Hip hop artists have been using crews as a way to find promotional strength in numbers for about two decades. The idea is simple: get a bunch of talented guys together, make some music, and between all the members, draw larger crowds. This technique has typically led the way to many solo careers once one artist stands above the group… 

Christian Palko, AKA Cage Kennylz, is an underground MC from NYC. He is currently signed to Definitive Jux Records, and is one of the biggest names in underground hip hop today. His most recent album, “Hell’s Winter,” won several independent awards for best underground hip hop album of 2006 (the album was constantly in contention with MF Doom and Danger Mouse’s “Dangerdoom”).    

Underground hip hop has, in recent years, been linked to the indie rock scene. Weird, right? Well, just because young people listen to rock, doesn’t mean they can’t like hip hop, but they do find it hard to relate. If you’re a rocker, chances are life isn’t all making it rain, pimps, ho’s, G’s, gangs, rims, shoulder leans, and Soulja Boys. So, underground hip hop has found success from a predominantly white crowd. As a result, the sound is much different than what you’d hear on the radio. Underground tends to be much more experimental, ambient, creative, unique, and even political…all qualities that appeal to your average indie rocker.   

So, when Cage teamed with indie rocker, Daryl Palumbo (of Head Automatica), to form a new crew that united rock and hip hop, heads turned. The crew goes by the name Cardboard City, and they currently have 20 members. Some of the more recent names to join include: Aesop Rock, El-P, Camu Tao, XO Skeletons, Yak Ballz, I Am The Avalanche and Chauncey Johnson, all of whom are growing names in the underground music scene. The crew’s most recent addition is Shia Labeouf, from the movie Transformers and the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel. Musicians alone would’ve been enough to draw attention, pack venues, and sell merch, but with a foot in the Hollywood door, things could get really big, really quick.   

Shortly after joining, Labeouf began publicly mentioning an interest in making a new film. He wants to star in a film that tells that troubling life story of CC founder, Cage Kennylz. Cage’s life (which you can get a taste of on Wikipedia) would definitely make an interesting film, but the film itself could have more significant ramifications for Cardboard City. A movie will sell records, no question, and a relatively unknown artist, like Cage, could blow up overnight.    

Visit Cardboard City on Myspace here . Sure, most of the names will be unfamiliar, because they aren’t ‘famous,’ but realize that these names are one good Hollywood pitch away from becoming stars. Should the film actually happen (and chances are fair), these could very well be the names you see on the t-shirts of shaggy-haired kids for years to come.
    

Check out THIS video of Shia Labeouf ‘throwin up his CC’s” on SNL.  Cardboard City is coming.

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