Suicide Kings

If this local rap twosome’s debut album, Reign Supreme, was a junkyard dog, their sophomore effort, Crown of Thorns, in a pure-bred Rottweiler. The raw energy and uncompromising aggression of Detroit-native Joey Knuckles’s flow has become more assured, complex and lethal. Throw in King Cole’s classic style of production, which features a surprising amount of old-school flair, and you get equal parts slash and swagger — a fuck-you cocktail with plenty of bitters.

While Crown of Thorns treads a pretty narrow thematic path – these gentlemen wish to do unpleasant things to you with a multitude of sharp objects – it stays fresh across ten concise tracks. Standouts include “Cruise Control,” a noir-tinged sultry recollection of Knuckles’s troubled past, as well as “Shotcallaz,” which (thanks to killer verses from rap heavyweights Apathy and Celph Titled) sounds like Saturday street ball right before a knife fight breaks out.

Blasting this album all summer with the windows down and a single digit directed to anyone who isn’t feeling you is highly recommended. In a town where conscious and accessible backpack rhymes (Transit) and light-hearted, smooth flows (Dragon Fli Empire) so often take centre stage, the multi-headed beast that is Calgary hip hop flaunts Suicide Kings as some of its sharpest teeth. - Beatroute Magazine

If this local rap twosome’s debut album, Reign Supreme, was a junkyard dog, their sophomore effort, Crown of Thorns, in a pure-bred Rottweiler. The raw energy and uncompromising aggression of Detroit-native Joey Knuckles’s flow has become more assured, complex and lethal. Throw in King Cole’s classic style of production, which features a surprising amount of old-school flair, and you get equal parts slash and swagger — a fuck-you cocktail with plenty of bitters.

While Crown of Thorns treads a pretty narrow thematic path – these gentlemen wish to do unpleasant things to you with a multitude of sharp objects – it stays fresh across ten concise tracks. Standouts include “Cruise Control,” a noir-tinged sultry recollection of Knuckles’s troubled past, as well as “Shotcallaz,” which (thanks to killer verses from rap heavyweights Apathy and Celph Titled) sounds like Saturday street ball right before a knife fight breaks out.

Blasting this album all summer with the windows down and a single digit directed to anyone who isn’t feeling you is highly recommended. In a town where conscious and accessible backpack rhymes (Transit) and light-hearted, smooth flows (Dragon Fli Empire) so often take centre stage, the multi-headed beast that is Calgary hip hop flaunts Suicide Kings as some of its sharpest teeth. - Beatroute Magazine

The Suicide Kings is a hip hop duo that consists of rapper Joey Knuckles and producer King Cole. Together, they are helping keep that classic hip hop vibe alive. Ever since they became a group in 2011, they’ve released an independent album titled Reign Supreme, opened up for acts such as Mobb Deep and Tech N9ne, and have put out a few quality videos. They are preparing to release their sophomore album Crown Of Thorns in August. It’s been a year since they first started working on this project.

Their new single, “Shotcallaz” is very gritty, and the visual effects of the video coincide with the sound. If you’re feeling the track, look out for the album. - Mass Appeal

The Suicide Kings is a hip hop duo that consists of rapper Joey Knuckles and producer King Cole. Together, they are helping keep that classic hip hop vibe alive. Ever since they became a group in 2011, they’ve released an independent album titled Reign Supreme, opened up for acts such as Mobb Deep and Tech N9ne, and have put out a few quality videos. They are preparing to release their sophomore album Crown Of Thorns in August. It’s been a year since they first started working on this project.

Their new single, “Shotcallaz” is very gritty, and the visual effects of the video coincide with the sound. If you’re feeling the track, look out for the album. - Mass Appeal

Calgary, AB – Earlier on in the summer, Calgary’s Suicide Kings crew dropped visuals for the track “Shotcallaz” off their Crown of Thorns album. The Suicide Kings teamed up with Apathy and Celph Titled (of the Demigodz crew) for this catchy old-school-influenced track.

There’s some great footage of Calgary’s inner city, including this greasy-looking pizza joint, and all of the posh overpriced high-rise condos in the city core. The track’s mellow key samples and classic boom-bap beat were produced by King Cole. The video was shot by Mike McLaughlin and edited by Dylan Atkinson. Check it out after the jump. And then head over here to cop a download of Crown of Thorns, and to get your paws on some spiffy Suicide Kings merchandise. - Hip Hop Canada

Suicide Kings hail from Calgary, Alberta and it would be safe to say they are holding down the hip hop torch in their region. They recently dropped a new record called “Crown of Thorns” Ft. Saigon, Apathy, Celph Titled and M.O.P. and we wanted to give you a taste with their new track “Shotcallaz”. The song features Army Of The Pharos MC’s Demidodz, Apathy and Celph Titled and is a celebration of underground hip hop. - Action Recon

Suicide Kings hail from Calgary, Alberta and it would be safe to say they are holding down the hip hop torch in their region. They recently dropped a new record called “Crown of Thorns” Ft. Saigon, Apathy, Celph Titled and M.O.P. and we wanted to give you a taste with their new track “Shotcallaz”. The song features Army Of The Pharos MC’s Demidodz, Apathy and Celph Titled and is a celebration of underground hip hop. - Action Recon

Saigon grabs a verse on the latest leak off Joey Knuckles and King Cole a/k/a Suicide King's upcoming sophomore album, "Crown of Thorns." Enjoy here. - Hip Hop DX

It’s 2010 and Detroit native Joey Knuckles is standing outside the Magic Stick, a legendary music venue in downtown Motor City, talking with a friend. As he explains that he will be moving back to Calgary, Calgarian producer King Cole, who at the time was touring with the hardcore group, Gravemaker, overhears Knuckles. King Cole introduces himself to Knuckles and their conversation soon leads to a freestyle session outside the venue. Within months, collaborations and demos between Cole and Knuckles began to surface.

From the midst of a completely coincidental meeting during the Terror U.S. tour, Suicide Kings was born.

King Cole and Joey Knuckles have now been collaborating with each other for about a year. Their two unique styles come together to form the aggressive, hard-hitting and versatile hip hop that is Suicide Kings.

“He’s new school and I’m old school,” explains Knuckles, “and you mix it together and you hear what you hear… which I think is [pretty] different.”

King Cole relates his initial love of music to when he was 13 and would see his favourite hardcore and punk rock heroes playing shows in community centres. Cole says that being able to hang out and meet with those heroes inspired him to pursue making music. “This is basically what I always wanted to do and I found it through hardcore,” says Cole, connecting his experiences touring with hardcore bands such as Gravemaker with his passion for producing hip hop beats in Suicide Kings.

Knuckles agrees, saying that the group’s experiences listening to hardcore and hip hop growing up, combined with touring and playing live shows with hardcore bands, enables them to take the right steps in making Suicide Kings happen.

“We know what’s up and that’s kind of the bottom line. We don’t sell ourselves short, but at the same time we don’t have any sixteen-year-old rapper pipe dreams that things are going to be handed to us for free.”

For King Cole and Knuckles, making music is all about the passion. “Every single step that I take to make anything that I produce is all I care about… it’s all I do, it’s the passion,” says Cole with conviction.

“I think a lot of rap cats just in general get confused about the money and bling and stuff… and don’t get me wrong, all that’s lovely,” declares Knuckles, “but when it comes down to it, we just want to play, we just want to work.”

Words by Sarah Comber - Freq Magazine (Beatroute) February 2012

It’s 2010 and Detroit native Joey Knuckles is standing outside the Magic Stick, a legendary music venue in downtown Motor City, talking with a friend. As he explains that he will be moving back to Calgary, Calgarian producer King Cole, who at the time was touring with the hardcore group, Gravemaker, overhears Knuckles. King Cole introduces himself to Knuckles and their conversation soon leads to a freestyle session outside the venue. Within months, collaborations and demos between Cole and Knuckles began to surface.

From the midst of a completely coincidental meeting during the Terror U.S. tour, Suicide Kings was born.

King Cole and Joey Knuckles have now been collaborating with each other for about a year. Their two unique styles come together to form the aggressive, hard-hitting and versatile hip hop that is Suicide Kings.

“He’s new school and I’m old school,” explains Knuckles, “and you mix it together and you hear what you hear… which I think is [pretty] different.”

King Cole relates his initial love of music to when he was 13 and would see his favourite hardcore and punk rock heroes playing shows in community centres. Cole says that being able to hang out and meet with those heroes inspired him to pursue making music. “This is basically what I always wanted to do and I found it through hardcore,” says Cole, connecting his experiences touring with hardcore bands such as Gravemaker with his passion for producing hip hop beats in Suicide Kings.

Knuckles agrees, saying that the group’s experiences listening to hardcore and hip hop growing up, combined with touring and playing live shows with hardcore bands, enables them to take the right steps in making Suicide Kings happen.

“We know what’s up and that’s kind of the bottom line. We don’t sell ourselves short, but at the same time we don’t have any sixteen-year-old rapper pipe dreams that things are going to be handed to us for free.”

For King Cole and Knuckles, making music is all about the passion. “Every single step that I take to make anything that I produce is all I care about… it’s all I do, it’s the passion,” says Cole with conviction.

“I think a lot of rap cats just in general get confused about the money and bling and stuff… and don’t get me wrong, all that’s lovely,” declares Knuckles, “but when it comes down to it, we just want to play, we just want to work.”

411: Knuckles and Cole are awaiting their debut album release, Reign Supreme, with much anticipation. The release will be held at the Rhino on February 16.



Words by Sarah Comber - FREQ Magazine