Member Since: 6/11/2004
Band Website: sonicbids.com/lccrew
Band Members: LC is triple fronted by producers/MCs
Avid D, Turtle, and Bakus...
Bakus (Brandon Backhaus) was raised in New Orleans. Since then he's been something of a nomad. Before making music, he was immersed in the national spoken word scene – nothing says hardcore like a poetry tour. His focus on the literary has made him a technical, precise, and thoughtful emcee. His style is a li'l bit New Orleans, a li'l bit LA, but it's always hip hop.
Turtle (Ken Katagiri) is originally from North Hollywood, but he's come a long way. Leaving behind a life of violence, felonies, and overall outstanding citizenship – he's come full circle. Even though his writing is now primarily positive don't think for one second that Turtle doesn't mean everything that comes out of his mouth. He's developed a hard, no-frills sound born from life experience and a love of hip hop.
Avid D (David Bankins) was born and raised in Silverlake, the ghetto turned artist haven just north of Echo Park. He taught himself how to draw, paint, skate, write, rhyme and work the boards… though he still needs some help with his dancing. He's LC's resident freestyle king and has been involved in hip hop all of his life, most notably with the short-lived Futurelics crew in the mid-90's.
It would be an insult not to include our boy Troma aka Tromtronics. He's a badass hip hop/drum and bass DJ and veteran of the LA underground. He's had our backs on tracks and @ shows on the regular (except at the Airliner - don't ask! lol). You can also catch him backing up the likes of Kruse , and Ivan Ives . And I caught him holding it down for the Mystik Journeymen just last month! Catch him if you can...
Influences: (short list from memory) Kool Keith, LL Cool J, Mos Def, Nas, Poor Righteous Teachers, Black Sheep, Tribe Called Quest, Goodie Mob, Outkast, MF Doom, Glue, Afrika Bambataa, Beastie Boys, Beck, Common, Rakim, De La Soul, Del, NWA, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Master P, Descendents, Operation Ivy, Wu-Tang Clan, Redman, Green Day, Sublime, Prince Paul, Dan the Automator, Jurassic 5, Ozomatli, Primus, the Roots, Sage Francis, Frank Zappa, Taj Mahal, Jerry Garcia, the Breeders, WuTang, the Pixies, the Specials, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Face to Face, Living Legends, Def Jux, Rhymesayers, Freestyle Fellowship, Black Flag, Pennywise, the Germs, X, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Doug E. Fresh, Heiroglyphics... and on and on and on...
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Sounds Like:
A Breath of Death Stare
Turtle's Promo EP
There ain't no fresh air in the ciudad! The EP is four mixed and mastered tracks of straight underground, independent, concept-driven hip hop music. The EP features contributions from NATHAN NICE, DJ TROMA, JOHANNA PHRAZE and production from SOLPOWA, NYKWILL (LOST ANIMALS/LOST N LOADED), and Turtle himself! The EP is free and available. You can write to us and we'll get one out to you. Or if you come to the any show and we'll be handing them out. Either way lend an ear.
Available: At shows, or download "Hunter" featuring Nathan Nice and Bakus from our player ^.
Left@Bumps Album Cover Art...
The new full-length album, Left@Bumps is now available. It's 15 professionally mixed and mastered tracks with full-color artwork. Guest appearances include DJ Troma, HOE1FAT, and Scott Shiflett (Viva Death/Face to Face). It's been a long time and we know that, so it was very important to us to put out a professional release. No printed at home, cd-r, fucked up level shit here... this album is as pro as we could muster.
(Thanks to all the true friends for the time, love, passion, kick downs, discounts, handouts, bong loads, and other helping hands... we love ya'll! Thanks for believing in us!!!)
Available: iTunes , CD Baby , Rhapsody , Napster, Ruckus, BuyMusic , iSound , Pay Play , Trade Bit , Sound Station Records , Amoeba Hollywood
"so calLED REALITIES" was our 2nd album. Released in 2004 it represented a step-up in growth for us both musically and lyrically. It contains 14 gritty tracks picked straight from the orange haze backdrop of NE LOS. Guest Appearances by Nameless (Main Page) and Lorilye.
Available: CD Baby
"Progress Function was our 1st release. The 12 track LP really stands for where we came from and where we were going. Released in January 2003, Progress Function was the culmination of an unlikely collaboration between three very different personalities unified in the love and appreciation of hip hop. It truly represents our journey from knuckleheads to entrepreneurs.
Available: Out of Print
Magz of the HumanBeings and 446 Musik presents...
Underground Collectibles Vol. 4 Compilation...
tracks from Learning Curve, HumanBeings w/2mex, Craig Malkovich, Area 51, Avatar, L.O.R.D., Absoul, Nova Kane & Pro the Leader, and more...
True Underground!!!
Available: Sound Station Records , and Myspace
Record Label: Plato's Cave Records
Type of Label: Indie