Gym Class Heroes

The one thing I have always enjoyed about underground hip hop is that they usually use more live instrumentation than a regular rap outfit would. Instead of the conventional looped samples and pre-recorded beats, Gym Class Heroes use live instruments, similar to artists such as Stetsasonic, The Roots, and Crown City Rockers. To call this a true hip hop band is a bit of a stretch. They have more of a pop sensibility about them. But that being said, doesn't make this band bad at all. What they lack in true hip hop they make up with heart felt music. Travis McCoy incorporates his own hard learned life lessons into deep and captivating lyrics that are augmented by the laid back beats of his live band. This video is for the Queen and I from their new album "As Cruel As School Children".

The original Gym Class Heroes formed in 1997 when Travis McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley became friends during gym class whilst at high school in Geneva, New York, and joined forces with guitarist Milo Bonacci and bassist Ryan Geise. The original GCH began playing birthday parties, clubs, and festivals which eventually led to numerous larger venues throughout the northeast.After hearing the song "Taxi Driver", (which pays homage to various rock artists), Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy became interested in the Gym Class Heroes and invited the band to one of his shows. Travis met with Wentz on June 10th 2004 in Buffalo and struck up a rapport. The Gym Class Heroes then went on to join Wentz's label, Decaydance Records, which is an imprint of Fueled By Ramen. Travis later said that Wentz's support, coupled with the label's touring ethos and family atmosphere, is what drew him to Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen.