Kung Fu Vampire

Kung Fu Vampire is an American rapper and the vocalist of the musical group of the same name. He is from San Jose, California,[1] and has nationally toured with Twiztid, Tech N9ne, Locksmith, ICP, Brotha Lynch Hung, Wrekonize and more. In addition, KFV has collaborated with musicians such as jazz trumpeter Eddie Gale, Hopsin, Brother J of X Clan, Cougnut, Whitney Peyton and Spice 1.

Kung Fu Vampire
OriginSan Jose, California
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active1998—present
Labels100% Independent - Mad Insanity Records
Associated acts
Websitewww.KungFuVampire.com

History

Kung Fu Vampire began breakdancing at the age of six, and taught himself how to rap and sing while playing drums and bass as a hobby.[1] At the age of 12, his aunt began taking him to see concert performances, and introduced him to a gothic style of dress.[1] At 14 years old he and three friends formed a group infusing classic hip hop with funk and electronica.[1][2] In 2001, as a late teen he adopted the name "Kung Fu Vampire" during a conversation with his friends in which they discussed the idea of a martial arts film featuring vampires.[1][3] Kung Fu Vampire formed a band,[1][2] and he also used the vampire concept to write a novel (unpublished). He describes the sense of balance as the "Yin and Yang of Fang" .[2]

In 2006, the group was voted the best local band by Metro Silicon Valley readers.[4] Director Darren Lynn Bousman was impressed by Kung Fu Vampire's performance style, and pushed for the rapper to perform at the release party for Saw III as well as opting to do a music video. Kung Fu Vampire has also performed at The Playboy Mansion.[5][6] Bousman's association with Kung Fu Vampire continued with performances at the release party for Repo! The Genetic Opera, and Bousman included Kung Fu Vampire's song "Dead Girls Don't Say No" in the film Mother's Day.[6] In 2009, Faygoluvers featured Kung Fu Vampire's music video "iCount" on the site, attracting the attention of Twiztid, who invited Kung Fu Vampire to perform as the duo's opening act during their 2010 "Slaughterhouse" tour.[6] Since 2010, KFV has done 13 tours including 2 in Canada and 4 appearances at the Gathering of the Juggalos in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, and Thornton, Ohio. Kung Fu Vampire has not signed to a major label, and remains an independent artist.[6] In 2012, Kung Fu Vampire appeared in the music video for E-40's song "Zombie" featuring Brotha Lynch Hung and Tech N9ne.[6] In 2013, Kung Fu Vampire appeared on the reality show Oddities: San Francisco on the History and Science Channel. In late 2015 KFV released a music video, "Slice Of Life". On October 16, 2015, KFV's song "Turnt Up" appeared in the movie Tales Of Halloween which landed at #1 on iTunes for a month straight.

On January 1, 2017 KFV was invited to participate in the Juggalo March On Washington. He accepted on January 2, 2017, stating that the Juggalos have earned his respect and vice versa and would give a free day to them anytime.[7]

Style and influences

Kung Fu Vampire performs a style of classic hip hop fusing goth, funk and electro.[2][5] Kung Fu Vampire referred to this style as "gothic hip hop" and "goth hop" to describe the true sound and separate himself from generic genre labeling, but later learned that it was also similar to the preexisting style horrorcore.[3]

Kung Fu Vampire avoids rapping about graphic violence, and makes little or no reference to campy horror films or smoking cannabis.[6] His lyrics have spoken out against drug use, in particular meth and alcohol, and advocated for healthy living.[6]

Kung Fu Vampire was initially known for making appearances with a shaved head and pale face paint.[6] Since 2011, Kung Fu Vampire grew his hair out and has stopped using face paint in his performances stating that he would rather spend that time connecting with fans at concert as opposed to preparation.[6]

Live band members
Current

Production team
Current
  • ProHoezak

• TunnA Beatz

  • Skytzo Beatz

• Subliminal Beats

  • Chris Paxton

• Nobe of Inf Gang

  • GodSynth

• MOK Beatz

  • Cruels

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Blood Bath Beyond
  • Released: October 13, 2003
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing, Journees Music
Dead Sexy
  • Released: October 31, 2008
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing, Mad Insanity Records
Love Bites
  • Released: October 31, 2012
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing, Mad Insanity Records
Look Alive
  • Released: July 8, 2016
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing
Come Dawn
  • Released: August 30, 2019
  • Label:

Compilations
Year Album
Womb Til Tomb
  • Released: April 20, 2002
  • Label: Shotcallers Recordings, Journees Music, Kung Fu Vampire Publishing
Re-Animated
  • Released: September 9, 2014
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing, Mad Insanity Records

Collaboration Albums
Year Album
Double Dragon with Bukshot[8]
  • Released: 2020
  • Label: Kung Fu Vampire Publishing

Singles
Year Single Album
2016 "Little Girl Big Mouth" Look Alive

Features
  • Twisted Insane track "Voices" featuring Bleezo, Kung Fu Vampire, Bishop, and Poverty's Posterboy from the album The Insane Asylum (2013)
  • Twiztid track "Wasted Part 2" featuring Kung Fu Vampire, Chris Webby, RA The Rugged Man and Three Six Mafia from the album Get Twiztid (2014)
  • Bloodstepp track "Rave In My Grave" featuring Koshir and Kung Fu Vampire from the album Grand Theft Ufo: Floppy Disk Edition (2014)
  • Blaze Ya Dead Homie track "Ghost" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Casket Factory (2016)
  • Whitney Peyton track "Word Of Mouth" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Break The Frame (2016)
  • Gorilla Voltage track "Rocks For Brains" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Ape-X (2017)
  • Gorilla Voltage track "Lit" featuring Kung Fu Vampire from the album Ape-X (2017)
  • When They Hear It (The R.O.C. ft. Kung Fu Vampire & Prozak) on the album Digital Voodoo (2017)
gollark: And that *also* doesn't stop me from just sticking it on my server and not giving you the binary at all.
gollark: Intellectual property law means that you can't, say, freely give someone else a binary I give you. It doesn't mean you have the source code to it so you can make changes, and it doesn't mean I can't make it only work on one computer (based on windows's "hardware ID" or whatever).
gollark: Nope.
gollark: I don't think you can do much about this outside of... I don't know, banning all SaaS and mandating open source code.
gollark: This is also not entirely related to DRMy things.

References
  1. Wheeler, Garrett (October 29, 2006). "Creature of The Night". Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved June 10, 2019.
  2. Rudy, Stewart. "Interview with a (Rapping) Vampire". The Wave Magazine. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  3. Dark Jedi Hillz (December 6, 2009). "Exclusive Interview - Kung Fu Vampire". JuggaloNews. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  4. "Best of Silicon Valley 2006". Metro Silicon Valley. September 20–26, 2006. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  5. Osterbeck, Ryan (October 18–24, 2006). "Interview With the Vampire". Metro Silicon Valley. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  6. Carnes, Aaron (December 5, 2012) Cover Story: Local Rapper Kung Fu Vampire Sheds Costume to Focus on Music. metroactive.com
  7. "The Concert - Juggalo March on Washington - Sept 16th, 2017". juggalomarch.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  8. https://faygoluvers.net/v5/2019/08/kung-fu-vampire-bukshot-teaming-up-for-2020-double-dragon-release/
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