Kottonmouth Kings

A versatile hip-hop ensemble hailing from Orange County, California, the Kottonmouth Kings first surfaced in 1996 with a broad, marijuana-focused blend that fused punk, psychedelic rock, reggae, and hardcore rap. Mainstream notice arrived in 1997 via the song “Suburban Life,” featured on the Scream 2 soundtrack and gaining traction as a modern rock radio favorite. Over the subsequent twenty years the group kept pushing its rap-rock style while clinging to an independent ethos, delivering charting releases such as Koast II Koast (2006), Long Live the Kings (2010), and Kingdom Come (2018).

Calling itself a “psychedelic hip-hop punk rock” act, the lineup included ex-Humble Gods frontman Brad Daddy X, rappers Saint Vicious and D-Loc, DJ Bobby B, and “visual assassin” Pakelika; the ensemble earned both sales and reviews for its breakthrough 1997 single “Suburban Life.” Following the early-1998 Suburban Noize EP Stoners Reeking Havoc, the band issued its Capitol full-length Royal Highness that summer. The 1999 collection Hidden Stash gathered B-sides, rarities, and remixes, after which the third album High Society broadened their reach through the singles “Peace Not Greed” and “Close Call.” Fall 2001 brought shows alongside D12 and Bionic Jive, just before Hidden Stash, Vol. 2: The Kream of the Krop surfaced. Brad X produced the fifth studio set, Rollin’ Stoned, which reached stores in October 2002.

The live album Classic Hits Live appeared in 2003 as the Kings further developed the Suburban Noize roster by releasing videos and records from rappers and punk groups. Their 2004 effort Fire It Up climbed to number 42 on the Billboard 200 and dropped on the stoner observance 4/20. A self-titled seventh album arrived in 2005, showcasing guest appearances by Cypress Hill and Tech Nine. A foot injury to D-Loc later forced the postponement of that summer’s tour. June 2006 saw the eighth studio album Koast II Koast reach number three on the Billboard Independent Album Chart, while Hidden Stash III closed out the year and Cloud Nine followed in 2007. Long Live the Kings, like Fire It Up before it, was issued on 4/20 in 2010. Sunrise Sessions emerged a year later, leaning into reggae, dubstep, bluegrass, and jam-band textures, whereas 2012’s Mile High returned to rap-rock and welcomed founding member Saint Dog back into the fold. Krown Power climbed into the Top Ten of Billboard’s Rap Albums chart in 2015, featuring Insane Clown Posse and reggae veteran Marlon Asher. The fourteenth studio album, Kingdom Come, surfaced in 2018, with the compilation Most Wanted Highs arriving in early 2019. Saint Dog was discovered deceased at a friend’s residence on October 14, 2020, at the age of 44.