Members:
Years active: 1997 - present
Labels:
Website: www.twiztid.com
Twiztid is an American hip hop group from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1997, Twiztid is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide. Spaniolo and Methric are former members of the group House of Krazees, which disbanded in 1997 a year after the duo's departure, they released their debut album in 1997.
They were signed to Psychopathic Records from 1997 until 2002, when they left with their manager and Psychopathic employee Tom Dubb to start their own label, Majik Recordz. The label never got off the ground, and they subsequently resigned with Psychopathic Records in early 2003, where they remained until they announced their departure on December 12, 2012. They remained unsigned from 2012 until 2014 when it was announced that they were forming their own label, Majik Ninja Entertainment with the first release establishing the label on October 21, 2014.
Twiztid performs a style of horrorcore rap and have released 11 studio albums, 10 EP's, 10 compilation albums and 1 mixtape.
Prior to Twiztid, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric were members of the hip hop trio House of Krazees, under the names Mr. Bones and Hektic, along with the third member, the R.O.C. The group released five albums before disbanding in 1997.
After the split, Methric and Spaniolo sent a demo tape to Insane Clown Posse member Joseph Bruce (Violent J) featuring their friend Blaze Ya Dead Homie, under the name ISI (International Superstars Incorporated). The demo contained the tracks "2nd Hand Smoke," "Diemuthafuckadie," and "How Does It Feel?" Bruce was extremely impressed, invited Methric and Spaniolo to perform on The House of Horrors Tour, and signed them to Psychopathic Records. Before the tour kicked off, Bruce, Methric and Spaniolo decided on a name that they felt would better fit the duo—"Twiztid".
Twiztid's 1998 debut album, Mostasteless, was originally released independently by Psychopathic. When Insane Clown Posse signed with Island Records, they helped get a deal for Twiztid as well. In 1999, Mostasteless was pulled, and re-released on Island with somewhat different track listing. That track listing included brand new songs, but left out tracks such as "Murder Murder Murder" and "She Ain't Afraid" because of uncleared samples. In his review of the reissued album, Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that "[Although] the thought of a group of Insane Clown Posse protégés isn't exactly inspiring", the album "may take you by surprise...Mostasteless actually works better than most ICP records," that "Twiztid often is more convincing than [its] Dark Carnival colleagues," and concluded that "if you don't buy into the whole comic book-horror schtick, Mostasteless...will be irritating, but if you've bought into it, you'll enjoy this record as much, if not more, than most ICP albums." Mostasteless peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, and #149 on the Billboard 200.
On October 31, 2000, Twiztid released their second studio album and second overall album, Freek Show. In his review of the album, Allmusic's Brad Mills wrote that "this kind of music appeals to a small sector of hip-hop listeners and will probably do well within [its] niche market, but the average hip-hop listener will just have to understand that this is a different kind of album." The album peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200. Twiztid released their first compilation album and third overall album, Cryptic Collectionon November 13, 2000.
Twiztid released their 2nd compilation album and fourth overall album Cryptic Collection Vol. 2 on October 22, 2001.
On April 8, 2002, Twiztid released their first extended play and 5th overall album, Mirror Mirror. Allmusic reviewer Bradley Torreano praised the EP, writing that "Despite the fact that few outside of the juggalo family will give this a chance, this might be one of the most accurate portrayals of the mood of most unhappy young people in 2002". Mirror Mirror peaked at number 5 on the Top Independent Albums chart, and number 103 on the Billboard 200.
On May 19, 2003, Twiztid and their second EP and sixth overall album titled 4 Tha Fam.
On July 1, 2003, Twiztid released their third studio album and seventh overall album, The Green Book. Spaniolo has referred to the album as a "Juggalo favorite". Allmusic reviewer Rob Theakston panned the album, writing that it "is much, much better than the last ICP card record, but looking at the forest from the trees, that really isn't saying much anymore." The Green Book peaked at number 2 on the Top Independent Charts and number 52 on the Billboard 200. Twiztid released their third EP and eighth overall album titled Fright Fest '03 at their Fright Fest 2003 show.
Twiztid released their third compilation album at ninth overall album, Cryptic Collection Vol. 3, on May 18, 2004, the album charted at #85 on the Billboard 200. Monoxide Child released his debut solo album Chainsmoker LP on November 16, 2004, the album charted at #191 on the Billboard 200.
Twiztid released their 4th studio album and 10th overall album, Man's Myth (Vol. 1) on June 28, 2005. This was the first half of a double album which concluded with the release of their 5th studio album and 11th overall album Mutant (Vol. 2) on July 26, 2005. Man's Myth focuses on the angst of growing up in a lying world, while Mutant deals with the outcome of this upbringing. Allmusic reviewer David Jeffries praised Man's Myth, writing that "it reaches farther outside the suburban trash world of Psychopathic Records than anything the label has released previously. Twiztid keep growing lyrically too and the album is edited tightly with little filler." Man's Myth peaked at #4 on the Top Independent Albums chart, #62 on the Top Internet Albums chart and the Billboard 200. Mutant peaked at #11 on the Top Independent Albums chart, #80 on the Billboard 200, and #215 on the Top Internet Albums chart. Twiztid released their 4th EP and their 12th overall album Fright Fest '05 at the Fright Fest 2005 show.
On May 16, 2006 Jamie Madrox released his debut solo album Phatso, and charted at #106 on the Billboard 200. Phatso: 2.0 was released a week later. Twiztid released their 4th compilation album and 13th overall album Cryptic Collection: Halloween Edition in October 2006.
On July 4, 2007, Twiztid released their sixth studio album and their 14th overall album, Independents Day. The album featured guest appearances from rappers signed to independent record labels, such as The Dayton Family, Tha Dogg Pound, Hed PE frontman Jared Gomes, Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko. It also notably features appearances by D12 members Proof and Bizarre. One of the group's members, Eminem, had feuded with Insane Clown Posse. The album peaked at #4 on the Top Independent Albums chart, #9 on the Top Rap Albums chart and #57 on the Billboard 200. In September 2007, the group's Toxic Terror Tour was cancelled after Methric suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament following a car accident, but the tour was booked again in early 2008.
Twiztid released their 5th EP and 15th overall album Toxic Terror, a companion EP to Independents Day, during the 2008 Toxic Terror Tour.
On March 17, 2009, Twiztid released their seventh studio album and 16th overall album, W.I.C.K.E.D. (Wish I Could Kill Every Day). W.I.C.K.E.D was Twiztid's highest charting album, peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200, #4 on the Top Rap Albums chart, and #1 on the Top Independent Albums chart. During their End Of Days Tour to promote W.I.C.K.E.D. they released their 6th EP and 17th overall album, End Of Days, the companion EP to W.I.C.K.E.D. In December 2009 Twiztid released their fifth compilation album and 18th overall album Cryptic Collection: Holiday Edition.
Twiztid released their eighth studio album and 19th overall album, Heartbroken & Homicidal on September 21, 2010.
Twiztid released their 6th compilation album and 20th overall album Cryptic Collection Vol. 4 on September 13, 2011, the album charted at #108 on the Billboard 200. Twiztid released their 7th EP and 21st overall album A Cutthroat Christmas EP in December 2011.
During Twiztid's Canadian Juggalo Invasion Tour from March 26, 2016 — April 8, 2016, the group's VIP package featured a tour exclusive single title "Psychomania" taken from Twiztid's eleventh studio album revealed to be titled The Continuous Evilution Of Life's ?'s.
On May 17, 2016 it was announced that Twiztid has acquired the rights to, and will rerelease The Green Book on CD, vinyl and cassette on August 19, 2016, and would hold a release party that night.
On June 9, 2016, Twiztid released a new single titled "Who Am I?" on vinyl.
On July 10, 2016, it was announced that Twiztid would release a new album titled Trapped at the Gathering of the Juggalos 2016 along with the other artists on Majik Ninja Entertainment: Blaze Ya Dead Homie (Dead Vulture EP), The R.O.C. (The Fucking Preylewd EP) and Lex "The Hex" Master (Mr. Ugly mixtape). It was announced on August 17, 2016 that pre-orders for the album, their 10th EP and 29th overall, would be available on November 25, 2016, with the album being available for purchase everywhere on January 27, 2017.
In an August 2016 interview with Huffingtonpost.com it was stated that Twiztid went to Strange Music in-house producer Seven with Davey Suicide front man producing four songs, and that the album will have more of a rock sound to it. On August 19, 2016 the second single "Are You Insane Like Me?" was released. The third single titled "Nothing To U" was released during the Spooktacular Horror Show Tour with Mac Lethal, Zodiac MPrint, Lex "The Hex" Master, Menace 2 Sobriety and Godz Of Kaos, on the MNE 2016 Fall Sampler.
On January 1, 2017, an invite was sent to Twiztid from Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records to perform at the 2017 Juggalo March on Washington. On January 2, 2017 Twiztid accepted their invite to take part in the March taking place from September 16—17, 2017. Twiztid would also headline day 1 of the 2017 2017 Juggalo Day Show: Tales From The Lotus Pod, and also take part in the headlining act on day 2, performing Tales from the Lotus Pod in its entirety with Insane Clown Posse and Blaze Ya Dead Homie as Dark Lotus.
On January 4, 2017, Majik Ninja Entertainment announced via Facebook that none of the artists on the label will take part in the Juggalo March On Washington, but will still participate in the 2017 Juggalo Day Show: Tales From The Lotus Pod. However, on January 19, 2017 via an interview with faygoluvers.net, Insane Clown Posse announced that it was cutting ties with Twiztid and Majik Ninja Entertainment, that all artists from Majik Ninja Entertainment would be removed from the 2017 Juggalo Day Show and that a new lineup would be announced.
On January 8, 2017, it was announced that Twiztid would release Cryptic Collection: Valentine's Day Edition during their Eat Your Heart Out Tour, due to run from February 10—22, 2017, to all of those who purchase a VIP ticket. A separate version of the album would be released nationwide around the same time. On February 28, 2017, it was announced that Twiztid would go on The Psychomania Tour with G-Mo Skee, Young Wicked, and Gorilla Voltage, with dates to be announced in the first part of March. It was speculated that Twiztid would perform their 11th studio album, The Continuous Evilution Of Life's ?'s in its entirety.
Twiztid's performance style is often described as horrorcore. Madrox stated, "Think of it as if there was a Halloween or Friday the 13th on wax and Jason and Michael Myers could actually rap, this is what their vibe would sound like." Madrox has cited Kiss as an influence. While Man's Myth featured a hip hop-oriented sound, Mutant featured a rock oriented sound. According to Madrox, "I've always wanted to do a Rock album and to date that was the closest thing to it we have ever done, so it holds a special place in my heart."
