Psycho Realm
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Psycho Realm is a rap group started in 1989 by brothers Jacken (Jack Gonzalez) and Duke (Gustavo Gonzalez) from the Downtown, Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. The first recorded Psycho Realm song, "Scandalous", was released on the soundtrack of the film Mi Vida Loca in 1993. That same year B-Real of the rap group Cypress Hill saw Psycho Realm performing at Olvera Street for an End Barrio Warfare concert. Their performance inspired B-Real to the point that he wanted to join the group. With this time period being the height of Cypress Hill’s career anything Cypress Hill related would get major publicity. In 1997 Sony released the first Psycho Realm album, labeled as an addition to the Cypress Hill Family by the sticker placed on the CD case. Due to conflicts with the record label the Gonzalez brothers left Sony as Jacken explains, "the machine was just trying to censor me / Didn't do it for Sony so they ended up releasing me / Independent, no longer locked down for an infinity / So my vicinity stays true to my identity." The brothers then went on to form Sick Symphonies, their own record label, which lacked the big budget for promotion and distribution in chain stores along with group member B-Real, who was stuck on his contract with Sony for Cypress Hill.
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[edit] Tragedy
On January 28, 1999 one month before the expected release of the second Psycho Realm album Duke was shot in a confrontation while trying to split up a fight at a fast food outlet in Los Angeles which left him paralyzed from the neck down for life. The shooter a 24 year old named Robert Burshee who was on parole at the time of the shooting was given a bail set at 1.6 million dollars he was eventually jailed for attempted murder. Jacken later that same year released A War Story: Book I with B-Real only appearing on one song. In 2001 the Sick Symphonies label released The Steel Storm the first album of a new group called Street Platoon. Jacken with the help of Street Platoon finished A War Story: Book II which came out at the end of 2003, which was already halfway done before the shooting of Duke.
[edit] Subject Matter
The group aims to inject pride and knowledge into those who live in the gang infested poverty ridden neighborhoods, but at the same time wants to open the minds of the ones on the outside who look down upon them. Jacken attempts to explain to outsiders with his statement, "my people’s exodus results in prejudice / you ask us why in poverty we become terrorists/ well let me tell you this we don’t choose to tote gats / and selling on the corner is to avoid tax". Duke views the group not as rappers but neighborhood reporters. They choose to document, "a time when its in fashion to be gun flashing, blasting... strapped ready for rivals harassing". The Psycho Realm spoke about the corruption of Rampart police officers from their experiences living in the Rampart district, before the Rampart Scandal hit the media. The group also promotes the unification of gangs with remarks such as "think about who dies when we let the lead out, we’re killing family tragically". The members of Psycho Realm have an immense talent for writing, in a time where artists sing other people’s lyrics. The Psycho Realm produced their own timeless music which stands out from all others due to an enormous amount of originality. The Psycho Realm has grown a worldwide following of "soldiers", and have performed in Japan, Mexico, and Europe this worldwide following which owes much to their previous affiliation with Cypress Hill. Psycho Realm fans hope for the day Duke’s words can once again be transmitted through the microphone and recorded for all to enjoy. At the moment Duke is in charge of all merchandising for Psycho Realm, Duke is known to personally reply to many of his fans emails.
[edit] The Impact
Not only do they report on issues hindering the neighborhoods of the Los Angeles area, they are Hip Hop individuals who have not surrender their foundation of Pico Union. A massive community truly embraces their thoughts and attitudes do to their relevance on social conditions. People, frankly love these original Platoons due to their exposure of the disenfranchise society.
[edit] Discography
- 1997 The Psycho Realm
- 1998 The Unreleased CD
- 1999 A War Story Book I
- 2003 A War Story Book II
Sick Jacken worked and rapped on the
- 2006 La Coka Nostra track "Fuck Tony Montana"
Also Psycho Realm presents Sick Symphonies:
- 2005 Psycho Realm and Street Platoon Present... Sick Symphonies: Sickside Stories
Upcoming
- 2006 Sick Symphonies Presents: The Terror Tapes Vol.1
