Minneapolis is known for two things: cold weather and the Minnesota Vikings. Now it's time to add one more thing to this equation: Junkyard Prophet, the Rap-Core band out of “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.†For nearly a decade, the band’s primary focus has been the future of the youth; so much so that the band turned down major label offers, knowing that the mainstream music machine might ask them to water down their message. Bradlee Dean, drummer and no-holds barred mouthpiece for the group says, "We chose kids over the labels (money), because if we had chosen the label, we know that it wouldn't have been about the kids!"
After earning nationwide attention in the late-nineties after one show (Fine Line; Minneapolis, Minnesota) by being named best unsigned band next to P.O.D., the group felt it was time for a name change. This is when the name went from Reign of Kings to Junkyard Prophet.
More than just a catchy title, the band feels that the world is a junkyard that needs to be cleaned up in the best of ways. The image of the band is not all about the accolades of the "rock star" reaching thousands upon thousands of kids, or the "do-gooder" type thing; the whole Prophets camp is about their message first; then the music, which takes on a life all of its own when they hit the stage. After each performance they take time out to talk with the kids about the problems they may be facing and how they can overcome them; dealing with topics ranging from drugs, teen pregnancy and suicide to name only a few. Between 2003 and 2006 the band has toured incessantly, yet still managing to shoot four music videos: two of which reached over 111 million households worldwide, not to mention continuous airplay on XM/Sirius radio.When not touring, they broadcast a three-hour radio program School of Hard Knocks, (AM 980 KKMS), which can be heard all over the Twin Cities area, touching on a number of issues.Media Reviews
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