Shootyz Groove

In the 1990s numerous groups explored blends of hip-hop aggression with hardcore and heavy-metal intensity, yet Shootyz Groove stood apart through its dual-MC front line of Sense and Season, supported by an original rhythm section that included guitarist Donny, bassist Spec, and drummer Dose. The Bronx, New York collective came together in 1992 and secured a Mercury contract only two years afterward. A concert EP taped in Queens, Respect, appeared in 1994, with the full-length debut Jammin' in Vicious Environments—also called J.I.V.E.—following later the same year. Touring partners soon reflected the band’s stylistic range, as Shootyz Groove shared stages with both Boogie Down Productions and Slayer. Bassist Spec eventually departed, severing the group’s ties to Mercury, yet the remaining members pressed on with the scarce live set Live J.I.V.E. in 1995. Paul “Freak Love” joined on bass, and relentless roadwork earned the band a fresh agreement with Roadrunner Records. Their Roadrunner bow, Hipnosis, surfaced in 1997; two years later the act moved to Reprise and returned with High Definition.