Flatlinerz is a

horrorcore Horrorcore (also called shock rap, horror hip hop, horror rap, death hip hop, death rap, or murder rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music based on horror-themed and often darkly transgressive lyrical content and imagery. Its origins derived from ...

group from New York City. They are responsible for introducing the term "horrorcore" with their 1994 release '' U.S.A. (Under Satan's Authority)''.Hess, Mickey. ''Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture, Volume 2'', p. 369. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2007

Biography

The group is Redrum (Jamel Simmons, son of Danny Simmons, nephew of

Russell Simmons Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, writer and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. He has p ...

and Rev Run) and two other emcees: Gravedigger and Tempest. FLM was an extension of the Flatlinerz (Flatline Massive) which included artists Butter, Mayhem, and OMN999 (Omen).

Def Jam Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...

targeted the Flatlinerz as an alternative to

gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture, values, and experiences of urban gangs and street hustlers, frequently discussing unpleasant realities of the world in general th ...

, which was dominating hip hop music at that time. The term "

" is a fusion of

hardcore hip hop Hardcore hip-hop (also known as hardcore rap) is a subgenre of hip hop music that developed through the East Coast hip hop scene in the 1980s. Pioneered by such artists as Run-DMC, Schoolly D, Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy, it is gen ...

and horror. The video for " Live Evil" featured Redrum rhyming while hanging from a noose. The second and last video ("

Satanic Verses The Satanic Verses are words of "satanic suggestion" which the Islamic prophet Muhammad is alleged to have mistaken for divine revelation. The first use of the expression in English is attributed to Sir William Muir in 1858. The words praise the ...

"), features Tempest eating guts from a body, Redrum restrained with rats crawling on him, and Gravedigger rhyming on a crucifix. In June 2014, The Flatlinerz announced via

Facebook Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...

, that it reformed and are working on a new project. In September 2014 it was announced that a 20th-anniversary release of U.S.A. The Definitive Creepy Collection which included new and lost tracks from the Flatlinerz. On October 27, 2014, The Flatlinerz performed its first live performance in 20 years at

Twiztid Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan, known for both their horror-themed lyrics and rock-influenced sound. Formed in 1997, Twiztid is composed of rappers Jamie "Madrox" Spaniolo and Paul "Monoxide" Methric. Spaniolo and M ...

's Fright Fest show at the Town Ballroom in

Buffalo, NY Buffalo is a city in the U.S. state of New York and county seat of Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River on the Canadian border. With a population of 278,349 according to ...

with Kamp Crystal Lake and Kung Fu Vampire. On June 6, 2016, The Flatlinerz released the first of a three part EP trilogy set titled " 6ix: Chapter 1" via its web site through the group's own newly formed independent label Horror House Entertainment. The album is a ten track EP of all brand-new Flatlinerz music. On June 6, 2017, The Flatlinerz released the second installment of the 6ix trilogy titled " 66ix: Chapter 2" on Horror House Entertainment. The EP has 7 brand new tracks and a bonus remix track of "Down Here" from Chapter 1. The first single off the album was "Da Linerz Iz Attackin" produced by

Rockwilder Dana Stinson a.k.a. Rockwilder is an American hip hop producer and songwriter best known for his work with Redman, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Xzibit, and Janet Jackson. He has appeared on every Redman studio album since 1994. Biography ...

. On June 6, 2018, The Flatlinerz released the final installment of the 6ix trilogy titled " 666ix: Chapter 3" on Horror House Entertainment. The EP has 10 brand new tracks completing the 6ix saga. The first single off the album was the controversial "Gucci's Different".

Discography

Studio albums * '' U.S.A.'' (1994)

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control African-American musical groups Hip-hop groups from New York City Horrorcore groups Musical groups from Brooklyn Musical trios from New York (state) Def Jam Recordings artists Obscenity controversies in music Underground hip-hop groups