Brotha Lynch Hung

Kevin Danell Mann (born January 10, 1969),^[1][2] better known by his stage name Brotha Lynch Hung, is an American rapper and record producer from Sacramento, California.^[3] Since the release of his debut EP 24 Deep in 1993, Brotha Lynch Hung has sold 1.4 million CDs independently,^[4] and has been described as an innovator of horrorcore^[5] and one of the forefathers of the genre.

Early life

Mann grew up listening to rappers such as Rakim and Slick Rick on Hot 97.^[6] He started rapping at the age of 13.^[7] A member of the Garden Blocc Crips during his youth, he was shot in the side when he tried to break up a confrontation between a fellow Crip and a Bloods gang member at a party. Mann still has the bullet inside him to this day and the incident motivated him to leave gang culture behind.^[8]

Music career

Beginnings

Mann appeared on and produced 11 of the 12 tracks on X-Raided's 1992 debut album Psycho Active. He was also featured on the song "Ho's B Schemin Too" as well as a skit with his half-brother Sicx^[9] on KRD's album Sac-Town Funk. Performing as the Street Talk Crew, Brotha Lynch Hung, X-Raided, and Sicx released the cassette Niggaz in Blacc in 1991. It is regarded by Mann as "some of my best work."^[7]

1992: 24 Deep

In 1992, Brotha Lynch Hung began to record his first EP, 24 Deep, and it was released in 1993 under Black Market Records.^[10] The album reached No. 91 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,^[11] the first of the label's albums to chart.

1995: Season of the Siccness

His album, Season of da Siccness, was released in 1995.^[5][12] This album became his first album to enter on the Billboard 200. It also includes the song "Locc To Da Brain" which is one of Brotha Lynch Hung's most well-known songs.

1997-2001: Loaded, EBK4 and The Virus

His third album, Loaded, was released in 1997. The album most notably features guest appearances from Kokane, E-40 and Ice-T. The album debuted at #28 on the Billboard 200, making it Brotha Lynch Hung's highest debut on the chart. He then released EBK4 and The Virus which EBK4 made the Billboard 200 and The Virus did not. 2000 marked the release of Brotha Lynch Hung's first and only starring role in a film, Now Eat, a horror comedy based on his music. An album was also released to coincide with the film.

2002: Three albums released in 2002 and problems with Black Market

Appearances: Book 1 was released on January 19, 2002. After Lynch released his second LP, Loaded, he began a long-standing feud with Cedric over the rights of his legit catalogue (including 24 Deep, Season of Da Siccness and Loaded). Cedric scrapped together a lot of either stolen Lynch songs; All of these songs came from other artists albums. Lynch receives no profit whatsoever on anything Black Market put out after Loaded. He then released Remains: Book II and Book III and then parted ways with Black Market Records.

2003-2008: Lynch by Inch: Suicide Note, The Ripgut Collection and Snuff Tapes

Lynch released three albums on different record labels. He released Lynch by Inch: Suicide Note in June 2003 under Siccmade Music. It was the first album since EBK4 to make it to the Billboard 200. He then released The Ripgut Collection on Madesicc in 2007 and Snuff Tapes in 2008 which is available on the website Siccness.net. Both albums enter the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums peaking at 55 and 78 respectively.

Strange Music (2009 - present)

In May 2009, Mann signed a three album deal with Midwest rapper Tech N9ne's Strange Music label.^[13] In March 2010, he released his Strange Music debut, Dinner and a Movie, selling around 7,000 copies during its first week. His second Strange album, Coathanga Strangla, was released a year later in April 2011, and his third album with Strange Music, Mannibalector was released on February 5, 2013. The Horror-inspired trilogy told a fictional story of a crazed cannibalistic serial killer, struggling with life, family and the urge to kill. Each album debuted on the Billboard 200, and featured acts such as Snoop Dogg, Yelawolf, Hopsin and Tech N9ne among others. Following the release of the third album, Strange Music offered Mann a contract extension to keep him on the label.^[14]

Controversy

In September 1996, Joseph Edward Gallegos, an 18-year-old man from Colorado, listened to Brotha Lynch Hung's song "Locc 2 da Brain" repeatedly before fatally shooting all three of his friends. Neighbors heard the gunshots and called police. He then got in a shootout with police and subsequently he was killed in the shootout. Although Gallegos' motive was determined to be depression over a breakup with his girlfriend, his minister suggested that the music played a role in the killings.^[15][16][17]

Artistry and style

Brotha Lynch Hung's lyrics are known for incorporation of graphic themes including ultraviolence, misogyny, rape and cannibalism, especially in his first CD's. Still, these issues were eased when he recorded with MC Eiht on the album "The New Season".

Discography

• Season of da Siccness (1995)
• Loaded (1997)
• EBK4 (2000)
• The Virus (2001)
• Appearances: Book 1 (2002)
• Remains: Book II (2002)
• Book III (2002)
• Lynch by Inch: Suicide Note (2003)
• The Ripgut Collection (2007)
• Snuff Tapes (2008)
• Dinner and a Movie (2010)
• Coathanga Strangla (2011)
• Ripgut Collections Two^[18] (2011)
• Mannibalector (2013)^[19]
• Anthropophagy (TBA)^[20]

Notes

External links

• Official website
• Official blog
• CoatHangaStrangla website
• Brotha Lynch Hung on Myspace
• Brotha Lynch Hung on Twitter
• Brotha Lynch Hung at AllMusic
• Brotha Lynch Hung at the Internet Movie Database