KMK. We wound up doing a joint venture deal with Capitol Records, which enabled us to fully fund the label in its early stages which we are grateful for. It also gave us good insight to the pros and cons of working with a major label…We are completely independent now which suits our type of label and the pace we like to work...It is also more challenging, at the same time more rewarding... It is a massive undertaking and true realization of dreaming the impossible dream.
AAM: In your wildest dreams, did you ever dream that Suburban Noize Records would actually give serious competition to the major labels and that your label would eventually host two dozen acts?
Brad “Daddy” X: I do not think we are in competition with major labels...We are in competition with ourselves to keep the doors open and not bounce checks. We do feed a lot of mouths and that presents its own challenges, but it beats flipping burgers…We wouldn’t have it any other way…Trust me, there is no safety net or Rock n Roll Pension Plan to fall back on.
AAM: Doesn’t it feel amazing to host a label that has changed the life of so many bands and people?
Brad “Daddy” X: It has been rewarding working with so many talented people; however, I think the biggest gift we can give to the artist is to give them a realistic view of the industry and what our limitations are as an independent label...in a lot of ways it is unveiling the illusion of their dream. Sometimes there are family and friends involved and people can have unrealistic expectations which creates friction and tension...We try to do fair and honest business and do the best we can with the resources available to us. Our main goal is to put out great records that stand the test of time and connect with people... We feel in that aspect we are reaching our goals.
AAM: There’s also a clothing line. Where did the inspiration for that come from?
Brad “Daddy” X: The merchandise aspect has always been a part of the business, since back in the punk days; you had to think of ways to put gas in the tank, cause vans don’t run on beer. My partner Kevin Zinger was already doing the SRH clothing company when we started to do business together, and we used the platform of the band and label to promote SRH... It goes hand in hand with the lifestyle of extreme living and personal freedom... We provide the soundtrack for the party.
AAM: How would you describe the music of Kottonmouth Kings and of your label in general?
Brad “Daddy” X: There are a lot of styles within the kings as well as very diverse stles within the label. Those styles range from aggressive, punk, hip hop, regaee, stoney vibes and everything in between. Far as labeling th Kings or any of the acts becomes tricky. I think we are about breaking down stereotypes and specific categorization of music. Music is about expression and everyone expresses differently, we promote unity between cultures and people, Freedom music is what we call it, Rebel Music.
AAM: How did your band come up with the name Kottonmouth Kings?
Brad “Daddy” X: We were originally COTTONMOUTH and some other group had the name copyrighted so we changed it to KOTTONMOUTH KINGS mainly because we consumed such large quantities of marijuana.
AAM: Where does the inspiration for Kottonmouth Kings come from?
Brad “Daddy” X: Our inspiration in general comes from life and living taking the good with the bad and finding your way thru this crazy maze.
AAM: What are your influences?
Brad “Daddy” X: TOO MANY TO NAME, MAINLY GANJA.
AAM: How does it feel for the Kottonmouth Kings to be the influences for other bands?
Brad “Daddy” X: If our music, movements or group influences someone in a positive way, that is the ultimate reward from making music. I hope we inspire bands to be original, be themselves and be self-empowered!!
AAM: Do you feel that since your band has achieved greatness that this gives you an added since of responsibility?
Brad “Daddy” X: I don’t know if we have achieved greatness, but I know that this group of stoners from southern Cal have gone around this planet spreading good vibes and music. For some reason, the KOTTONMOUTH KINGS really strike a chord with a lot of people and to be part of a group that has impacted so many people is a very powerful thing. We truly have the greatest fans that support what we do for that we are humbled and grateful. The summer tour kicks off in June and will take us thru the late summer, we hope that we can continue to make records that people feel and put on the best shows we can deliver. I hope we can discover an alternative fuel source. Hey I got it "HEMP" the perfect plant. Lets outlaw HEMP and fight more wars. Yeah lets destroy the planet and put more peaceful loving potheads in jail. Lets deplete mother earth of all its natural resources, and run up billions of dollars in debt so our children and their children will never have a chance. Sounds like its time for a stoney revolution! Seek truth, observe nature and educate your self. Look for the new SUBNOIZE SOULJAS RECORD dropping this summer, JULY 18TH "DROPPIN BOMBS" check the web sites for all the 411...One Love , One people. KOTTONMOUTHKINGS still blowin smoke rings. Peace DADDY X
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy tour schedule to talk with AAM today. Good luck on 6-6-06, and keep inviting us out to your shows.
Go to www.SuburbanNoizeRecords.com and www.KottonmouthKings.com to keep up with the latest on Kottonmouth Kings. Tour tickets and pre-sale of “Koast to Koast” are available on line.
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