The first seeds of Psycho Realm were sown in the tough downtown Pico-Union neighborhood, right across the street from Doheny Park. First-generation Americans and the eldest two of the four Gonzalez boys, Jack and Gustavo, a.k.a. "Duke," grew up in the contentious neighborhood in the mid- and late-1980s.
"Our side of town is the 'Sick Side' of town. They have the South Side, North Side, East Side, whatever. Our side is the Sick Side," Jack explains over a lunch of Argentine Lomo and Mimosas on Hollywood's Melrose Avenue one recent Sunday, fresh off a series of concert dates in Italy.
The patriarch of the Gonzalez family came to the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 15 and supported his family by painting cars. Their house was filled with music: classic oldies, which surface prominently in Psycho Realm's tracks, along with regional Mexican music and giants of the 1960s and '70s like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix.
Immersed in hip-hop as a middle-school student, Jack's neighborhood friend, Yonjo, got ahold of a record featuring a guy out of Miami rapping in Spanish. They threw it on the turntable and, inspired by what they heard, the boys wrote a Spanglish rap about all of the friends they grew up with and the growing specter of neighborhood gang warfare that would crest just a few years later in the early 1990s.
Older brother Duke was attending Cal State Northridge (CSUN) at the time, and Jack and Yonjo made the trip out one weekend to see Latin hip-hoppers A Lighter Shade of Brown play the on-campus pub. When the following act was late to the stage, a deejay friend of Duke's threw on an instrumental beat and persuaded Jack and Yonjo to get on stage. Their song about the neighborhood characters got the crowd going crazier than the headlining act, and Jack was hooked.
Eventually, Yonjo dropped out to work for his family's business, Duke got in on the act, and his days at CSUN soon came to an end as well. "I think he went with the intention of doing something, but didn't know what he wanted to do," says Jack. According to his little brother, Duke spent most of those two years with his '79 Regal backed up to the door of his dorm room, juicing up the batteries on his hydraulics with free electricity, courtesy of the Cal State University system. When the party was over, he left.
By now Jack was attending the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies' (LACES) magnet high school Mid-City. Always a talented writer, he once won an essay contest for an opportunity to travel to the Soviet Union, but those plans were derailed by the ill-timed collapse of communism. Jack also played first-chair trumpet in the band and rubbed elbows in Miss Cox's music class with Lucas MacFadden (a.k.a. DJ Cut Chemist of Jurassic 5, Ozomatli and the Brainfreeze projects with DJ Shadow), and a certain actor you may have heard of named Leonardo DiCaprio.
Jack admits that he and his boys used to give Leo a hard time, but when they ran into each other years later at a Playboy magazine party, there were no hard feelings. "He was like, 'Hey, your music's tight.' I was like, 'You're acting's dope,'" Jack remembers.
After graduating from LACES, Jack also took a stab at higher education, attending Santa Monica College on scholarship, taking random courses for credit like weight training. "My dad always wanted us to do the college thing," he says. "Get a good job, make eighty-, a hundred-thousand-dollars a year. Live the good life, you know?" But with an infant daughter to support (he's now the proud father of five girls) and a waning interest in academics, Jack decided that his energy was better spent working and nurturing Psycho Realm's music.
About that time, Psycho Realm caught what could be considered the band's big break. It was 1993 and they were playing a free "End Barrio Warfare" show at the Olvera Street Plaza downtown, which happened to be attended by B-Real of Cypress Hill. B liked what he heard, met with Jack and Duke after the show, and eventually signed Psycho Realm to his production company and the Ruffhouse/Columbia/Sony label, mentoring the fledgling duo. "He was a good mentor," says Jack. "He helped us structure our songs more.
Live shows, he taught us how to work the crowd."
B-Real was so impressed with Psycho Realm that he actually wanted to join the group and make it a trio, but Jack and Duke were reluctant to let anyone else in the fold. "We had the mentality of the old rock bands: If you can't do an album on your own, you ain't shit," says Jack. The brothers told B-Real they would pass, but he was persistent. "We told him if you're going to be in the group, you've got to do all the promotional stuff, too. You don't get superstar status. And he was down with it, so we were like, 'Let's do the whole album.' And we did the whole first album with him."
The Big Debut
When it came time to put out their self-titled debut album in 1997, Jack and Duke were adamant that it was credited only to Psycho Realm, minting them as their own brand. Sony didn't go for it. "On everything, every sticker, it said, 'Featuring B-Real of Cypress Hill,' " recalls Jack. "You can't really blame them because they're sinking so many dollars into it. They're going to go for the marketing aspect." It wasn't all bad news, though. Even now, when Cypress Hill comes up, Psycho Realm usually gets a mention, and vice-versa.
Timing was not on their side, however. Simultaneously, Cypress Hill, Nas, and the Fugees were all on the Ruffhouse label, and they all had big radio hits. Not being a radio-friendly group, Psycho Realm fell into a no-man's land, and consequently fell through the cracks. "They didn't know what to do with us," laments Jack. "Two Mexican guys from L.A. rapping. They were just like, 'What is this? How can we market this?' "
Psycho Realm eventually decided it was best to part ways with Sony. "Sony did give us a worldwide promotional campaign, so we're known all over the world now," says Jack. "We can go to Europe and have promoters pay us to do shows. And we have fans that are coming to the shows all over the world – Mexico, South and Central America, Europe, Australia."
With a DIY work ethic, the Gonzalez brothers have also cultivated a vast network of independent distributors around the globe, keeping their music, their fans – and their profits – close to their chests. Jack breaks it down: "Instead of making eighty cents a record, we're making six or seven dollars a record. It's more of a direct contact with the streets, too, because on a day-to-day basis I'm going around to stores dropping off product. People at the shows buy it, people see me on the streets. I'm out there every day. It's being accessible. I think a lot of people can relate to us and the fact that we're in everybody's face, we're standing next to everybody, it makes it that much more real."
The ugly face of Los Angeles street violence got a little too real for Psycho Realm in late January 1999, just a month before their second album, "A War Story, Book 1," was scheduled for release on their own Sick Symphonies label. After a Delinquent Habits show at the El Rey theatre, Duke and a few friends went in search of late-night nourishment, ending up at Tommy's burger stand at Beverly and Rampart. Following an altercation in the parking lot, Duke was shot in the neck, severing an artery, with the bullet ending up right between the "L" and the "O" of his "Los Angeles" tattoo.
War Story II
By the time Jack made it to the scene, Duke was already on his way to County-USC Medical Center, and only his jacket remained in the street, ringed by yellow police tape. He caught up with Duke in the hospital hallway, barely alive and disfigured by swelling, bandages and clamps. Duke survived, and the police arrested the shooter, but his injuries left him a quadriplegic at 28.
Jack calls the months after Duke's misfortune "The Dark Ages." "I wasn't really doing much," he says. "Not really making music, just cruising the streets." Duke eventually convinced Jack to get back to making music, and he hooked up with dedicated foot soldiers of the Psycho Realm promotion machine and fellow Angelenos, Street Platoon. Together they recorded "The Steel Storm," released in 2001. Dad went to nursing school so he could care for Duke full time and Psycho Realm eventually got back on track.
Now, along with his musical contributions, Duke runs Psycho Realm's cyber-domain, maintaining the Web site and mailing list. And L.A. hip-hop's favorite sons released their long-awaited third album, "A War Story, Book 2," in November 2003. On one of the 15 new tracks, "Poison Rituals," MTV News' Kurt Loder even recounts the night Psycho Realm's lives changed forever at the burger stand. Standout and single-worthy tracks also include head-bobbing party track "Good Times" and street anthem "The Killing Fields."
By all appearances, Psycho Realm barely missed a step. When they threw a record-release party at the El Rey, the same theater where they attended the Delinquent Habits show that fateful night in 1999, Sick Soldiers lined up around the block, and the 600-plus fans that were turned away incited a near-riot. The L.A.P.D. even showed up, decked out in riot gear, though the situation eventually ended peacefully.
"We do it all ourselves," says Jack. "For two guys [Street Platoon], me and my brother, who's quadriplegic, we're not doing too bad."
ONLINE:
For a list of independent retailers carrying Psycho Realm's catalogue, tour dates, news, and merchandise, visit www.psychorealmonline.com.
The crazy area
The Psycho Realm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dangerous slums woods lost ?hoods burnt spots we live in
Killing fields death fills
Concrete jungles rumbles ill
Sick projects swinging steel
Real towns around you get killed
The players in the scheme unfold and flash guns
And fill our thoughts with fuck everyone
Cops run around and patrol
But can't handle the vandal big psyclone
Crash wants me gone
So we all fight and die and the crazy area lives on
Welcome to wild raid zones
Where sirens will pierce your ears like deaf tones
Move fast and don't get smoked?cause echoes of a massacre flood the ghetto
Stroll the roads downtown
Where the residents are masked with sad faced clowns
Come grab your straps and get down
And drown the streets in murder surround sound
In this jail cell we call hell and dwell
In well kept project homes built to tilt what's realWe manage to kill any chance with true skillImprisoned until we give our lives as payment for bail
We will feel the sting misery sings about a king
Who brings angels with stripped wings
Fallen rings turned cliques who click arms in wrong street ?nam
Destroy calm and bring fatal winds that birth harm
Create alarm by dawn they're releasing the bomb
And we?re unaware, numb, entranced like shakes charmed
Fatal bond between us and bullets
Give us better gods for premature death than russian roulette
And who'll pull it raw dog analog, mind fog, thoughts clogged
Crooked action ration is camouflaged
Passion is sabotaged we?re livings heartless
But there doing dirt the one?s who spark this
Crazy ass psycho city blocks street ghetto red hot
Dangerous slums woods lost ?hoods burnt spots we live inKilling fields death fills
Concrete jungles rumbles ill
Sick projects swinging steel
Real towns around you get killed
The Psycho Realm's song "The Crazy Area" is a depiction of the chaos and danger of inner-city life. The lyrics describe the urban landscape as a "crazy ass psycho city" filled with "dangerous slums," "killing fields," and "concrete jungles." They speak of the constant threat of violence and death, with players in the scheme flashing guns and leaving crooks in hiding, and cops patrolling but unable to handle the chaos. The chorus warns listeners to "move fast and don't get smoked" or risk becoming victims of the massacre, and encourages them to "grab your straps and get down" and join in the violence.
The verses describe the bleak reality of life in the ghetto, where residents are "imprisoned until we give our lives as payment for bail." They speak of the lack of hope and the inevitability of death, with "fatal winds that birth harm" and fallen angels with stripped wings. The song suggests that the violence is cyclical and self-perpetuating, with "well-kept project homes built to tilt what's real" and actions that are "crooked" and "sabotaged."
Line by Line Meaning
Crazy ass psycho city blocks street ghetto red hot
The urban areas in which we live are often fraught with violence, danger, and instability.
Dangerous slums woods lost ?hoods burnt spots we live in
The areas we inhabit are often characterized by poverty, neglect, and abandonment, creating a breeding ground for crime and violence.
Killing fields death fills
The prevalence of violence within our communities is a constant threat, with death becoming an all too common occurrence.
Concrete jungles rumbles ill
The structure and density of urban environments lead to a sense of confinement and chaos, with conflict and unrest becoming the norm.
Sick projects swinging steel
The housing projects in which many of us reside are plagued by crime and violence, with weapons and brutality becoming a regular occurrence.
Real towns around you get killed
The impact of the violence and instability in our communities extends beyond just our immediate surroundings, with entire neighborhoods and towns being affected by these issues.
The players in the scheme unfold and flash guns
Those who are involved in criminal activity flaunt their weapons and power, seeking to maintain control and intimidation over others.
And fill our thoughts with fuck everyone
The pervasive sense of hostility and suspicion within our communities often leads to a mentality of hostility towards others, with little trust or cooperation between different groups.
Plots will involve actionAnd leave crooks in hiding crime on the run
Criminal activity within our communities is often organized and premeditated, with those involved seeking to avoid detection and legal consequences for their actions.
Cops run around and patrol
Law enforcement agencies try to maintain a presence in these areas, but often struggle to keep up with the level of crime and violence occurring.
But can't handle the vandal big psyclone
The scale and complexity of the criminal activity in these areas can often overwhelm even experienced law enforcement officers.
Crash wants me gone
The sense of threat and danger within these environments is constant, with individuals facing the possibility of harm or violence at any time.
So we all fight and die and the crazy area lives on
Despite the toll that violence and instability take on our communities, they continue to persist, with cycles of conflict and despair constantly replaying.
Welcome to wild raid zones
These environments are characterized by the unpredictability and danger of sudden, violent outbursts and confrontations.
Where sirens will pierce your ears like deaf tones
The pervasive sense of danger and violence is often reinforced by the constant presence of warning signals, such as police sirens.
Move fast and don't get smoked?cause echoes of a massacre flood the ghetto
To survive in these environments, individuals must be vigilant and cautious, constantly aware of the potential for violence and destruction around them.
Stroll the roads downtown
Even in urban areas that are comparatively safer or more prosperous, the threat of violence and chaos is never far away.
Where the residents are masked with sad faced clowns
Even in seemingly prosperous or stable environments, the pervasive sense of despair and disillusionment is often expressed through various forms of masking or performance.
Come grab your straps and get down
In these surroundings, the only means of survival is to be armed and ready to defend oneself at all times.
And drown the streets in murder surround sound
Despite the inherent tragedy and despair of such environments, the constant presence of violence often takes on an almost surreal or absurd quality.
In this jail cell we call hell and dwell
The deprivation, danger, and hopelessness within these environments create a sense of confinement and oppression akin to being imprisoned.
In well kept project homes built to tilt what's realWe manage to kill any chance with true skill
Even in relatively stable or prosperous environments, the lure of criminal activity and violence can be all-consuming, limiting opportunities for growth and development.
Imprisoned until we give our lives as payment for bail
The cyclical nature of criminality and violence within these environments can often lead people to become trapped in a seemingly endless cycle with no means of escape.
We will feel the sting misery sings about a king
The pervasive sense of violence and despair within these environments creates a profound sense of suffering and pain.
Who brings angels with stripped wings
The sense of hopelessness and despair can affect even the most innocent and pure aspects of life.
Fallen rings turned cliques who click arms in wrong street ?nam
The sense of division, rivalry, and conflict within these environments can lead to the formation of exclusive, tightly-knit groups that engage in criminal or violent activity against each other.
Destroy calm and bring fatal winds that birth harm
The sense of conflict and violence within these communities can be all-consuming, eroding any sense of peace or stability.
Create alarm by dawn they're releasing the bomb
The potential for unexpected, catastrophic violence is always present within these environments, with little recourse or protection for those affected.
And we?re unaware, numb, entranced like shakes charmed
The constant exposure to violence and danger in these communities can lead people to become desensitized or indifferent, creating a sense of emotional detachment from the world around them.
Fatal bond between us and bullets
The pervasive sense of violence and danger within these environments creates a sense of fatalism, with individuals feeling drawn to the very weapons that threaten their lives.
Give us better gods for premature death than russian roulette
The sense of hopelessness and danger within these environments can lead individuals to substitute their belief systems or values with ones that are rooted in violence or destruction.
And who'll pull it raw dog analog, mind fog, thoughts clogged
The constant exposure to violence and danger can lead to a sense of confusion and disorientation, with people struggling to make sense of the world around them.
Crooked action ration is camouflaged
The culture of criminality and violence within these environments often operates in secrecy, with those involved seeking to hide their actions and avoid detection.
Passion is sabotaged we?re livings heartless
The constant exposure to violence and instability within these environments can erode people's sense of compassion and empathy, creating a sense of detachment and callousness.
But there doing dirt the one?s who spark this
The sense of violence and instability within these environments is often driven by a small group of individuals who seek to profit from conflict and chaos.
Crazy ass psycho city blocks street ghetto red hot
Despite the pervasive sense of violence and danger within these environments, they continue to exist and persist, creating a sense of confusion and chaos that is difficult to escape.
Dangerous slums woods lost ?hoods burnt spots we live inKilling fields death fills
The environments in which we live are often characterized by poverty, neglect, and instability, creating a sense of danger and violence that hangs over everything.
Concrete jungles rumbles ill
The density and structure of urban environments can create a sense of chaos and instability, with violence and conflict becoming the norm.
Sick projects swinging steel
The housing projects in which many of us live are often characterized by crime and violence, with weapons and brutality becoming a regular occurrence.
Real towns around you get killed
The impact of the violence and instability in our communities extends beyond just our immediate surroundings, with entire neighborhoods and towns being affected by these issues.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gustavo Gonzalez, Jack Gonzalez
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind