NASHVILLE |DT APRIL 25, 2011
FR: ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/LIBBY COFFEY/MITCH SCHNEIDER
MSO
Photo: Clair McAllister
HYRO DA HERO
TO RETURN TO THE U.K. AND EXPAND INTO EUROPE ON 21-DATE TOUR
INCLUDING SHOWS AT THE DOWNLOAD AND SLAM DUNK FESTIVALS
ALSO INVITED AS A PRESENTER AT THE UPCOMING KERRANG! AWARDS
"…he performs as if he's top of the bill…Hyro works an already wild crowd into a frenzy."
— Johnny K, KERRANG! (U.K), April 2011
Coming off a 15-date tour throughout the U.K. where he connected strongly with audiences as an opening act for The Blackout and the Swellers, Houston-bred Los Angeles-based rap artist HYRO DA HERO will return to the U.K. and expand into Europe with a 21-date trek starting May 16 and wrapping June 14. The run includes headline shows; opening slots for 3oh3 and Wu Tang Clan; and prestigious festival appearances at the Download Festival (where he’ll be the first African-American rapper to ever perform) and the Slam Dunk Festival. He’ll also make a June 9 appearance as a presenter at the Kerrang! Awards. ***See new dates below.
The upcoming shows are in connection with HYRO DA HERO’s newly released debut album BIRTH, SCHOOL, WORK, DEATH (April 4 via Stereo Bang Media) that was produced by Ross Robinson. The firebrand blends hip-hop with the sonic fury of rock as he takes aim at greed, racism, celebrity culture and technological dehumanization (“I’m that fear in your circuitry/Technology cannot control me”). He is a fresh voice–a rapper inspired by the likes of The Clash, Bad Brains and Fishbone.
“The experience of rocking those stages and getting that type of response was absolutely incredible,” says HYRO DA HERO of his recent U.K. swing (March 29-April 16, plus an April 17 show at the Nottingham Hit The Deck festival), where he earned rave reviews for his live shows/album and garnered radio play via BBC Radio 1, XFM, Q Radio, Kerrang Radio, and Phoenix FM. “It’s a dream come true and I’m glad I stepped up to the plate and hit a home-run in the U.K. It’s always a challenge of mine to get everyone involved in the crowd and I think I completed that at most venues. “
Adds HYRO DA HERO: “The things that stood out to me was seeing kids mosh to my rap song ‘Man In My City,’ seeing kids crowd surf, and watching people sing along to my music. What makes the U.K audience special is how accepting they are to something so new.
“What I’m doing is different and they love the uniqueness of it. They love to meet and ask questions and learn more about it. What I noticed over there is that they either really, really like you or they really, really hate you. No in between. I am glad I got the better one.” To view the excitement at a HYRO DA HERO show in London, go here: http://www.twitvid.com/CH5NE
Check out what the U.K. and U.S. media says about HYRO DA HERO’s debut album BIRTH, SCHOOL, WORK, DEATH, which features the single and video “Ghetto Ambiance”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHXOdXJFX3o
ALBUM REVIEWS:
"…Birth School Work Death is definitely more rap than rock, but that’s a good thing. There’s a real sense of hip-hop culture in the lyrics, and there’s a sophistication in the way that the rap is made rock here—in other words, this isn’t just whiney frat-boy rhymes slapped on top of generic, down-tuned riffs. For open-minded rockers, Hyro Da Hero comes heavy and hard-hitting enough to justify some real headbanging…[Hyro]…one of the few to break the norm and make rap rock from a genuine rap perspective. His previous works have sampled heavy bands from the Refused to Circa Survive to Killswitch Engage; now with this debut full-length, he’s not only teamed up with metal super-producer Ross Robinson (the man behind Korn’s and Slipknot’s landmark first records, as well as Sepultura’s Roots, to name a few albums you might own) but also with members of At the Drive-In and the Blood Brothers, who play on select Birth School Work Death tracks …Sonically, he comes across sometimes like Eminem on Slim Shady’s heaviest songs; at other times, like Rage Against the Machine at their spazziest, or those Deftones in their more hip-hop-inflected moments."
— Brandon Geist, REVOLVERMAG.COM, April 6 2011
(Rating: 4 out of 5)
“Hyro Da Hero is ready to shake pop culture like it's never been shaken before. Birth, School, Work, Death walks the line between the street bravado of 2pac's All Eyez On Me and Rage Against the Machine's self-titled debut, marrying rap and rock like never before. You can hear it louder than gunshots through the project on the album's riff-ed out first single, "Ghetto Ambiance." Hyro screams with a catharsis that could start a revolution on "Sleeping Giants," and on "Grudge" he raps with a fire that could burn Jay-Z and Lil Wayne right out of the top of the genre."
— Rick Florino, ARTISTDIRECT.COM, April 12, 2011
“…music has evolved several lifetimes beyond the ’90s/’00s renaissance of hard-rocking hip-hop, and there’s no better example of this new sophistication than Hyro Da Hero…when songs like “Sleeping Giants” and “Ghetto Ambience” explode into action, the results—courtesy of a tight, taut backing band that includes Paul Hinojos (ex-At The Drive-In) and Cody Votolato and Mark Gajadhar (ex-the Blood Brothers)—are surprisingly nimble, avoiding stock big beats and power chords in favor of more angular, agile and atmospheric moves…And Hyro has much more on his mind than frat-friendly Bic-flicking; he tackles hip-hop stereotypes, the peculiar lure of the bad part of town and the end of the world as we know it in dynamic verses that go from a whisper to a scream without losing intelligence or intelligibility….those are heroic qualities indeed.”
—Dan LeRoy, ALTERNATIVE PRESS, April 2011
(Rating: 4 out of 5)
“He's found the magical line between hip-hop and rock and wedded the two to make an album full of infectious hooks, tight rhymes and songs that get stuck in your head for days. 'The Worlds Stage' is a prime example of how Hyro has pulled together class act musicians and created a cohesive act, not just a disposable/replaceable backup group…. Hyro Da Hero has created something fresh and unique in 'Birth, School, Work, Death' that will have no choice but to become huge. I already can't wait for the sophomore release.”
— Jonathan Barkan, BLOODY-DISGUSTING.COM, March 30, 2011
“Hyro puts together a well-blended album, combining sharp lyrics about his upbringing, social issues and the state of music, with aggressive, rebellious instrumentals. In a day where artists try to achieve commercial fame and success by following a blueprint, Hyro is set on doing it his own unique way.”
— Rex Pham, CAMPUS CIRCLE, March 30, 2011
(Rating: B)
“…Houston-born MC Hyro Da Hero is an undoubted star in waiting. And he’s sure to ascend and burn brighter after this addictive, head-spinning debut effort. It’s a little bit rock yet something entirely fresh, with an intuitive blend of anger, braggadocio and smarts that will floor attentive, willing and open minds.”
— David McLaughlin, KERRANG! (U.K.), March 2011
(Rating: 4 out of 5)
"…album deserves your full attention….a fresh, exciting new sound. More often than not, there is a fine line between good and bad when rap and rock decide to work together, and it’s all too common for that line to be stamped all over by some frankly terrible attempts, but if ‘Birth School Work Death’ is anything to go by, this will no longer be the case–Hyro Da Hero is setting a new standard of this sub genre and it’s no wonder his UK shows have started to sell out. ‘Man in My City’ really showcases what Hyro Da Hero is all about–raw, strong, passionate rapping about issues close to his heart, with a very distinctive and recognizable hip-hop sound but these, coupled with his fantastic ability to pair such lyrics and rapping with striking, perhaps unexpected backing tracks is what makes this album such a stand out success. ‘Ghetto Ambiance’ perfectly highlights this talent, a juxtaposition of styles that somehow works."
— Becky Mount, BRING THE NOISE (U.K.), March 2011
(Rating: 9 out of 10)
“…the riffs, breakdown and complex time signatures thrown into ‘Sleeping Giants’ and ‘Ghetto Ambience’ lend the album a raw, live feel that’s groundbreaking for any genre."
— Amy Bangs, ROCKSOUND (U.K.), March 2011
(Rating: 8 out of 10)
“…harnesses the frantic energy and grinding guitar work of Rage Against The Machine, leading to one of the most exciting records since Nas dropped Illmatic’….Through tracks such as ‘We Still Popular’, single ‘Ghetto Ambiance’, ‘Sleeping Giant’ and ‘Section 8’ pulse, spit and spark with kinetic energy as Hyro Da Hero tackles celebrity, gangsterisms and personal development over a backing that veers from punk funk to deep-fried old school beats.”
— Jim Sharples, BIG CHEESE (U.K.), March 2011
(Rating: 5 stars)
FEATURES AND LIVE REVIEWS:
"…with the punk edge of Bad Brains and the socio-political motivation of Rage Against the Machine, Hyro believes in the power of words…"
—Tamara Conniff, THECOMET.COM, March 2011
"…he performs as if he's top of the bill…Hyro works an already wild crowd into a frenzy."
— Johnny K, KERRANG! (U.K), April 2011
“…The world of rap and metal, two of the most nasty, aggressive, fist-throwing genres to ever grace music, occasionally combine to create awesome music. But there’s never been anyone quite like Houston’s Hyro Da Hero. Not only is he a class A MC but he’s mastered the metal too. Unlike some others….Encompassing a wide-range of influences from metal, hip-hop, punk and hardcore but having enough MC ability to go 8 Mile against any contemporary rapper, Hyro craved something rawer to showcase his talent without compromising his love for punishing guitar-driven mayhem.”
— METAL HAMMER (U.K.), February 2011
“The music has an urgency and groove to it that’s been missing from rock for a while, …He’s going to be big, get on it early.”
— ROCKSOUND (U.K.), January 2011
(Sean Smith from the ‘The Blackout’ on Hyro Da Hero)
"A rapper in a punk band or a punk in a hip hop group–maximum integrity, energy and inspiration."
— Amy Bangs, ROCKSOUND (U.K.), March 2011
Photo: Clair McAllister
|
DATE |
COUNTRY |
CITY |
VENUE |
|
Mon 5/16 |
Switzerland |
Zurich |
Abart w/3oh3 |
|
Tue 5/17 |
France |
Marseille |
EspaceJulien w/3oh3 |
|
Wed 5/18 |
France |
Paris |
Maroquinerie w/3oh3 |
|
Thu 5/19 |
Belgium |
Hasselt |
MOD w/3oh3 |
|
Sat 5/21 |
Holland |
Amsterdam |
Melkweg w/3oh3 |
|
Mon 5/23 |
UK |
Bournemouth |
O2 Academy w/3oh3 |
|
Tue 5/24 |
UK |
Cardiff |
Solus w/3oh3 |
|
Wed 5/25 |
UK |
Birmingham |
Institutew /3oh3 |
|
Thu 5/26 |
UK |
Norwich |
Waterfront w/3oh3 |
|
Sat 5/28 |
UK |
Leeds |
Slam Dunk Festival |
|
Sun 5/29 |
UK |
London |
Slam Dunk Festival |
|
Mon 5/30 |
UK |
Glasgow |
ABC w/3oh3 |
|
Tue 5/31 |
UK |
Manchester |
Academy 2 w/3oh3 |
|
Thu 6/2 |
UK |
Nottingham |
Rock City w/3oh3 |
|
Fri 6/3 |
UK |
Belfast |
Mandela Hall w/3oh3 |
|
Sat 6/4 |
Ireland |
Dublin |
Academy w/3oh3 |
|
Sun 6/5 |
UK |
London |
Shepherds Bush w/ 3oh3 |
|
Thu 6/9 |
UK |
London |
Kerrang Awards (presenter) |
|
Fri 6/10 |
UK |
Donnington Park |
Download Festival |
|
Sat 6/11 |
UK |
London |
The Forum w/ Wu Tang |
|
Sun 6/12 |
UK |
Donnington Park |
Download Festival – Acoustic Stage |
|
Tue 6/14 |
UK |
Edinburgh |
Cabaret Voltaire w/ Wu Tang |
Catch up with HYRO DA HERO at:
www.hyrodahero.com
www.facebook.com/hyrodahero
www.twitter.com/hyrodahero
# # #
For more information on HYRO DA HERO, contact:
MSO 818-380-0400
Libby Coffey x224, Lcoffey@msopr.com
Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
Mitch Schneider mschneider@msopr.com
http://
HYRO DA HERO TO RETURN TO THE U.K. AND EXPAND INTO EUROPE ON 21-DATE TOUR INCLUDING SHOWS AT THE DOWNLOAD AND SLAM DUNK FESTIVALS
