Chart-topping Geneva, New York based Gym Class Heroes are set to release their new single, ‘Clothes Off’ on August 20th through the Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen label. They have just finished a series of live headline dates in the UK and are also heading to Reading and Leeds festival next month. The forthcoming single, ‘Clothes Off’ is on the Upfront List at Radio 1 and has also been added to the Capital Radio Play List. Taken from the current album As Cruel As School Children, it uses a sample from the 1985 pop classic ‘We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off’ by Jermaine Stewart. The accompanying video is on rotation at The Box, The Hits and Kiss TV.‘Clothes Off’ follows the phenomenal success of the UK Top 3 Smash Hit (and US # 1) ‘Cupid’s Chokehold (Breakfast In America)’.
The track, which was A-listed at Radio 1 and Capital, peaked at no.1 in the UK airplay charts, whilst residing comfortably within the UK Top 10 for more than 2 months.
Rightly recognized as true pioneers of live hip-hop, Gym Class Heroes has won popular and critical acclaim for kicking out genre-busting jams that seamlessly meld rap, rock, pop funk, R&B, and anything else that happens to strike the musically voracious outfit’s fancy.
They have taken America by storm with ‘Cupid’s Chokehold (Breakfast In America)’, written by Roger Hodgson, formerly of Supertramp and Rich Davies of Supertramp.
The track uses the hook from the 1979 hit song, ‘Breakfast In America’ and features guest vocals by Patrick Stump (who also has a cameo role in the video).
The album, As Cruel As School Children is marked by its diverse grooves and warm organic textures. Our music is rooted in hip-hop, explains lead vocalist Travis McCoy, but not restricted to it.
In fact, crucial to the album’s buoyant sound, was their mutual love for the funk-flavoured mainstream R&B of the 80’s a la Prince and Ready for the World.
Some of the arrangements in that stuff just blow me away, says Travis, Those are the songs that last forever. We’re definitely interested in making that type of music.
Always challenging perceptions of what hip-hop and indie rock could or should be, Gym Class Heroes are doing things on their own terms.
In a sense, says McCoy, we’re a lot like the chubby kid smiling away on the album artwork. Everyone has an opinion of who he is and what he should be. He keeps smiling and doesn’t change. Instead he waits and watches the world around him change to fit his standards. This album is the chubby kid’s middle finger held high.
Gym Class Heroes are Travis McCoy - lead vocalist, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo - Guitarist, Eric Roberts - Bassist and Matt McGinley.