Kung Fu Vampire
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| Kung Fu Vampire | |
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 Kung Fu Vampire performing at the Blank Club, July 13, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  United States California, USA |
| Genre(s) | Hip Hop Goth |
| Years active | 2000-Present |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Kung Fu Vampire - Vocals Natasha Littlewood aka Miss Fortune - Cello Jeremy Pollett aka - Bass Joyce Kuo aka Statis Kuo - Violin David West aka Mr. West - Drums and San tour Kerry S. - Belly Dancer Composers: Kung Fu Vampire, Leon Freeze, Tebo, Sadie Flick, The Iklektix and !ProHOEzak? |
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This article has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page. (December 2007) |
Kung Fu Vampire (sometimes spelled Kungfu Vampire) is a Bay Area Gothic, Horror Core, Hip Hop Artist from San Jose, CA. It consisting of 7 members Kung Fu Vampire (composer, producer and vocalist), Natasha Littlewood aka Miss Fortune (cello), Jeremy Pollett aka (bass), Joyce Kuo aka Statis Kuo (violin), David West aka Mr. West on drums and san tour, and Kerry S. (bellydancer).
The group is an example of innovation in sound and style, and although they step into the realm of the Bay Area's hyphy movement, they are everything hyphy isn't. Kung Fu Vampire first gained recognition by winning Metro Magazine Best Band in the Bay Area in 2006. During 2006 they also performed at the Playboy Mansion as well as the Saw III movie premiere.
A mysterious creature of the night, inspiring without permission, creating affluence amongst the undead, The Yin and Yang of Fang. Kung Fu Vampire's first major release was a CD/DVD entitled "Blood Bath Beyond". Their first big single in many years features Dem Hoodstarz and Z Man and is playing on radio stations across the globe.
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[edit] Personal History
Kung Fu Vampire himself is Sicilian Born (1886) Symphonic Composer died in 1977 re-animated sometime between the release of Star Wars episode 4 and the death of Elvis Presley.
Trying to pinpoint exactly where his story starts is tricky, because like the culture of Hip Hop, Kung Fu Vampire has many beginnings and new beginnings. A former nationally recognized gymnast, remaining grounded while constantly undergoing the task of recreation is not a challenge. His original crew, loc style productions used samples on a casio keyboard, live bass guitar, and an amiga computer with sinister early gangster rap influenced lyrics this young group was comprised of 3 members including long time friends Jesse, Justin and Jerimiah Huelsenkamp aka the Rebelskamp.
Kung Fu Vampire started at the critical age of 14, at which they released their first album, "Step into Madness". As a direct result of the evolution of their music, two of the members left peacefully and soon loc style productions became loc style psychedelix. Following their shift in direction, the crew released the local classic, "Only the first trip" which gained them a heavy degree of radio play and attention. However, Kung Fu Vampire was not only focusing on his musical endeavors
In a grueling competition, KFV won USA championships in his own native Bay Area on the rings in gymnastics. Following, KFV earned a spot on the USA national team. At the same time he was recording for the future release of what would be come the Antidote.
Following his senior year in high school, KFV moved onto college at SJSU while continuing to record. Four years after his last release in 1994, LSP (Last Spirit Path) dropped the local banger "The Antidote," which officially started the legend of KFV and gained critical acclaim on a global level. KFV found himself on the cover of 'Vamp magazine', the only Hip Hop act ever to receive this honor. In addition, the album was given an eight out of ten stars by the popular electronic music magazine 'Mixer', who boasted that the album was a clear emergence of a new genre. This would not be enough to satisfy KFV.
Besides being the only non black artist ever to be featured in the California Periodical "Da Bootycrack Magazine," KFV pioneered the Hip Hop section for Zero Magazine, a Northern California Rock magazine. KFV was also working side by side with local artist Xpresso, collaborating on six of the tracks on his album. He also worked with Oddworld and helped solidify a distribution deal for both Xpresso and Oddworld with Journees Music. Journees is a label specializing in break beats, house, drum n bass, and Electronic. They offered KFV a distribution and promotion deal. Opting for just distribution, KFV and Xpresso began putting it down on their own. With the help of Remix clothing's DJ Liquid.
One year later, KFV dropped LSP "Spacebar" which was a combination of unfinished songs from The Antidote and new songs. KFV extended huge collaborative efforts on this album co-producing many of the tracks, and bringing in all kinds of talent DJ Liquid, Bloody Mary, Sewn and Jiggalo to local favorite Persia and long time partner Xpresso. He also worked with the original members of the group LSP (Justin, Jeremiah and jesse) At the same time he was again working with Xpresso to complete his second solo endeavor "Flocabulary." Both projects were to be released on Journees. This album, also found itself getting a feature in URb magazine in 2000.
[edit] KFV Current Band Members
- Kung Fu Vampire - Composer, Producer and Vocals
- Miss Fortune - Cello
- Jeremey Pollett aka Mr. Pollett- Bass
- Statis Kuo- Violin
- Mr. West - Drums and Santour
- Mr. Widow - Visual Design
- Kerry S - Belly Dancer
[edit] Discography & Discography History
Kung Fu Vampire with LSP
- Step into the Madness
- Only the First Trip
- The Antidote
- Spacebar
Kung Fu Vampire
- Womb Til' Tomb (compilation),2000
- Blood, Bath and Beyond, 2003
Kung Fu Vampire with LSP - The Antidote
LSP stands for many things, the ideas behind them all intercept in the world of the psychedelic. the antidote is a cosmic blend of ambient and dark hip hop, some people say its trip hop either way it is said to be a "very stoney album" with lots of different influences.
The music was created between 1994 and 1998 produced and released by Kung Fu Vampire with co producers the Rebelskamp. At the time of release Kung Fu Vampire collaborated with an array of talented rappers and musicians from all over the country. "Heaven or Hell" produced by Tebo featured Cougnut (R.I.P) which has currently been remixed with another guest Mr. Sinatra and current co producer Sonic Translator , 99 Crisis produced by Assassin featuring Locc to da Brain from Sac., and Chunk from Menlo Park. Other songs include collaboration with Popa B formerly of Dub Nation, fellow friend and label mate Xpresso and Tebo now currently part of Kung Fu Vampire live band.
LSP the Antidote was indeed a melting pot of ideas and styles a lot of people have said to have had "crazy times" while listening to the antidote, and til this day claim to have the 20 song CD still in the changer 5 1/2 years later. A guy from little Rock bought the album at a Virgin store in North Carolina "based solely on the cover, when i listened to it i thought it was an instant classic, the best album for getting lifted to, enlightening and impressive".
Kung Fu Vampire with LSP - Spacebar
A place where the boundaries between Electronica, Hip Hop, Drum n Bass, and Funk have been blurred and blended like your favorite drink. One swallow of Kung Fu Vampire's expanding concoction and you'll be hooked on the intoxicating production and otherworldly vocals. Many people are followers, but few are brave enough to explore new dimensions the way LSP has on this dynamic project. For the mind, ear and spirit. Do not be afraid, just have I.d's ready... This CD presents us the 2nd offering from Kung Fu Vampire, the man behind LSP. Kung Fu Vampire is featured on over 25 albums to be released in 2001 alone (that he has produced tracks for or vocally appeared on with the help of Sewn) including DJ Liquid's Remix Projekt, & Pumpin Porno Beats also in our stable on Journees Music.
Womb Til Tomb
This is the first Kungfu Vampire compilation. It is a fine blend of hip-hop, trip-hop with overtones of electronica, including techno and drum & bass. This compilation was hand-selected and carefully crafted by The Kung Fu Vampire including rare unreleased tracks.
Fueled by the blood of the undead, with ginseng pumping through his heart like teeth sinking into a hapless victim's jugular, The Kung Fu Vampire inspires people without permission. His presence is an enigmatic whirlwind. His record does more than speak for itself. It proclaims proudly that this mysterious being, with a vicious reputation for spawning music of an otherworldly mind, is not just an average artist. He's almost an institution. KFV's discography boasts appearances on over 20 successful national releases. His live performance taps directly into the gravitational forces of the moon, angling towards this dark hero. He wastes little time before striking, as the foggy haze that you're left in will surely leave you "coffin", hackin', and gaspin' for breath in an involuntary meditative state. Stay up late tonight, and allow yourself to be possessed, as he is active only at night and disappears as quickly as he appears.
Kung Fu Vampire - Blood, Bath, Beyond
Almost every track features some form of exotic oriental instrument [for example, the strings in "Master Apprentice" are wicked], as well as lyrics that speak of various aspects of the Vampire's life. This overall consistency helps this album create an entire world of its own. When this CD is on, you are taken to the Kung Fu Vampire's reality. You can almost see a bunch of dead break dancers and mc's following behind the KFV, while he spits rhymes and marches down some dark alleyway. It makes me picture a hip hop "Thriller"-type video in my head. And any music that can paint vivid visuals in my mind is good music.
The beats here are all super-clean, courtesy of producers ST One and KFV. The tracks are perfectly concocted to allow the lyrics to stand out, without being drowned out by too many sounds [the beats aren't "trying to do too much", in other words]. The tempos are perfect for head-noddin', even on the first listen [I did some experiments on people, and found they were bobbin' heads the first time they heard it]. The lyrics are somewhat complex and abstract on some tracks, but after a few listens you start to find meaning in the detailed imagery that KFV uses to paint his tales.
So overall this album is very solid. The listener can feel it right away, and also gain a deeper appreciation of it after many listens. The album is also able to reflect different moods without losing its overall cohesive feel. For example, "Darkness We Run" has a dark, serious vibe, thanks to the violins used in the beat and the calm lyrics by KFV. Then there are songs like "Atmosfear" and "Ship Left Field" [which are two of my favorites]...these songs have an undeniable bounce to them that made me want to turn the volume up another notch.
[edit] Press Coverage
- Alternative 101, August 2007
- ZERO Magazine, July 2005 - Kung Fu Vampire -by Jason Pepe, Reinvention for 2005
- Kung Fu Vampire PSP Magazine, June 15, 2005
- Ragin' Pit Magazine - Rock, Indy Rock, Nu Metal and a Vampire? Continue...
- West Coast Indie, 2004
- San Francisco Observer
- Zero Magazine, July - August, 2004
- Metro Magazine, July - August, 2004
- High Times Magazine, May - June, 2004
- Interview with a (Rapping) Vampire By Stewart Rudy, The Wave Magazine Vol. 4 Issue 3, Jan 28 - Feb 10, 2004
- The Wave Magazine, Jan. 14 - 27, 2004
- Metro Magazine, Jan. 2004
- H2O Magazine, June 2003
- Making The Monster - Interviews with the Band By J. Wheeler
- Kung Fu Vampire By Shamako Noble - Vamp Magazine. May 15, 2000
- Vamp Magazine, March 2000
- Vamp Magazine Issue 5, Nov. 1999
- The Bootycrack Magazine Issue 5, Oct. - Nov. 1999
- Mixer Magazine, Sept. 1999
- Zero Magazine Issue 7 Number 4, March 1999
- Metro Magazine, 1999
- City Revolt Magazine (Zero Magazine), Dec. 1997
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- http://www.thewavemagazine.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24601
- http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.18.06/kung-fu-vampire-0642.html
- http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.18.06/kung-fu-vampire-0642.html
- http://raginpitmagazine.com/postnews.php?subaction=showfull&id=1110226776&archive=&start_from=&ucat=32&
- http://zeromag.com/articles/cd_view.php?id=197&PHPSESSID=51fd190f854d6e3ce6f1fa4e5fb81a88
- http://alternate101.com/default.asp
- http://www.kungfuvampire.com/
- http://www.myspace.com/kungfuvampire/
