About Me
The founders of the Gory Details are childhood friends Matty Gee, J.V. Kato, and Special T (aka "Takeem") who had previously comprised, along with MC ET, the now defunct four piece The Glory Fades, who became better known as the BoBo Troopers after they had a popular single of that name. The group had attracted the attention of some in the industry, including Biz Markie, but had never managed to secure a record deal. Since the crew dissolved, MC ET embarked on a separate solo career with Tommy Boy Records. Matty Gee, J.V. Kato, and Special T's frustration with the workings of the hip hop music industry would provide the main inspiration to the Gory Details' revolutionary business plan.The Gory Details were gradually assembled in late 2003 from friends and accomplices from around Staten Island, with Two Dollar Wells, the group's star turntablist, being the most notable exception---he's from the Soundview Projects of the Bronx.Matty Gee. J.V. Kato, and Special T created their new Gory Details aliases by mimicking the sound that the words "genius," "katahora" and "Takeem" would make when scratched on a turntable. The name of the group itself originates from the Gor De Mountains in the Hubei province of China, which are a traditional center of Chinese martial arts; Two Dollar Wells adopted the name for the group after seeing the kung-fu film Shaolin and Gor De, which features a school of warriors trained in Gor De style (many dialogue excerpts from the film were used on their debut album). The group have also developed various backronyms for the name (as hip hop pioneers like KRS One and Big Daddy Kane did with their names), including "Guns or Rhymes, Y'all," "Don't Ever Tell Anyone I Love Sade " and "Divinity, Earth, Truth, Allah, Intellect, Love, and Stength," which is reflective of the teachings of the 5% Nation of Gods and Earths, the Nation of Islam splinter group to which all four members of the Gory Details belong. The group's now-famous logo was designed by long-time associate and grafitti artist Pure Rap Fury, who would go on to become the group's engineer and one of its most sought after in-house producers.The Gory Details first became known to hip hop fans, and to major record labels, in 2005 following the release of the independent single "Our Space," which immediately gave the group a sizeable underground following. Though there was some difficulty in finding a record label that would sign the Gory Details while still allowing each member to record solo albums with other labels, Loud/RCA finally agreed and the debut album "Enter the Gory Details: The 36 Diners" was released in late 2005. Although the album was popular and critically-acclaimed, it took some time to gain momentum. Though hip hop had long had a gritty texture, the surreal aggression and minimalist production of "The 36 Diners" nevertheless had a huge impact on the genre, and was to prove massively influential over the next decade. By the beginning of 2006, the album had become a frequent choice for "Best Albums Of All Time" lists.The success of "Enter the Gory Details: The 36 Diners" established the group as a creative and influential force in early 21st Century hip hop, allowing Matty Gee, JV Kato, Special T, and Two Dollar Wells to negotiate solo contracts.
