X & Hell

Last updated

X & Hell
Also known asWeapon X & Ken Hell
OriginMelbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Electro-rap
Years active2004 (2004)–2009 (2009)
Labels
Past members
  • Ken Hell (a.k.a. Daivin Verduci)
  • Weapon X (a.k.a. Xavier Millis)
  • A-Style

X & Hell or Weapon X & Ken Hell are an Australian electro-rap group, consisting of producer and vocalist, Weapon X (a.k.a. Xavier Millis), vocalist, Ken Hell (a.k.a. Daivin Verduci) and DJ and turntablist, A-Style. They issued two albums, Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy (2005) and Million Dollar Sex Party (2008). They were nominated for Best Urban Release in 2005 for "Otherman" and in 2006 for Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy. "Otherman" (July 2005), their debut single, reached No. 46 on the ARIA Singles Chart.

Contents

History

In 2005 X & Hell, as Weapon X & Ken Hell, released their debut album, Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy. [1] The group were signed to Melbourne record label Illusive Sounds, [1] part of the Mushroom Records. The label is home to Australian acts Bliss n Eso, Solid MC, Paris Wells, Lowrider, and the Winnie Coopers. Their album provided three singles, "Otherman" (July 2005), [1] "Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy" (2006) and "Stares and Whispers 05" – the latter is a cover version featuring its original singer, Renée Geyer. "Otherman", which peaked at No. 46 on the ARIA Singles Chart, [2] received steady airplay on commercial radio and was the Channel [V]'s Ripe Clip of the Week.

Both "Otherman" and the album Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy were nominated for Best Urban Release at the ARIA Music Awards of 2005 and 2006, respectively. [3] [4] The album earned them Australian tour support slots with 50 Cent and G-Unit, [5] Mobb Deep and Xzibit in 2005 and 2006. X & Hell also issued a three-part, mixtape series, Scar-non.

In 2007 they released a video for "Drive It Like It's Hot", performed by Ken Hell's alter ego Take it Easy Heezy, as a parody based on Snoop Dogg's hit, "Drop It Like Its Hot". Also in that year DJ A-Style won the Victorian leg of the DMC Championships. In July 2008 X & Hell released the first single, "Don't Stop Movin", from its second album, Million Dollar Sex Party, to radio and press. [1] It was produced by Weapon X and Styalz Fuego.

By 2010 Millis, on keyboards, had formed an AOR group, White Widdow, with his brother Jules Millis (a.k.a. Julez Mephisto) on lead vocals, Enzo Almanzi on lead guitar, Jim Naish on drums and Trent Wilson on bass guitar. [6] [7]

Members

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
TitleDetails
Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Solid State, Illusive Sounds
Million Dollar Sex Party

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
AUS
[2]
"Otherman"200546Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy
"Sneakerpimpin Aint Easy"2006
"Stares and Whispers 05" (featuring Renee Geyer)
"Don't Stop Movin"2008Million Dollar Sex Party
"Shades Off"2009

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Birchmeier, Jason. "X & Hell | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Discography Weapon X". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  3. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2005: 19th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  4. "ARIA Awards – History: Winners by Year 2006: 20th Annual ARIA Awards". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  5. "Fiddy Reveals G-Unit Line Up - Music and Entertainment Gossip - The Hot Hits".
  6. Lambert, Chris (October 2011). "White Widdow". Rock Report's Melodic & Progressive Rock Bible. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
  7. Ling, Dave (13 October 2010). "Melodic Rock Round-up: – Classic Rock". TeamRock. Future. Retrieved 10 November 2017.