Time has come today for Gym Class Heroes. Rightly recognized as true pioneers of live hip-hop, the Geneva, NY-based band has won popular and critical acclaim for kicking out genre-busting jams that seamlessly meld rap, rock, R&B, and anything else that happens to strike the musically voracious outfit’s fancy. Now, with their new Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen release, “AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN,” Gym Class Heroes have stepped up their game on every level. Produced by S*A*M (aka Sam Hollander, hailed for his collaborations with Method Man, the Sounds, and Earth, Wind & Fire) and Sluggo (the alter-ego of renowned session bassist Dave Katz, known for his work with Roger Daltrey), with co-production from the band’s close mate, Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy, songs like the witty MySpace anthem, “New Friend Request,” explode out of the speakers with a rollicking sonic irreverence ideally suited for the hazy days and hot nights of summer.
“It’s just a complete full-on summertime album,” acknowledges frontman Travis McCoy. “The whole fun element of hip-hop has disappeared. Everybody takes themselves so seriously, it’s become a fashion show more or less. We wanted to the vibe to be as fun as possible.”

The roots of Gym Class Heroes reach back to 1997, when McCoy first met drummer Matt McGinley in where else but gym class. The band officially came together in 2001 with the two high school friends eventually teaming up with guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, and bassist Eric Roberts. Their goal from the start was to create a new palette for hip hop, one that replaced the genre’s trademark programmed beats and samples with the live instrumentation of rock ‘n’ roll.
"Our music is rooted in hip-hop,” McCoy says, “but not restricted to it. We never drew ourselves into a corner, which made it easy for us to play for all kinds of people – from jam band fans to death metal fans to punk fans to hip-hop fans.”

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. THE QUEEN AND I
2. SHOOT DOWN THE STARS
3. NEW FRIEND REQUEST
4. CLOTHES OFF!
5. SLOPPY LOVE JINGLE, PT. 1
6. VIVA LA WHITE GIRL
7. 7 WEEKS
8. IT'S OK, BUT JUST THIS ONCE!
9. SLOPPY LOVE JINGLE, PT. 2
10. BITERS BLOCK
11. BOYS IN BANDS INTERLUDE
12. SCANDALOUS SCHOLASTICS
13. ON MY OWN TIME (WRITE ON!)
14. CUPID'S CHOKEHOLD (FEATURING PATRICK STUMP)
15. SLOPPY LOVE JINGLE, PT. 3