Kung Fu Vampire
{{short description|American rapper}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kung Fu Vampire
| image = Kung Fu Vampire 2020.jpg
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| origin = San Jose, California
| instrument =
| genre = {{hlist|Hip hop}}
| occupation = Rapper
| years_active = 2000—present
| label = {{Hlist|Ultra Violet|}}
| website = [http://www.kungfuvampire.com/ www.KungFuVampire.com]
}}
Kung Fu Vampire is an American rapper from San Jose, California.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-08 |title=San Jose rapper Kung Fu Vampire sinks his teeth into success |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/10/08/san-jose-rapper-kung-fu-vampire-sinks-his-teeth-into-success/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pizarro |first=Sal |date=September 10, 2015 |title=Pizarro: SoFA Street Fair returns with loads of bands, high-tech schedule |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2015/09/10/pizarro-sofa-street-fair-returns-with-loads-of-bands-high-tech-schedule/ |access-date=October 18, 2024 |website=East Bay Times |language=en-US}} Since 2001, he has been recognized as a "goth rapper", and for being accompanied by a band in his live hip hop performances. He released his debut album, Blood Bath Beyond in 2003.
History
{{Update section|date=October 2022}}
Kung Fu Vampire began breakdancing at the age of six, and taught himself how to rap and sing while playing drums and bass as a hobby.{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Garrett |date=October 29, 2006 |title=Creature of The Night |url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.29.08/music-kungfuvampire-0844.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302210928/http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.29.08/music-kungfuvampire-0844.html |archive-date=March 2, 2024 |accessdate=2019-06-10 |newspaper=Metro Silicon Valley}} At the age of 12, his aunt began taking him to see concert performances, and introduced him to a gothic style of dress. At 14 years old he and three friends formed a group which fused old school hip hop with funk and electronica. In 2001, he adopted the name "Kung Fu Vampire" during a conversation with his friends in which they discussed the idea of a martial arts film featuring vampires. He describes the sense of balance as the "Yin and Yang of Fang".
In 2006, the group was voted the best local band by Metro Silicon Valley readers.{{cite news|url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.20.06/arts-and-culture-0638.html |title=Best of Silicon Valley 2006 |accessdate=November 22, 2008 |date=September 20–26, 2006 |newspaper=Metro Silicon Valley |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616125605/http://www.metroactive.com/metro/09.20.06/arts-and-culture-0638.html |archivedate=June 16, 2008 }} Director Darren Lynn Bousman was impressed by Kung Fu Vampire's performance style, and pushed for the rapper to perform at the release party for Saw III that year,Carnes, Aaron (December 5, 2012) [http://activate.metroactive.com/2012/12/kung-fu-vampire-hip-hop/ Cover Story: Local Rapper Kung Fu Vampire Sheds Costume to Focus on Music]. metroactive.com performing at the release party for Bousman's film Repo! The Genetic Opera in 2008, and the rapper's song "Dead Girls Don't Say No" being featured in another Bousman film, Mother's Day, in 2010. In 2009, the Insane Clown Posse fan website Faygoluvers featured Kung Fu Vampire's music video "iCount" on the site, attracting the attention of Twiztid, who invited Kung Fu Vampire to perform as the duo's opening act during their 2010 "Slaughterhouse" tour. In 2012, Kung Fu Vampire appeared in the music video for E-40's song "Zombie" featuring Brotha Lynch Hung and Tech N9ne. In 2016, Kung Fu Vampire released Look Alive, featuring guest appearances by Brotha Lynch Hung, ¡Mayday!, Locksmith and Ces Cru.{{cite web |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3397891/kung-fu-vampire-ft-brotha-lynch-hung-slice-life-remix-premiere/ |title=Kung Fu Vampire Ft. Brotha Lynch Hung "Slice Of Life (Remix)" (Premiere) |last=Barkin |first=Jonathan |date=July 7, 2016 |publisher=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=2022-10-19}} In 2019, Kung Fu Vampire performed on the "Shazam Stage" at Insane Clown Posse's Gathering of the Juggalos.{{cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/gathering-of-the-juggalos-2019-lineup-icp-bone-thugs-jedi-mind-tricks-more/|title=Gathering of the Juggalos 2019 lineup (ICP, Bone Thugs, Jedi Mind Tricks, more) |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |date=May 14, 2019 |publisher=BrooklynVegan|access-date=2022-10-19}}
Style and influences
Kung Fu Vampire's musical style fuses hip hop, gothic rock, funk and electro.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thewavemagazine.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24601 |title=Interview with a (Rapping) Vampire |accessdate=November 22, 2008 |last=Rudy |first=Stewart |magazine=The Wave Magazine |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928140629/http://www.thewavemagazine.com/pagegen.php?pagename=article&articleid=24601 |archivedate=September 28, 2007 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.metroactive.com/metro/10.18.06/kung-fu-vampire-0642.html |title=Interview With the Vampire |accessdate=November 22, 2008 |last=Osterbeck |first=Ryan |date=October 18–24, 2006 |newspaper=Metro Silicon Valley}} His influences are Danny Elfman, Nine Inch Nails, Talking Heads, the Doors, Whodini, Eric B. & Rakim and N.W.A.{{cite web |url=https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/entertainment/kung-fu-vampire-scary-sounds-with-lyricism/ |title=Kung Fu Vampire: Scary sounds with lyricism |author=Staff |date=June 13, 2016 |publisher=Red Deer Advocate |access-date=2022-10-19}} He rejected the classification of horrorcore, preferring to call his music "gothic hip hop".{{cite web |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/10/08/san-jose-rapper-kung-fu-vampire-sinks-his-teeth-into-success/ |title=San Jose rapper Kung Fu Vampire sinks his teeth into success |last=Harrington |first=Jim |date=October 8, 2012 |publisher=Mercury News |access-date=2022-10-19}} He generally avoids rapping about graphic violence, and makes little or no reference to campy horror films or smoking cannabis. His lyrics have spoken out against drug use, in particular meth and alcohol, and advocated for healthy living. He was initially known for making appearances with a shaved head and pale face paint. In 2011, he grew his hair out and has stopped using face paint in his performances stating that he would rather spend that time connecting with fans at concert as opposed to preparation.
Live band members
Production team
;Current & Past
- ProHoezak
• TunnA Beatz
- Skytzo Beatz
• Subliminal Beats
- Action Paxton
• Nobe of Inf Gang
- GodSynth
• MOK Beatz
- Cruels
• Jawsh Crespo
- Jazz Mafia
• K-Oddic Beats
- Duranamo
• Michael “Seven” Summers
- Charlie Beans
• Starkore
- MOK Beatz
• The Butler
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:10em;" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:19em;" | Album details |
| scope="row" | Blood Bath Beyond
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Dead Sexy
|
|
| scope="row" | Love Bites
|
|
| scope="row" | Look Alive
|
|
| scope="row" | Come Dawn
|
|
| scope="row" | Black Heart Machine
|
|
=Compilations=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Album |
| scope="row" | Womb Til Tomb
|
|
|---|
| scope="row" | Re-Animated
|
|
=Collaboration albums=
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Album |
| scope="row" | Double Dragon with Bukshot
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="1"| Year
! rowspan="1" style="width:15em;"| Single ! rowspan="1"| Album |
|---|
| rowspan=1| 2013
! scope="row"| "Turnt Up" featuring Hopsin | align="left" rowspan="1"| Re-Animated |
| rowspan=1| 2016
! scope="row"| "Little Girl Big Mouth" featuring Lex The Hex Master | align="left" rowspan="1"| Look Alive |
| rowspan=1| 2018
! scope="row"| "Neighborhood" | align="left" rowspan="1"| Come Dawn |
| rowspan=1| 2019
! scope="row"| "Trapped In Hell" featuring Futuristic | align="left" rowspan="1"| Come Dawn |
| rowspan=1| 2020
! scope="row"| "Don't Get Beat Up" w/ Bukshot | align="left" rowspan="1"| Double Dragon |
| rowspan=1| 2021
! scope="row"| "These Days" w/ Action Paxton | align="left" rowspan="1"| Black Heart Machine |
| rowspan=1| 2021
! scope="row"| "5AM" w/ Action Paxton | align="left" rowspan="1"| Black Heart Machine |
=Features=
- Twisted Insane track "Voices" featuring Bleezo, Kung Fu Vampire, Bishop, and Poverty's Posterboy from the album The Insane Asylum (2013)
- Twiztid track "Wasted Part 2" featuring Kung Fu Vampire, Chris Webby, RA The Rugged Man and Three Six Mafia from the album Get Twiztid (2014)
- Bloodstepp track "Rave In My Grave" featuring Koshir and Kung Fu Vampire from the album Grand Theft Ufo: Floppy Disk Edition (2014)
- Scum track "It Is Not" feat. Kung Fu Vampire from the Album One Track Mind (2016)
- Blaze Ya Dead Homie track "Ghost" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Casket Factory (2016)
- Whitney Peyton track "Word Of Mouth" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Break The Frame (2016)
- Gorilla Voltage track "Rocks For Brains" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Ape-X (2017)
- Gorilla Voltage track "Lit" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Ape-X (2017)
- When They Hear It (The R.O.C. ft. Kung Fu Vampire & Prozak) on the album Digital Voodoo (2017)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.kungfuvampire.com}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kung Fu Vampire}}
Category:American hip-hop record producers