Gym Class Heroes
Hip-Hop · US · Active since 1997

Gym Class Heroes

Live-band hip-hop with a pop-punk heart. Sunny, melodic rap that trades samples for organic funk grooves and blue-eyed soul hooks. Perfect for summer road trips.

Browse Catalog
Intro

Gym Class Heroes emerged from Geneva, New York, as a rare example of a hip-hop group that functioned as a traditional four-piece rock band. Formed in 1997 by Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley, the group bypassed the traditional DJ-and-MC format in favor of live instrumentation, a choice that allowed them to tour extensively within the punk and alternative rock circuits.

Their signing to Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records solidified their status as the 'hip-hop ambassadors' of the emo-pop explosion. Musically, they are defined by McCoy's clever, often self-deprecating lyricism and a sound that incorporates 70s soul (notably Hall & Oates), 80s funk (Prince), and contemporary alternative rock. Their refusal to use samples in an era dominated by them gave their music a distinct 'organic' quality. Critically, they are recognized for successfully navigating the 'crossover' space without losing their alternative credibility, winning the MTV VMA for Best New Artist in 2007. Their influence persists in the lineage of 'genre-blind' artists who blend rap delivery with pop-rock structures.

Our Catalog5 Albums · 2001 · 2011
The Papercut Chronicles II
The Papercut Chronicles II
2011
The Quilt
The Quilt
2008
As Cruel as School Children
As Cruel as School Children
2006
The Papercut Chronicles
The Papercut Chronicles
2005
...For the Kids
...For the Kids
2001
The Sound · Center of GravityWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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