Artist description Hip-hop beats meet grinding guitars and pounding bass alongside the dueling rhymes of 3 vocalists, meet Blackstone Valley Crew, coming straight out of the sunny suburbs of Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The members of BVC grew up listening to hardcore and metal bands like Slayer, Pantera, Biohazard and Sick Of It All. Later introduced to the world of rap by artists such as House of Pain, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill, the members of BVC approach their music with a respect for and understanding of both genres of music that they are mixing. While many rap-rock bands are simply rock bands with small "rap-oriented" parts, BVC are a band who can play legitimately heavy, aggressive music while at the same time kicking rhyme styles that would make any MC jealous. Crunchy guitars and thick basslines combine with infectious beats and hip-hop lyrical flows to create what is known as the Blackstone Valley Crew. It's this combination and understanding of both rock and rap roots that make BVC unique in an already over-crowed raprock market! Described by one critic as a "cross between Slipknot and the Wu-Tang Clan", BVC bring their style to the forefront on both their CDs and during their live show. With a strong, dedicated local following and an ever-growing worldwide fanbase drawn to the band via both mp3.com and the band's own website, BVC are a band that looks to make some noise in the near future!

Music Style Hardcore meets Hip-Hop in the Suburbs

Musical Influences Rap acts like House Of Pain, Run-DMC, Young Black Teenagers, Cypress Hill, Funkdoobiest and Public Enemy and metal acts like Slayer, Biohazard, Pantera and KISS.

Similar Artists house of pain, limp bizkit, eminem, slipknot, bloodhound gang, lordz of brooklyn, icp, run-dmc, kottonmouth kings, korn, cypress hill, twiztid, kid rock, beastie boys, biohazard, linkin park

Artist History Formed in early 1998, Blackstone Valley Crew allowed some longtime friends and frequent musical partners to combine their mutual interests in both rock and rap music into a new band that would borrow the best from each style and meld them into a new sound (remember, this was before the big "raprock explosion"). BVC began using drum loops and samples to create some of the freshest hip-hop beats around and played those beats alongside D-Nite's crunchy guitar riffs and deep bass lines provided by the band's bass player Legion. Throw the rhyme styles of X-UP, Gwrox, and D-Nite into the mix and BVC was born! After honing their sound through numerous live appearances over the better part of 2 years, the band released their debut CD, titled "Woonsocket" after their hometown, in December of 2000. Warmly received by fans and hailed by critics with praise such as, "you'll find few late night party albums as good as 'Woonsocket'" (Brian Goslow, Phoenix), the band's debut CD firmly established BVC as a force to be reckoned with. Since the CD's release, BVC has garned attention from multiple major record labels, attracted to the band's energetic, unpredictable stage show and fun, catchy rapcore songs dealing with everything from life in the suburbs to the band's tribute to their favorite wrestler. Mid-2001 saw the addition of new members into the BVC family, as former orignal member Threigh re-joined the band, this time as the drummer, replacing the band's drum machine, and adding a female element to the band, KRS-10 signed up to become the band's second guitarist (behind X-UP, who has taken over for D-Nite, allowing him to focus soley on his vocals). With this new lineup in place, BVC prepare to take their brand of suburban hardcore hip-hop to even greater heights as they continue to play live to promote their new CD! BVC are making some major noise, are you listening?

Group Members alfontaine (vocals, samples, loops) / Legion (bass) / Gwrox (vocals) / X-UP (vocals, guitars) / KRS-10 (guitars) / Threigh (drums)

Instruments 2 Guitars, Demon Bass Emptiness, 3 Rappers, Drums

Albums "Woonsocket" (Dec. 2000), new CD due out Oct 22, 2002

Press Reviews You'll find few late night party albums as good as 'Woonsocket'.--Brian Goslow., The Worcester Phoenix staff writer ////// Brooding basslines and pulsating sound effects paint an awfully gloomy picture of the sunny suburbs they rhyme about. Something's not quite right in Woonsocket; the lawns must be overgrown or something.--Alex H., Listen.com contributing reviewer ////// Four kids from Woonsocket, RI craft self-described "suburban white trash rapcore." Crunchy guitars, thick basslines, and rowdy drums back abrupt shouting and goofy raps about strippers, wrestling, etc. --Brolin Winning, Listen.com staff writer ///// Fans of Limp Bizkit, Korn, ICP, and Beastie Boys rejoice, this may very well be your new favorite band! --Greg Hogan, president, Signal-2-Noise Records ///// If Slipknot met the Wu-Tang Clan and they decided to make some music, this is what it would sound like! These guys combine a heavy mentality, crushing guitars and bass, and gutteral, growling vocal parts with beats and rhyme styles that would make any MC jealous! This is one of the best albums I have ever heard, PERIOD! -- L. Gray, publisher, Lunchtray

Location Woonsocket, RI - USA

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