The Chicharones
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The Chicharones

Portland, Oregon, United States | INDIE

Portland, Oregon, United States | INDIE
Band Hip Hop Comedy

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Discography

The Chicharones: (all releases on Camobear Records)
Swine Country LP -2009
Swine Country EP - 2009
When Pigs Fly LP - August 2005
Pork Rind Disco EP - 2005
Josh Martinez & Sleep are The Chicharones - 2004
Boss Hogs EP - 2003

Josh Martinez:
World Famous Sex Buffet - 2008 (Camobear Records)
Splitsville - 2006 (Camobear Records)
Midriff Music - 2005 (Camobear Records)
Buck Up Princess - 2003 - (Bella Union/V2)
Made in China - 2001 - (Camobear Records)
The Hooded Fang - 1999 - (Camobear Records)

Sleep
Hesitation Wounds -2009 (Strange Famous Records)
Combination Locked w Zelly Rock (Camobear Records)
Christopher - 2005 (UpAbove Records)
Riot by Candlelight - 2002 (Stuck under the Needle)

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Bio

Josh Martinez, proud Canadian, got his start touring North America at the height of the Anticon 'revolution' of the late 90s. Named to Urb’s Next 100, Martinez started his own record label, Camobear Records, and released all 5 of his titles and sold 40,000 albums worldwide. Stealing shows and hearts, Martinez has become a touring legend, spending the better part of the last five years in bars, barns and boozeries throughout the world, leaving behind legions of fans wherever he goes. Having toured Europe twice, Josh has built a sizable overseas following on the back of Buck Up Princess, released in 2004 through Bella Union/V2 Europe. He is also the lead singer for rock group “Pissed Off Wild,” a four-piece giant killer of a band that is currently recording their opus.

Sleep is a rapper’s rapper, a man’s man, and one of the nicest guys ever. He does magic, keeps a bunch of tropical fish, and looks almost exactly like a young Paul Simon. He also happens to be one of the best rappers out there. Mixing incredibly complex vocal chops, with wit, charm and a musicianship inherited from his father, a long time bassist in blues and mariachi bands, Sleep is the consummate vocal technician. But live, Sleep is a different beast entirely. With a ‘shock and awe’ precision flow, Sleep has stolen shows performing alongside the biggest names in Hip Hop including 50 Cent, Aesop Rock, Snoog Dogg, Atmosphere, Blackilicious and Swollen Members. And on top of all that, Sleepy’s 10 year old daughter needs braces, so you know he’s hitting the road to make that happen.

Individually, both have a large following, but as a team, these guys buzz harder than a three day bender. Relentless touring and a live show that combines humor, melody and dance moves with boundless energy, has made the Chicharones repeat customers wherever they go. The Chicharones are like nothing you’ve ever heard, yet instantly familiar. Their raps are blazing, the melodies evoke early Beach Boys, the mood, totally infectious.

Their 2003 debut album, Boss Hogs (Camobear Records), hit The Industry’s glass house like a ton of bricks. This ten song masterpiece features the party anthems, complex storytelling and innovative song writing that’s become the trademark ‘Chichis’ sound. It has sold over 5000 copies worldwide, and has been downloaded by hundreds of thousands more. The kids love it. Their parents love it. Even the critics love it. And now the big wigs are starting to catch on.

Their 2006 release, When Pigs Fly (Camobear/Bella Union/V2), is a fiendish tour de force. Its an album about pulling off the big deal, hitting it big, and doing the impossible, and with this album, Sleep and Josh Martinez do just that.

Since then, the boys have been busy pushing their solo careers, where both have seen much success. Martinez's World Famous Sex Buffet (2008) has seen huge success in the North America college radio market, and is still building buzz with multiple remixes and videos still being released. Sleep's latest "Hesitation Wounds (2009), is being released on Strange Famous Records and is already seeing a heavy buzz on the blogs and online.

So in the midst of all this chaos, the boys got back together and put together an opus. Swine Country was released in the fall of 2009, and the EP has brought renewed awe from the gathered masses.

This, their finest work to date, will surely catapault the Chichis to dizzying heights of stardom, full of rock star haircuts, smash hits and celebrity betties, then into designer drugs and matching dance moves, followed by a booze-fueled decline and eventual irrelevance. But one thing’s for sure, The Chicharones fiery fifteen minutes of fame will be a thing to behold.