They are Tru Players, but they don't play the same way that you play. 40 Watt Hype is more than just another hip-hop group. Their trademark sound combines the sophistication of The Roots with the party atmosphere of the Black Eyed Peas with the Latin flavor of Santana, resulting in an incomparable groove full of sensuality and style.
The Fresno, CA-based band is composed of Brian Robinson (MC Vagabond), Aaron Wall (MC Awall), Enrique Gonzalas (guitar), Sean Alderette (drums), Bronson Garza (bass), Jared Dyar (percussion), Adam Infante (trombone), and David Hull (keyboard). They feature many guest horn players that help to round out the sound with a prominent layer of brass. While the hip-hop elements chill the music out, the Latin-style horns and percussion spice it up. Combining so many instruments, as well as personalities, 40 Watt Hype creates a sound that is rich with diversity.
40 Watt Hype put out their first album, Advanced Techniques in Modern Sound, in 2002, followed by 2003s Grand Unification Theory. After coming out with a live CD/DVD titled Live&Direct/Sight&Sound in 2005, the band recorded their new album Strong Feet on the Concrete (Koch 2006) with Grammy Award-winning producer Art Hodge (Santana, The Offspring, Coolio) and mastered the record at Bernie Grundman Mastering (Michael and Janet Jackson, Dr. Dre).
In addition to their impressive recording credentials, 40 Watt Hype has shared the stage with such legends such as The Roots, Fishbone, The Pharcyde and 311. They played at every San Francisco 49ers home game during the 2005-06 NFL season, as well as at the Sundance Film Festival with hip-hop heavy weight Ludacris. Their magazine presence has been heightened by features in a 2005 issue of Complex, a 2004 issue of Blender as one of 8 of the Hottest Unsigned Bands In America, and a 2004 issue of Esquire, under 10 Things Guys Should Know About Music. They were even the runner-up for Best Hip-Hop Song at the 2005 Independent Music Awards.
Describing their music with the phrase, White meets Black meets Chicano meets unity when rural-urban street talk combines with songwriting, the band accurately portrays the sincerity and sass of the blend of cultures, backgrounds, and tastes that 40 Watt Hype possesses.
Winners of "Tu Musica, Tu Ciudad" Carnaval 2008-San Francisco
Opening for The Roots at the Leavey Center in Santa Clara
Sundance Film Festival opening for Ludacris
