Yo Majesty

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Yo! Majesty

Sonar 2008 - Barcelona - Shunda K
Background information
Origin Tampa, Florida, USA
Genres Dirty rap
Alternative rap
Neo-electro
Labels Domino
Members
Shunda K
Jwl B

Yo! Majesty is an American hip hop group consisting of rapper Shunda K and singer Jwl B, produced by UK-based electro group HardfeelingsUK.[1]

Yo! Majesty was mentioned as one of the 'Top 11 new bands of 2008' by NME magazine[2] as well as one of the '25 Most Exciting Bands In America'.[3]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Tampa, Florida-based group Yo! Majesty's current members are Windy Baynham,[4] who goes by Jwl B; and Shon Burt, stage name Shon B. Formerly the group also included LaShunda Flowers, known as Shunda K, who left the band following arguments about money.[5] The group members are openly lesbian[5] and Christian; however, Shunda K was previously married to a man. Their sound is a hybrid of crunk, Baltimore club music,[6][7] and electro,[8] and they have garnered comparisons to punk for their defiance of labels and creation of new sounds.[9]

Rappers Shunda K and Shon B started out as a duo named Yeah Majesty before they were rounded out circa 2001 by gospel-raised vocalist Jwl B.[9] They started collaborating with London-based electronica duo HardfeelingsUK (David Alexander and Richard Winstanley), who supplied Yo! Majesty with their electro-rap club beats, in 2002.[10] After a hiatus during Shunda K's marriage, Yo! Majesty regrouped.[9] Once they established a name for themselves on the underground club circuit, both in the US and the UK, Yo Majesty self-released their first official release, the Yo EP, in 2006.[11]

They "made a splash" at SXSW in 2007[12] and that year toured alongside CSS and The Gossip.[9] The group signed with Domino Records in 2007[13], and the label released an EP and full-length record by the band in 2008, which included a track produced by Basement Jaxx.[14] On June 16, 2009 Shunda K announced that she parted ways with Domino Records. She immediately released 42 new tracks for free stating “Domino didn’t move quickly enough for me!”

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Record Label
2006 Yo EP Out There
2008 Kryptonite Pussy EP Domino Records
2008 Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid Domino Records

[edit] Appears On

Year Song Album Record Label
2008 Pony Girl "Dub Gabriel - Anarchy & Alchemy" Destroy All Concepts
2008 "Sweat Shop" Stainless Style by Neon Neon Lex Records

[edit] Singles

  • 2009 "Don't Let Go"

[edit] References

  1. ^ Robson, Eddie. "Yo Majesty". New-noise.net. http://www.new-noise.net/new-bands/yo-majesty/yo-majesty_5038.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  2. ^ Richards, Sam (12 January 2008), ""New Noise 2008"", New Musical Express 
  3. ^ Elan, Priya (2 August 2008), ""Reborn Indie USA"", New Musical Express, http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=121&title=25_most_exciting_bands_in_america&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 
  4. ^ "Jwl B Discography at Discogs". http://www.discogs.com/artist/Jwl+B. Retrieved 14 June 2009. 
  5. ^ a b Andrews, Gem (2009-03-30). "Jail, money, music and ex-bandmates: Yo! Majesty’s Jwl B talks to Lesbilicious". Lesbilicious. http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/music/yo-majesty-interview/. Retrieved 2008-03-30. 
  6. ^ Mackay, Emily (2008), "NME Reviews: Yo! Majesty: Futuristically Speaking...Never Be Afraid", NME, http://www.nme.com/reviews/yo-majesty/9923 
  7. ^ Kharas, Kev (2008-09-29). "Yahoo! Music Album Review:Yo Majesty - Futuristically_Speaking_Never_Be_Afraid". Yahoo Music. http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/080929/33/21zxe.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  8. ^ O'Dair, Marcus (2008-09-05), "Ones to Watch: Yo Majesty", The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/music-magazine-features/ones-to-watch-yo-majesty-920059.html 
  9. ^ a b c d Castillo, Arielle (2008-05-21), "Yo! Majesty: “Kyptonite Pussy” and God", Miami New Times, http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2008-05-22/music/yo-majesty-kyptonite-pussy-and-god/ 
  10. ^ Luger, Kara (2008-05-01), "Yo! Majesty hype (and are hyped about) their upcoming album.", Rocky Mountain Chronicle, http://www.rmchronicle.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2231&Itemid=6 
  11. ^ "Band to watch: Yo Majesty". Stereogum. 2006-12-13. http://stereogum.com/archives/band-to-watch/band-to-watch-yo-majesty_004156.html. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  12. ^ Hawthorne, Mark (2008-10-14). "Music: Yo Majesty: Futuristically Speaking… Never Be Afraid". The Onion A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/content/music/yo_majesty. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  13. ^ Thompson, Paul (2007-09-21). "Yo Majesty Sign to Domino Records, Tour". Pitchfork. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/45551-yo-majesty-sign-to-domino-records-tour. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  14. ^ Maher, Dave (2008-06-18). "Yo Majesty Enlist Basement Jaxx for Domino Debut". Pitchfork. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51362-yo-majesty-enlist-basement-jaxx-for-domino-debut. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 

[edit] External links

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