THE KILLAZ

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The Killaz: No Bullets Necessary
With Hasbro breathing down their necks, the G.I. Joe Killaz are simply calling themselves the Killaz now and have whittled themselves down to a less conspicuous duo. On opening track "One Gun Shot," Des (previously Destro) and Stacy (previously the Baroness) justify the betrayal and assassination of third member Cobra Commander. It's also on this song and album closer, "The Saga Continues...," that the two remaining members detail their new battle plan for world domination now that they've inexplicably eliminated the last Joe. It's Fight Club-style infiltration: "We gonna work for you, we gonna be your neighbours, we gonna be your friends," raps Destro. The rest of this seven-song EP is not so blatantly influenced and holds up surprisingly well without the gimmick. But make no mistake, the Killaz are still busting laser gun shots with raps that eschew the virtues of camouflage ("Flauge Godz"), poisons ("VX"), laser guns ("L.A.S.E.R.") and their tank ("40 Inch Rims"). And on "The People Zoo," the Killaz concoct a plan that would not only impress the writers of G.I. Joe, but it also comments on our current celebrity culture. Both Des and Stacy sound more confident with their raps and flows, and Stacy has further refined her soulful singing on "L.A.S.E.R." Tomas Jirku — the face behind the Cobra Commander mask — once again produces, but with a better selection of hip-hop laced with electro, reggae and G.I. Joe samples. When nerdcore meets hardcore on a Saturday morning, it's the Killaz. (Red Mist)
-Exclaim!, Oct 2005

G.I Joe Killaz/The Killaz
There was a buzz circulating the most recent G.I. Joe Killaz show, with rumours that the Joe-hating crew was on the brink of change. Whether the signs of a new formation were musical, visual or just a new angle on their hopes of world domination, a crowd gathered to bear witness. Cobra Commander set-up shop behind his laptop, with the Cobra flag decked behind him, as Destro and Stacy (aka the Baroness) soon followed on stage and gave the crowd a full dose of their laser gun rap, tearing through their current full-length with ease. The use of a laptop is not nearly as exciting as cuts via turntables, especially during a hip-hop show, but their beats were still packed with an electronic edge and had necks snapping for those that dared to get close to the stage.
Destro and Stacy exchanged lyrical skills, as they told tales ranging from slaughtering Joes to investigating who spilt juice on their lair’s camouflage couch. But not only do the G.I. Joe Killaz put on a great hip-hop show, but they also bring out fellow Cobras, such as Major Bludd, who dragged out what was later confirmed to be the last G.I. Joe in existence. After torturing and using mind control techniques on the unfortunate prisoner, it was time for Destro to announce the new mission, seeing as hunting Joes was no longer an option. The crowd was stunned, as what looked to be burying the hatchet with Cobra Commander ended in bloodshed, as Destro popped a few laser shots into Commander’s dome. Explaining that their former-friend was leading them nowhere fast, Destro and Stacy announced the end of the G.I. Joe Killaz as we know them and assured the crowd that the pair will re-emerge again, now known simply as the Killaz. The crew then fled the stage but the audience wanted more and convinced the duo to drop more tracks, even ones they had already performed. Both MCs have gifted skills, with Stacy taking it up even a notch further with her incredible singing, which laces their pulsating electro-beats. It’s no wonder the people didn’t want the Killaz to jet back to their hidden fortress. One crowd member loved the show so much that he proceeded to make an ass of himself and jump on stage, leaving Stacy no option but to announce her consideration to changing their new name to “the that guy killaz.”
-Exclaim!, Jul 2003

G.I. Joe Killaz
Now that terrorism has become new-millennial chic, it might seem like a cash grab for the world's most notorious terrorist organization-cum-cartoon to return as the hip-hop trio G.I. Joe Killaz. At first it sounds rather absurd that the unbalanced “brain trust” of Cobra are attempting world domination through rap, but it's really just the next evolution of a musical genre currently obsessed with a hardcore street mentality. Forget banging for a block when you can have the whole world on lock. Cobra Commander, the shrouded mastermind and producer of the group, moulds minimal but funky instrumentals for the metal-faced Destro (MC) and the sexy Baroness (MC/singer) to retell tales of their former glory. Their brand of self-described “laser gun rap” focuses on extreme crackpot schemes that would make even Bin Laden jealous, such as magical brainwashing perfumes (“Eau de Cobra”) and the bling-bling fantasy of replacing the world's money with Cobra currency (“Money to Burn”). And, of course, there's plenty of talk of killing Joes, bloody acts that are re-enacted in all their violent glory at a live Killaz performance. Sure, there's room for improvement and the gimmick may have a short shelf life, but for now it's great fun with a solid focus. Besides, if G.I. Joe member Sgt. Slaughter can wrestle to promote the cause, why shouldn't everyone's favourite terrorists get a piece of the entertainment pie? Cobra!
Exclaim!, Dec 2002