| Artist: Basehead |
Group Members:
Similar Artists:
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| Discography: Basehead |
| Wikipedia: Basehead |
| Basehead | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | dc Basehead Basehead 2.0 |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Genre(s) | Alternative rock, hip hop |
| Years active | 1992—present |
| Label(s) | Imago, Union of Vineyard Workers |
| Website | BaseheadMusic.com |
| Members | |
| Michael Ivey Brendan Ciotta |
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| Former members | |
| Bill Conway Keith Lofton Clarence "Cope" Greenwood Brian Hendrix Jay Nichols Aaron Burroughs<br |
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Basehead, also known as dc Basehead and Basehead 2.0, is an American alternative hip hop group known for its distinctive sound, which fuses rock, blues and hip hop music.
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Basehead released its debut album, Play with Toys in 1992 on Imago Records, a former subsidiary of BMG. Vocalist Michael Ivey recorded much of the album at his home on a four-track with various friends.[1] Rolling Stone reviewer Kevin Powell wrote that "Without being preachy, Basehead's unconventional style challenges listeners to get beyond their basic instincts and open their minds, search their souls."[2] Assembling a five-member touring band, Ivey toured the United States and Europe, opening for the Beastie Boys, Stone Temple Pilots, and Ween.[1][3] Basehead released their second studio album Not in Kansas Anymore, the following year. Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "Although it retains many of the same qualities of their critically-acclaimed debut [...] there's nothing that has the same sense of discovery that made Play with Toys an interesting record."[4]
In April 1994, Basehead recorded its third studio album, Faith,[5] which retained the musical elements of previous albums, but featured lyrics focusing on religious themes.[3][6] During this period, Ivey also formed a side project, Bastard Youth of Basehead, also known as B.Y.O.B.[1][5] In December 1994, Imago separated from BMG, and Faith was not released until two years later.[5]. The album's release problems resulted in the cancellation of a planned tour between Basehead and B.Y.O.B.[5] Although some band members felt that they had not been given proper financial compensation for their work, Ivey stated that he took a smaller percentage of the songwriting credits than he was legally entitled to, and that the group's underpaid work would have "laid the groundwork" for future success if Faith did not have release problems.[5]
During the release of Faith, Ivey stated that Basehead's fourth studio album would feature even more Christian-oriented lyrics than Faith.[5] The resulting album, In The Name of Jesus, was released in 1998 by Union of Vineyard Workers. Allmusic reviewer Andrew Hamlin wrote that "Faith caught Ivey mid-capitulation. He wanted Jesus in his life but he also wanted his beer, his pot, his television, and his lust. By this record, capitulation was complete. Unfortunately, chanting praises leaves the Basehead mastermind without his characteristic wit, and he lacks the energetic exhortations that often lift gospel performers above sameness in material."[7] During a performance in which the group received a request for early material, Ivey stated "I'm still trying to work it out—how to follow God and still give you the old shit".[8] In a 1998 interview, Ivey stated "I'm kind of wary of the Church. I know there's this whole Christian music market, but I don't think, theology-wise, I'm in agreement with a whole lot of Christians. [...] In fact, I don't know whether I like even being called a Christian."[8]
The group changed its name to dc Basehead,[9] releasing their self-titled fifth album on November 19, 2002. Hamlin wrote that "One or two tracks jut on past their vocal portions like soundtrack music to a movie listeners can't see (or are meant to create with their own eyes), but on the whole the mastermind's unique combination of the whisper and the guttural, his effective use of subtly shifting patterns inside a repeating framework, and his talented co-conspirators lift DC into distinction and miles in some direction or other from any stereotyped Christian rock bin."[10] Reforming as Basehead 2.0, the group released its sixth studio album, Rockalyptic Music in 2007. Basehead has gained the rights to all of its albums.[3]
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 | B.Y.O.B. (Rock Band, '90s) |
| Paul "DJ Unique" Howard (Rap Artist) |
| Play with Toys (1992 Album by Basehead) |
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