Swollen Members
Swollen Members performing in January 2010
Swollen Members performing in January 2010
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
Years active1996 (1996)–present
LabelsBattle Axe Records, PCP Productions, Suburban Noize, Virgin Records
Members
Past members
Websitewww.battleaxerecords.net

Swollen Members is a Canadian hip-hop group from Vancouver, British Columbia, consisting of rappers Madchild and Prevail, and producer Rob the Viking (since 2002). Former group members include vocalists Moka Only, Easy Roc, Zodak. Swollen Members has released ten studio albums, two greatest hits albums, one live album and one compilation.

History

Foundation and single releases

Swollen Members was founded in 1996 by Vancouverites Madchild (Shane Bunting) and Prevail (Kiley Hendriks). The duo had chemistry while rapping together at a house party and formed the group.[1] The name was suggested by Moka Only (Daniel Denton), who later joined the group in the early 2000’s.[2][3]

The group released four 12-inch vinyl singles on Madchild's indie label Battle Axe Records, initially distributed by New York-based Fat Beats. The singles sold approximately 10,000 copies each.[4]

1999-2000: Balance

In 1999, the group released their debut album Balance, with features from Del the Funky Homosapien, Aceyalone, The Alchemist, and Evidence, who also produced on the album. The album peaked at #40 on Canadian alternative albums, #43 on Canadian rap albums, earned gold status in Canada [5] and won the 2001 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year.[6]

2001–2002: Bad Dreams

Following Balance, Swollen Members released Bad Dreams on November 13, 2001, featuring guests Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Son Doobie, Joey Chavez, and Moka Only. It appealed to both underground and mainstream audiences, reaching platinum status in Canada.[7] The album earned Swollen Members their second Juno Award and the song “Fuel Injected” won four MuchMusic Video Awards.[8][9]

2002–2003: Monsters in the Closet

2002's Monsters In the Closet, their third release, brought group membership for Moka Only and Rob The Viking. Monsters in the Closet was a collection of B-sides and outtakes along with three new songs. The song "Breath" featuring Portuguese Canadian pop singer, Nelly Furtado won a MuchMusic Video Award for Best Rap Video.[10] Production credits include Evidence of Dilated Peoples. The album earned a gold certification and peaked at #7 in Canada.[11] The group also won their third consecutive Juno Award. [12] In January 2003, Swollen Members signed with Virgin Records.[13]

2003–2004: Heavy

In 2003, the group released Heavy. The album includes Moka Only on every song, for the first time. In the same year the songs "All Night" and "Deep End (Utah Saints Remix)" were featured in the video game SSX3. In 2004, the song "Bottom Line" was featured in the video games WWE Day of Reckoning and WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw.

2005–2007: Black Magic

In 2005, Moka Only left the group for a second time and continued work on his solo career. The following year, Swollen Members released their fifth full album, Black Magic. A single from the album, "Put Me On” (feat. Everlast) was released in August 2006. Later that year, Nettwerk Management dropped the group due to Madchild's affiliation with the Hell's Angels.[14] The album would go on to win the group their fourth Juno Award in 2007.[15]

2009–2010: Armed to the Teeth, Greatest Hits

Armed to the Teeth was released October 27, 2009, through Kottonmouth Kings label Suburban Noize Records. Featured artists on the album include La Coka Nostra, Talib Kweli, Tech N9ne, Tre Nyce, and a return of Moka Only on the previously released track, "Red Dragon". This release was followed by a North American tour with Australian Hip-Hop group Bliss 'n' Eso.

In 2010, Swollen Members released their greatest hits album, which reached #110 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[16]

2011–2012: Dagger Mouth

Swollen Members scheduled the release of a studio album, Dagger Mouth, for April 2011, under Suburban Noize. Its first single is "Mr. Impossible".[17] The second single released off Dagger Mouth is "Bring Me Down" which features rapper Saigon. A compilation album titled Monsters 2 was released August 2, 2011. The album was nominated at the 2012 Juno Awards.[18]

2013: Beautiful Death Machine

On March 19, 2013, their ninth studio album, Beautiful Death Machine was released, and debuted at number 3 on the Canadian Albums Chart, making it the group's highest charting album in Canada.[citation needed]

2014: Brand New Day

On June 17, 2014, the group released their tenth studio album Brand New Day. In mid-February 2015, Madchild was listed on the King of the Dot BO5 card against the battle rapper by the stage name of Daylyt.[19][20]

2018: "Bank Job" and other projects

In 2018, the Swollen Members single "Bank Job" was released, followed by several solo releases by Madchild and Prevail and Rob the Viking's new project XL The Band.

In 2021, Swollen Members released a single and music video for "Tetris" featuring Neph. Since then, Madchild has been focused on solo releases, and Prevail and Rob the Viking have been focused on XL The Band.[citation needed]

Legacy, influences and style

Swollen Members are the best-selling Canadian hip-hop group in Canada of all time.[21][22] From 1996 to 2016, they were the second best-selling Canadian hip-hop artist in Canada.[23][24][25][26] They have won four Juno Awards, including three in a row from 2001-2003.[27] Aaron Zorgel of Complex credited the group as "the defining sound of Canadian rap between the years 2000-2002".[28] Complex also ranked the group #4 in their list of "50 Canadians Who Shaped Canadian Hip-Hop: Northern Touch To The 2000s".[29] The group was ranked #10 in a 2010 list of "Best Canadian Rappers of All Time" by Global News.[30]

Their music is influenced by punk rock and heavy metal.[31] Matt Conaway of AllMusic said their debut album Balance was "at the forefront of developing a new style"[32] and they have been called "a bridge between punk rock and hip-hop".[33]

The groups music and style has been heavily connected to skating and snowboarding culture. In 1994, Madchild released his debut single "Pressure" with producer and skateboarder Tommy Guerrero.[34] In 2002, Swollen Members performed at Molson Snow Jam.[35] The bonus disc of their 2003 album Heavy includes skateboarding footage of Colin McKay, Danny Way and others.[36] In 2004, DC Shoes designed a limited edition "Manteca" shoe for the group.[37] Their music was featured in multiple snowboarding videos, including "The Resistance",[38] "Amp" and "True Life".[39] Their music was also featured in the 2002 compilation album Circa Presents…[40] and two Red Dragon skate videos "RDS / FSU / 2002"[41] and "Skateboard Party".[42] In 2006, screenings of "Skateboard Party" played before their shows.[43]

Group members

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
CAN U.S. U.S. Heat U.S. Ind.
Balance – – – –
Bad Dreams
  • Released: November 13, 2001
  • Label: Battle Axe Records
 34 – – –
Monsters in the Closet
  • Released: November 12, 2002
  • Label: Battle Axe Records
 7 – – –
Heavy
  • Released: November 18, 2003
  • Label: Battle Axe Records
 14 – – –
Black Magic
  • Released: September 12, 2006
  • Label: Battle Axe Records
 22 – 19 21
Armed to the Teeth
  • Released: October 27, 2009
  • Label: Battle Axe Records, Suburban Noize
 19 146 5 23
Dagger Mouth
  • Released: April 12, 2011
  • Label: Battle Axe Records, Suburban Noize
 15 – 3 41
Monsters II
  • Released: August 2, 2011
  • Label: Battle Axe Records, Suburban Noize
 - - - -
Beautiful Death Machine
  • Released: March 19, 2013
  • Label: Battle Axe Records, Suburban Noize
 3 167 3 26
Brand New Day
  • Released: June 17, 2014
  • Label: Battle Axe Records
 8 – 7 –

Compilations

Album Year
Greatest Hits: Ten Years of Turmoil
  • Released: March 16, 2010
  • Label: Battle Axe Records, Suburban Noize
1997
  • Released: December 6, 2011
  • Label: Suburban Noize
The Best Of
  • Released: November 4, 2022
  • Label: Suburban Noize

Live Albums

Album Year
Live at the Fox Theatre
  • Released: November 16, 2018
  • Label: Battle Axe Records

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions 		Album
CAN
[45]
1999 "Front Street" — Balance
"Strength" —
2000 "Lady Venom" —
"Camouflage" — Bad Dreams
2001 "Take It Back" —
2002 "Fuel Injected" —
"Bring It Home" 3
2003 "Watch This" — Heavy
2006 "Black Magic" (featuring DJ Swamp) — Black Magic
"Too Hot" (featuring DJ Babu) —
"Put Me On" (featuring Everlast and Moka Only) —
"Pressure" —
2009 "Warrior" (featuring Tre Nyce and Young Kazh) 94 Armed to the Teeth
"Red Dragon" —
"Bollywood Chick" (featuring Tech N9ne and Tre Nyce) —
2010 "Pornstar" (featuring Tre Nyce) —
2011 "Mr. Impossible" — Dagger Mouth
"Bring Me Down (Swollen Mix)" (featuring Saigon) —
"Night Vision" —
"Do or Die" —
"War Money" —
2013 "Kings of Diamonds" — Beautiful Death Machine
"Mercenary" —
"Inception" —
"Almost Famous" —
2018 "Bank Job" — TBA (2018)
2024 "Triple Aces" — TBA (2024)
2024 "Faceless Kings" — TBA (2024)
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"S and M on the Rocks" 1999 N/a Blazing the Crop
“Planet Alignment” 2000 Buc Fifty Bad Man
“Crunch” 2001 Moka Only Lime Green
"Chewing Concrete" 2002 DJ Murge Search and Rescue
“Get Live” 2003 Abstract Rude & Tribe Unique Showtyme!
“Summer Lightning” 2003 Mr Brady Dirty
“Warriors” 2004 Fat Jack Cater to the DJ 2
"Artillery" 2007 Infected Mushroom Vicious Delicious
“The High Road” 2010 N/a One Big Trip
"Lost in the Music" 2012 Insane Clown Posse Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium
"Falling Down" 2013 Twiztid A New Nightmare
"The Plague" 2015 Prozak, Ubiquitous Black Ink
“Fun House” 2016 Robbie G Inner Outer Space

Music videos

Year Song Director(s) Album
2000 "Lady Venom" Trevor Cornish Balance
2001 "Take It Back" Wendy Morgan Bad Dreams
"Deep End" Jason Goldwatch
2002 "Bring It Home" Wendy Morgan Monsters in the Closet
"Fuel Injected" Wendy Morgan Bad Dreams
"Steppin Thru" Wendy Morgan Monsters in the Closet
"Breath" (feat. Nelly Furtado) Todd McFarlane
2003 "Watch This" Heavy
2006 "Too Hot" Black Magic
"Put Me On" (feat. Everlast) Margaret Malandruccolo
"Pressure"
2009 "Warrior" (feat. Young Kazh) Chad Archibald & Philip Carrer Armed to the Teeth
"Bollywood Chick" (feat. Tech N9ne)
2010 "Pornstar" Chad Archibald & Philip Carrer
2011 "Mr. Impossible" Mr. Invisible Dagger Mouth
"Bring Me Down (Swollen Mix)" (feat. Saigon) Mr. Invisible
"Night Vision"
"Do or Die"
2013 "King of Diamonds" D-Shot Beautiful Death Machine
"Mercenary" D-Shot
"Inception" D-Shot
"Almost Famous" D-Shot
"BAX WAR" D-Shot
"Death Warrant" D-Shot
"Fear" (feat. Snak the Ripper) D-Shot
"Juggernaut"
2014 "Power" Brand New Day
"Brand New Day" Dale Resteghini

Awards and nominations

Juno Awards

Awards and nominations for Swollen Members
Year Award Result Ref(s)
2001 Best Rap Recording Balance Won [46]
2002 Best Rap Recording

Bad Dreams

Won [47]
2003 Rap Recording of the Year

Monsters In The Closet

Won [48]
2003 Group of the Year Nominated [49]
2007 Rap Recording of the Year

Black Magic

Won [50]
2012 Rap Recording of the Year

Dagger Mouth

Nominated [51]

MTV Video Music Awards

Awards and nominations for Swollen Members
Year Award Result Ref(s)
2002 International Viewer's Choice: Canada

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Nominated [52]

MuchMusic Video Awards

Awards and nominations for Swollen Members
Year Award Result Ref(s)
2001 Best Independent Video

"Lady Venom"

Won [53]
2001 Best Rap Video

"Lady Venom"

Nominated [54]
2002 Best Rap Video

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Won [55]
2002 Best Independent Video

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Won [56]
2002 VideoFACT Award

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Won [57]
2002 Best Director

Wendy Morgan Pardo (director)
feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Won [58]
2002 Best Video

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Nominated [59]
2002 Best Cinematography

feat. Moka Only
"Fuel Injected"

Nominated [60]
2003 Best Rap Video

feat. Nelly Furtado "Breath"

Won [61]
2003 Best Video

feat. Nelly Furtado "Breath"

Nominated [62]
2003 Best Independent Video

feat. Nelly Furtado "Breath"

Nominated [63]
2003 Peoples Choice: Favourite Canadian Group

feat. Nelly Furtado "Breath"

Nominated [64]

Western Canadian Music Awards

Awards and nominations for Swollen Members
Year Award Result Ref(s)
2003 Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Recording

Monsters In The Closet

Won [65]
2003 Video of the Year

feat. Nelly Furtado "Breath"

Won [66]
2004 Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Recording

Heavy

Won [67]
2011 Outstanding Rap/Hip Hop Recording

Dagger Mouth

Nominated [68]

See also

References

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