Psycho Realm

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Psycho Realm is a Latin political hip hop supergroup started in 1989 by brothers Sick Jacken (Joaquin Gonzalez) and Big 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 were dropped from 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.

Tragedy

On January 29, 1999 at 12:05 a.m. 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 Tommy's Burger Stand at Beverly and Rampart Boulevard in Los Angeles which left him paralyzed from the neck down for life. The shooter, a 24 year old named Robert Gorcsi, who was on parole at the time of the shooting, was given a bond set at 1.6 million dollars, he was eventually jailed for attempted murder. ^[1] 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.

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.

Discography

Albums

• 1997: The Psycho Realm
• 1999: A War Story Book I
• 2003: A War Story Book II

Sick Jacken appearances

• 1999: Videodrone track "Pig In A Blanket" from the self titled album.
• 2003: Cartel De Santa track "Jake Mate" from the self titled album.
• 2004: RBX track "West Side Story" from the album The Shining.
• 2006: La Coka Nostra tracks "Brujeria", "Soldier's Story" and "Fuck Tony Montana" from the album A Brand You Can Trust.
• 2006: P.O.D. tracks "On The Grind" and Amy Terrin from the album Testify.
• 2006: Swollen Members track "Sinister" from the album Black Magic.
• 2007: Evidence track "Born in LA" from the album The Weatherman LP.
• 2007: Cormega track "Live From The Caves" from the album Who Am I?.
• 2008: Immortal Technique track "Hollywood Driveby" from the album The 3rd World.
• 2008: Snowgoons track "Sick Life" from the album Black Snow.
• 2008: DJ Babu track "Black and Brown Army" from the album Duck Season Vol. 3.
• 2008: Outerspace track "Anointing of The Sick" from the album God's Fury.
• 2008: DJ Muggs vs. Planet Asia track "Death Frees Every Soul" from the album Pain Language.
• 2009: B-Real track "Psycho Realm Revolution" from the album Smoke N Mirrors.

Psycho Realm presents Sick Symphonies

• 2005: Psycho Realm and Street Platoon Present... Sick Symphonies: Sickside Stories
• 2007: Sick Symphonies Presents DJ FM Street Mixes Vol.1

Sick Jacken albums

• 2006: Sick Jacken & Cynic - The Terror Tapes Vol. 1
• 2007: DJ Muggs vs. Sick Jacken - Legend of the Mask and the Assassin
• 2009: Stray Bullets

References

1. ^ official website of THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT

External links

• Sick Jacken Official website
• Official Website
• Psycho Realm Bio
• Big Duke Interview
• Psycho Realm Interview
• Original Website (not updated)
• DJ FM interview