Ces Cru

Last updated
CES Cru
Origin Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Genres Hip hop
Years active2000–2021
Labels Strange Music
MembersUbiquitous, Godemis
Past members
  • Sorceress
  • Mad Dog 20/20
  • General Ali
  • Perseph One
  • Kutty Slitz

Ces Cru (often stylized as CES Cru) is an American rap duo from Kansas City, Missouri, signed to independent record label Strange Music. The duo currently consists of members Donnie "Godemis" King and Mike "Ubiquitous" Viglione, but has had numerous members throughout the years. Ces Cru released their debut album Capture Enemy Soldiers in 2004. They went on to release Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant (2008) and The Playground (2009). In 2010, the duo signed to Tech N9ne's record label Strange Music and have released the EP 13 (2012) and Recession Proof (2015). Their first two studio albums on the label are Constant Energy Struggles (2013), and Codename: Ego Stripper (2014). The most recent release from Ces Cru is their sixth studio album Catastrophic Event Specialists, released in February 2017. In 2021, both artists have since departed from the label.

Contents

Biography

The group went through a number of different group members before becoming the trio of Ubiquitous, Godemis and Sorceress in the early 2000s. [1] In 2004, the group released its debut album, Capture Enemy Soldiers. [1] But while promoting the project, Sorceress wanted to fire the group’s then-manager. Ubiquitous and Godemis disagreed, and Sorceress departed the group. [1] They returned as a duo in 2009 with The Playground, an album they hand delivered to Strange Music label boss Tech N9ne when he witnessed the group opening for Devin the Dude at a Kansas City show. [1] Tech signed them to Strange Music in January 2012, and eight months later they released their Strange Music debut, the 13 EP on August 28, 2012. [2] On March 26, 2013, the duo released their fourth album Constant Energy Struggles. [3] The album debuted at number 98 on the Billboard 200. [4] On August 5, 2014, they released their fifth album Codename: Ego Stripper which debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200. [5]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US US R&B US
Rap
Capture Enemy Soldiers
  • Released: January 1, 2004 (US) [6]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant
  • Released: August 14, 2008 (US) [7]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
The Playground
  • Released: August 28, 2009 (US) [8]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Constant Energy Struggles
  • Released: March 26, 2013 (US) [3]
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
98149
Codename: Ego Stripper
  • Released: August 5, 2014 (US)
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
4042
Catastrophic Event Specialists
  • Released: February 10, 2017 (US)
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
150

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected chart positions and certifications
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
US US R&B US
Rap
13 1562618
Recession Proof2619

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)Album
"Livin' Like I'm Dyin'"2010 Tech N9ne, Kutt Calhoun, Krizz Kaliko Bad Season
"Give It Up"2011Tech N9ne, Lebowski All 6's and 7's
"Wiked Bizness"JLJust Landed
"Unfair"Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko Welcome to Strangeland
"Test You"2012Nesto The OwnerCareer Killer 3
"Strange March" ¡Mayday!, Brotha Lynch Hung Thrift Store Halos EP
"Reckless"2013Krizz Kaliko Son of Sam
"Colorado"Tech N9ne, B.o.B, Krizz Kaliko, ¡Mayday!, Rittz, Stevie Stone Something Else
"Nobody Cares: (The Remix)"2014Tech N9ne, Wrekonize, Bernz, Stevie Stone, Krizz Kaliko Strangeulation
"Great Night"Tech N9ne
"American Horror Story"
"DIBKIS (Remix)"JL, Joey Cool, Info GatesBrain Scatter 2
"Young Dumb Full of Fun"2015Tech N9ne, Mackenzie Nicole Special Effects
"Fun-eral" Felt Have a Nice Life
"Wait On It"Stevie Stone Malta Bend
"One Wing"¡Mayday! Future Vintage
"War Within" Prozak Black Ink
"PBSA"Tech N9ne Strangeulation Vol. II
"Strangeulation Vol. II Cypher II"Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone
"Orangutan"2016Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne, JL, Wrekonize, Rittz GO
"Stop Breathing"Rittz, Stevie Stone Top of the Line
"It Don't Go"BernzSee You on the Other Side
"Out There"Joey Cool, JL, Tech N9neSwank Sinatra
"Casket Music"2017Tech N9ne, Wrekonize Dominion
"The Answer"Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko
"Plenty"Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone Strange Reign
"One, Two"2018Joey CoolJoey Cool
"Kcmo vs. Everybody"Info Gates, JL, Joey Cool, Bre the 1st LadyThankful

Music videos

YearTitleDirectorArtist(s)
As main performer
2012"The Playground"
2013"Lotus"
"When Worlds Collide"
"Juice"featuring Tech N9ne
"Seven Chakras"
2014"Smoke"featuring Liz Suwandi
"Sound Bite"
"Power Play"featuring Tech N9ne
"Jimmy Stewart"
"Double OT"Marmo Films
2015"Letterman"
"Famished"
2016"Ricochet"
As featured performer
2015"PBSA"Tech N9ne featuring Ces Cru
"Strangeulation Vol. II Cypher II"Tech N9ne featuring Stevie Stone and Ces Cru

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strange Music</span> US record label

Strange Music is an American independent record label specializing in hip hop music and founded by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin in 1999.

¡Mayday! is an American hip hop group from Miami, Florida. The group comprises rappers Bernardo "Bernz" Garcia and Ben "Wrekonize" Miller, along with producer and percussionist Andrews "NonMS" Mujica. Until 2015, the group also included keyboard player and guitarist Aaron Eckhart, drummer Terrel, and bassist Gianni Perocapi. The band was formerly signed to Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin's Strange Music label. As of May 1, 2022, all future releases will be on their own label Mayday Music distributed by It Goes Up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tech N9ne discography</span> Horrorcore recording artist discography

The discography of Tech N9ne spans over 21 years, with the earliest official release being the single release "Cloudy-Eyed Stroll/Mitch Bade" in 1996. Tech N9ne has SoundScanned over two million albums independently. He has also had his music featured in many movies, television shows, and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krizz Kaliko</span> American rapper from Missouri

Samuel William Christopher Watson, better known by his stage name Krizz Kaliko, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and voice actor. He is a longtime collaborator with fellow hometown native Tech N9ne and was signed to Strange Music from its inception in 1999 up to forming his own label Ear House Inc. in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kutt Calhoun</span> American rapper

Melvin Lewis Calhoun Jr., better known by his stage name Kutt Calhoun, is an American rapper and business executive from Kansas City, Missouri. After getting his start in the late 1990s underground rap scene of Kansas City, he subsequently signed to Strange Music when the label was founded in 1999. Calhoun released his debut album B.L.E.V.E. in 2004, and his 2007 sophomore album Feature Presentation debuted at number 60 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Calhoun's third album, Raw and Un-Kutt, made its debut at number 162 on the Billboard 200 chart in its first week of release, as well as charting at No. 19 on the Top Heatseekers chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Rock</span> American rapper from California

Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he signed to indie label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), in 2005. Under TDE, Rock secured a record deal in 2007 with Warner Bros. Records and later Asylum Records, but mergers fell through and Rock departed from the label shortly after. He then signed with fellow American rapper Tech N9ne's Strange Music, in a joint-venture deal with TDE.

<i>Raw and Un-Kutt</i> 2010 studio album by Kutt Calhoun

Raw and Un-Kutt is the third studio album by Kansas City rapper Kutt Calhoun, released on June 8, 2010. The album debuted at #162 on the "Billboard 200" chart in its first week of release.

<i>All 6s and 7s</i> 2011 studio album by Tech N9ne

All 6's and 7's is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on June 7, 2011, through Strange Music. The album was released to universal acclaim by music critics, and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts.

Michael Summers, known professionally as Seven, is an American hip hop record producer from Kansas City, Missouri. Seven is best known for his music production work with independent recording artists Tech N9ne, XV, and Mac Lethal.

<i>Welcome to Strangeland</i> 2011 studio album by Tech N9ne

Welcome to Strangeland is the twelfth studio album, and the fourth in the "Collabos" series, by rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on November 8, 2011, the rapper's 40th birthday.

Stephen Lewis Williams, better known by his stage name Stevie Stone, is an American rapper from Columbia, Missouri. He was signed to Tech N9ne's Strange Music record label from 2011 to 2021 and has since founded his own record label Ahdasee Records. He has released seven studio albums including Black Lion, with his most recent being Raising The Bar in April 2022.

<i>Constant Energy Struggles</i> 2013 studio album by Ces Cru

Constant Energy Struggles is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Ces Cru. The album was released on March 26, 2013, by Strange Music. The album features guest appearances from Tech N9ne, Liz Suwandi, JL B. Hood and Mac Lethal. The album debuted at number 98 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Jonathan Matthew McCollum, better known by his stage name Rittz, is an American rapper. His debut album The Life and Times of Jonny Valiant was released on April 30, 2013, rising to number 8 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. His next two albums, Next to Nothing (2014) and Top of the Line (2016) peaked at number 3 on the same chart. His fourth album, Last Call (2017), hit number 43 on the Billboard 200. All of these were released under Tech N9ne's Strange Music label.

<i>Strangeulation</i> 2014 studio album by Tech N9ne

Strangeulation is the fourteenth studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne, the fifth in his "Collabos" series. The album was released on May 6, 2014, by Strange Music. The album features guest appearances from the entire Strange Music roster, including its newest signing at the time — Murs, as well as some outside collaborators such as Tyler Lyon, Ryan Bradley, Mackenzie O'Guin, Kendall Morgan, John 5 and Serj Tankian.

The discography of Rittz, an American hip hop artist, consists of seven studio albums, thirty-one singles, two mixtapes, two extended play and thirteen music videos. His music has been released on record labels Slumerican and Strange Music.

<i>13</i> (Ces Cru EP) 2012 EP by Ces Cru

13 is the first EP by American hip hop duo Ces Cru. The EP was released on August 28, 2012, by Strange Music. The EP debuted at number 156 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Codename: Ego Stripper</i> 2014 studio album by Ces Cru

Codename: Ego Stripper is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Ces Cru. The album was released on August 5, 2014, by Strange Music. The album debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Malta Bend</i> (album) 2015 studio album by Stevie Stone

Malta Bend is the fourth album by American rapper Stevie Stone, the third on Tech N9ne's label Strange Music. It was released on June 30, 2015.

<i>The Storm</i> (Tech N9ne album) 2016 studio album by Tech N9ne

The Storm is the seventeenth studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne. It was released on December 9, 2016, by Strange Music. The album features guest appearances from Gary Clark, Jr., Problem, Joyner Lucas, Logic, Marsha Ambrosious, Jonathan Davis and Boyz II Men alongside fellow Strange Music rappers such as Krizz Kaliko, Stevie Stone, Murs and Big Scoob, among others.

<i>Strange Reign</i> 2017 studio album by Tech N9ne

Strange Reign is the nineteenth studio album by American rapper Tech N9ne, the eighth in his "Collabos" series. The album was released on October 13, 2017, by Strange Music. It features the entire Strange Music roster and it was solely produced by the label's in-house producer Seven, with the exception of "Dangerous" and "These Hands" being co-produced with Sainte and Joshua S. Barber respectively along with "'Brand New Hunnids" being produced by Frizz.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Company, The (2012-08-31). "CES Cru Announces Strange Music Album Title, Details "Colosseum" Concept". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on 2014-05-12. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  2. 1 2 "iTunes – Music – 13 by Ces Cru". Itunes.apple.com. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  3. 1 2 "iTunes – Music – Constant Energy Struggles (Deluxe Edition) by Ces Cru". Itunes.apple.com. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  4. "Ces Cru – Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  5. "iTunes – Music – Codename: Ego Stripper (Deluxe Edition) by Ces Cru". iTunes. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  6. "iTunes – Music – Capture Enemy Soldiers by Ces Cru". Itunes.apple.com. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  7. "iTunes – Music – Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant by Ces Cru". Itunes.apple.com. 2008-08-24. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  8. "iTunes – Music – The Playground by Ces Cru". Itunes.apple.com. 2009-08-28. Retrieved 2014-05-11.