At the time of their first self-titled EP, in 1980, the band changed their name to Red Cross, which was allegedly inspired by the masturbation scene in the film, The Exorcist. Ron Reyes became the drummer. Eventually, Hetson left to join the Circle Jerks (and later Bad Religion) and Reyes left for Black Flag. Keller left to join Trixie and the Doorknobs as its guitarist and singer. To complete the lineup on their first full-length album, Born Innocent, they assembled a revolving door of musicians including original drummer John Stielow and drummer Janet Housden. Full of the brothers' pop culture obsessions, Born Innocent featured odes to Linda Blair (who starred in a television movie of the same name), a cover of "Look On Up At The Bottom" by the Carrie Nations from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and Charles Manson (whose song "Cease to Exist" they covered). The album also contains nods to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, Tatum O'Neal, and Lita Ford. Not long after the release of the album, the group was threatened with a lawsuit from the International Red Cross and changed their name to Redd Kross, allegedly being inspired by Redd Foxx.
In 1984, Redd Kross returned with drummer Dave Peterson to record Teen Babes from Monsanto, an album featuring songs originally by such artists as KISS, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and The Shangri-Las.
In 1984, lead guitarist Robert Hecker joined the band, as Redd Kross embarked on tour in support of Teen Babes from Monsanto.
In that same year, they were featured on the soundtrack of Desperate Teenage Lovedolls with their cover of the Brady Bunch Kids' "It's a Sunshine Day". Jeff and Steve appear in the movie, along with Robert in the sequel Lovedolls Superstar which the brothers co-wrote with Dave Markey and Jennifer Schwartz. Both movies are available now on DVD.
In 1985, drummer Roy McDonald (formerly of The Things, and no relation to the brothers) joined the band.
In 1987, Redd Kross released Neurotica, an album reportedly influenced by Saturday morning cartoons and breakfast cereal (one of the songs was called "Frosted Flake"). Although the album itself was successful, the band's label, Big Time Records folded. The band continued to tour during these years however, and in 1988, drummer Victor Indrizzo joined the band.
On February 20, 1990, Redd Kross appeared on Episode 2 of the cult Public-access television show "Decoupage" with Summer Caprice.
In 1990, Redd Kross signed with Atlantic Records, releasing Third Eye, and appeared with David Cassidy in the film Spirit of '76, and issued several singles, including "Annie's Gone", which had some mild success on college radio. Former Red Hot Chili Peppers / future Pearl Jam drummer Jack Irons joined for the Third Eye tours, and appears in the promotional video for "Annie's Gone", which saw some light rotation on MTV. Brian Reitzell succeeded Irons as drummer in the band, and appears in the promotional video for "1976".
In 1991, Robert Hecker took leave from the band.
The album Phaseshifter was released in 1993, with new band members Eddie Kurdziel, Gere Fennelly, and Brian Reitzell. The videos for "Jimmy's Fantasy" and "Lady In The Front Row" were both shown on MTV's 120 Minutes. They toured on Phaseshifter for over a year, headling their own shows as well as tours supporting The Lemonheads and The Spin Doctors in late 1993 and Stone Temple Pilots in 1994. In 1995, Jeff and his wife, Charlotte Caffey (from The Go-Go's), had a daughter, named Astrid.
In 1997, Redd Kross released Show World, produced by Chris Shaw (who also produced albums for Weezer and Soul Asylum) and toured supporting The Presidents of the United States of America. The band took an indefinite hiatus after the Show World tour, and their future was uncertain after the untimely death of guitarist Eddie Kurdziel on June 6, 1999.
On July 1, 2006, Redd Kross returned to the live stage after almost a decade's absence. The Neurotica-era line up of Jeff McDonald, Steven McDonald, Robert Hecker and Roy McDonald performed a career-spanning set at the REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/Cal Arts Theater) at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The band has subsequently gone on to play at the Azkena Festival in Spain, the Detour Festival in Los Angeles, give a performance of their entire first EP in honor of Rodney Bingenheimer's being awarded a star on Hollywood Boulevard, and a set consisting of the entire Born Innocent album opening for Sonic Youth (who performed Daydream Nation) at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. They toured Spain and England in January, 2007. They have played a number of one-off shows including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. In 2008 they played the Coachella Festival in Coachella, California; ATP vs Pitchfork festival in Sussex, England; and NXNE Festival in Toronto, Ontario. In 2010, Redd Kross headlined the Turbo Rock Festival in Spain. In 2011 they headlined the POP Montreal Festival.
Redd Kross will tour Australia again as part of the Hoodoo Gurus' 30th Anniversary on the "Dig It Up" Festival concert series.
The band released "Researching the Blues" in 2012.
The Way of Rhyme
Redd Kross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a track like this.
The miggity-mac never slacks
And I'm packing the heat.
I got my flavor of lifesavers
Every day I create
Some of the wiggity-slyest rhymes
That you ever heard from one.
I ain't the type to be slept on
The type to be crept on
And don't you think I am to step on.
For every move you make
I got a trick
And my track's got more kicks
Than a boo sleep flick.
I like my pants to sag
Make you say
"Dag, uh! That little nigga is so bad."
The capital capital K's don't play
We amaze.
They make you move
They groove
In so many different ways.
Jump! Jump!
Was the first episode
To put you in the mode
And let you know
I flow like
That y'all, that y'all,
That y'all, that y'all.
Better than that
Like that y'all, that y'all,
Like that y'all, that y'all,
That y'all, that y'all.
Better than that
Like that y'all, that y'all,
Like that y'all, that y'all,
That y'all, that y'all.
Better than that
Like that y'all, that y'all,
Like that y'all, that y'all,
That y'all, that y'all.
Better than that
Like that y'all, that y'all.
Every everybody wants to know
Where I get my get my funky funky flow.
Straight from the ghetto
And I'm fierce like a dragon.
Head to the back
And my pants keep saggin'.
Here I go again,
Movin' your adrenaline.
Totally totally totally krossed out.
Can you comprehend?
Wait a minute drop the old school beat.
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Tupa-tupa girl scooper
That's what I be.
Girls talkin'
You know talkin'
It's the mac daddy.
I got a flow.
You got a what?
I got a flow.
I got a flow.
You got a what?
I got a flow.
On the playground I say now
You won't see me swinging
Skin tight clothes
Then you don't be singing
"Daddy don't do dat. Dad do rap."
So please don't get passed to the whack.
I got a flow.
You got a what?
I got a flow.
I got a flow.
You got a what?
I got a flow.
I got a flow.
You got a what?
I got a flow.
I got a flow
You got a flow?
So let it go.
Yeah.
Meet me in the mac means I'm all that.
I could do this and that
And none of it ever comes out whack.
And never have you ever seen
A MC this size this tough.
You might have seen some kids
But they wasn't this rough.
I'm the type you don't want to touch,
Tangle or tamper with.
You rhyme to doodle
Like a two-day-old pamper kid.
So spark off and tie
Catch if I hit the dough
And take your wiggity-whack
Style to the sto'.
In "The Way of Rhyme," Redd Kross's lead singer, Jeff McDonald, seems to be boasting about his rhyming ability and style. He claims to create original, sly rhymes that make listeners move and groove in various ways. He also suggests that he's a force to be reckoned with, and that he doesn't take kindly to being underestimated or challenged. McDonald takes pride in being an original talent from the ghetto, and fiercely raps about his experiences and his unique flow. "The Way of Rhyme" is a passionate and energetic song that serves as a showcase for McDonald's impressive lyrical prowess and charisma.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm the quicker quicker ripper
I'm a fast and skilled rapper
On a track like this.
Especially on a beat like this one.
The miggity-mac never slacks
I always come correct with fresh rhymes.
And I'm packing the heat.
I have lots of great rhymes at my disposal.
I got my flavor of lifesavers
I have unique and creative rhymes
Every day I create
I'm always writing new material
Some of the wiggity-slyest rhymes
Some of the most clever rhymes you've ever heard.
That you ever heard from one.
Spoken by a single person.
I ain't the type to be slept on
Don't underestimate me.
The type to be crept on
Nor think you can sneak up on me.
And don't you think I am to step on.
Don't try to walk all over me.
For every move you make
Whatever you do
I got a trick
I have a response or comeback.
And my track's got more kicks
My rap has more highlights
Than a boo sleep flick.
Than the click-clacking of a movie projector
I like my pants to sag
I wear baggy clothes.
Make you say
This makes you exclaim
"Dag, uh! That little nigga is so bad."
"Wow, he's really cool and talented!"
The capital capital K's don't play
Redd Kross is serious about rap
We amaze.
We're impressive
They make you move
They make you dance
They groove
They have a flowing rhythm
In so many different ways.
In a variety of styles and tempos.
Jump! Jump!
This song was popularized with this refrain.
Was the first episode
This was the first instance or introduction
To put you in the mode
To get you in the right mindset
And let you know
And to inform you
I flow like
I rap with the ease and grace
That y'all, that y'all,
In the way that those before me did
That y'all, that y'all.
In the same manner.
Better than that
Even better than the aforementioned.
And none of it ever comes out whack.
None of my rhymes ever sound bad or weak.
And never have you ever seen
You've never witnessed
A MC this size this tough.
A rapper my size with this level of skills.
You might have seen some kids
You might have seen some other young rappers
But they wasn't this rough.
But they weren't as hard or impressive as me.
I'm the type you don't want to touch,
I'm untouchable.
Tangle or tamper with.
Don't mess with me or try to compete with me.
You rhyme to doodle
You rap like a baby
Like a two-day-old pamper kid.
Like a newborn baby.
So spark off and tie
So start up your car and leave
Catch if I hit the dough
If you come back, you'll be left in the dust.
And take your wiggity-whack
And take your terrible style of rap
Style to the sto'
Back to the basics, to square one.
Every everybody wants to know
Everyone is curious about
Where I get my get my funky funky flow.
Where I get my groove and flow from.
Straight from the ghetto
From my upbringing in a rough neighborhood.
And I'm fierce like a dragon.
I'm intense and dangerous.
Head to the back
Towards the rear end of my body
And my pants keep saggin'.
And my pants are always falling down.
Here I go again,
I'm starting over, doing it again.
Movin' your adrenaline.
I'm getting you pumped up and excited.
Totally totally totally krossed out.
Redd Kross is always fresh and original.
Can you comprehend?
Do you understand how good I am?
Wait a minute drop the old school beat.
Pause for a second and switch up the rhythm.
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Do it with even more energy and speed!
Tupa-tupa girl scooper
I'm like a girl magnet.
That's what I be.
That's how I operate.
Girls talkin'
The ladies are always chatting about me.
You know talkin'
You know what they're saying.
It's the mac daddy.
I am the best, the top dog, the head honcho.
I got a flow.
I have a natural, effortless way of rapping.
You got a what?
You don't understand what I mean?
On the playground I say now
When I'm at school
You won't see me swinging
You won't catch me playing on the swings.
Skin tight clothes
Wearing form-fitting apparel.
Then you don't be singing
Then you wouldn't be approving or supporting my style.
"Daddy don't do dat. Dad do rap."
"Don't try to imitate me, just appreciate my skills. I'm a rapper, not a clown."
So please don't get passed to the whack.
Don't associate me with inferior or cheesy rappers.
You got a what?
You're still not getting it?
You got a flow.
You have a natural, effortless way of rapping.
So let it go.
So don't worry about it, it's not a big deal.
Meet me in the mac means I'm all that.
If you want to see me in my element, come to the club.
I could do this and that
I can rap in any style, any way you like it.
And none of it ever comes out whack.
None of my rhymes ever sound bad or weak.
Contributed by Isabella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@missurielleshakirthesiren-3866
TUPAC Shakur was
a Son
a Poet
a Rapper
a Writer
a Gangster
a Excellent Actor and
a Activists !!!
He was ALL OF IT. All from God, his Mother a Black Panther, his upbringing, and his environment.
He needs to be in the Hall of Fame.
@bassoonman2000
A real friend right here. A real one will defend your honor until their last breath.
@dr33kkclement54
💯
@therealityofitall4819
He can defend all he wants but that doesn't stop 2Pac's for being a fake gangsta.. Who joins a gang at 25 years old?? Which have been confirmed by people closed to him even the ones running the gang..
@bassoonman2000
@@therealityofitall4819 Unfortunately you don't understand gang culture until you're in it. There were very few at DR who weren't banging. It's still debatable if he was MOB but if they were the homies, he associated, the other side doesn't care about the semantics. In any case that was a very young brother and plenty of us did things at 25 that could've gotten us killed or behind bars for being young and foolish.
@kstephen1519
@@therealityofitall4819 You sound crazy. Tupac was being loyal to Suge and Death row for getting him out of prison. He never claimed any gang.
@geronimopratt7976
@@therealityofitall4819 absolutely correct
@webfeend
A reporter once asked Pac “how come one song is F—k the world and another song is Keep your head up..” ? Pac replied “because I don’t wake up feeling the same every day.. do you? Sometimes I feel down and like F—k the world.. and other times I feel more optimistic.”
He always kept it real. He was three dimensional.
@NocturnalHustler1
That's real
@james2091991
💯
@jbossbuffaloshit6868
100% FACTS