Gym Class Heroes

Biography

Gym Class Heroes is an American band from Geneva, New York. The group formed in 1997 when Travie McCoy and Matt McGinley met in their high school gym class. Their music blends elements of hip hop, rock, funk, and reggae. The band's lineup solidified in 2003 with the addition of guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo and bassist Eric Roberts.

Career

In 2003, the band caught the attention of Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz, who signed them to his label, Decaydance Records, an imprint of Fueled by Ramen. They released their debut album, The Papercut Chronicles, in 2005. The album helped them gain a strong following, and they appeared at festivals like The Bamboozle and Warped Tour. Their sophomore album, As Cruel as School Children, was released in 2006 and achieved gold certification. This album featured the hit single "Cupid's Chokehold," which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Another single, "Clothes Off!!," also performed well internationally.

Their third album, The Quilt, released in 2008, featured numerous collaborations with other artists. The band took a hiatus in 2009, during which the members pursued side projects. Travie McCoy released a solo album, Lazarus, in 2010, which included the hit single "Billionaire" featuring Bruno Mars. The band reunited to release The Papercut Chronicles II in 2011. This album featured the successful single "Stereo Hearts" with Adam Levine of Maroon 5, which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other singles from this album included "Ass Back Home" featuring Neon Hitch and "The Fighter" featuring Ryan Tedder.

Musical Style

Gym Class Heroes is known for their genre-bending sound that incorporates a wide variety of influences. Their music is rooted in hip-hop but utilizes live instrumentation instead of samples and beats, a style that has been described as alternative hip-hop, pop-rap, and rap rock. This eclectic approach has made it difficult to categorize them into a single genre, with their music showing elements of funk, R&B, and pop-punk.

Recent Activity

After a period of inactivity, the band has had reunion performances. In 2023, it was announced that Gym Class Heroes would be performing at the When We Were Young Festival. The original members were also inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

Discography

Studio Albums

• ...For the Kids (2001)
• The Papercut Chronicles (2005)
• As Cruel as School Children (2006)
• The Quilt (2008)
• The Papercut Chronicles II (2011)

Awards and Nominations

Gym Class Heroes won Best New Artist at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. "Cupid's Chokehold" won for Best Rap Song at the Hip-Hop Nation Awards in the same year. They have also received nominations for Best Group and Best Video with a Message at the MTV Video Music Awards, as well as nominations from the MTV European Music Awards and the Teen Choice Awards.