Flobots

Artist Image: Flobots
Attribution
Image Credit: (), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Featuring dual MCs as well as a full band, Flobots are a progressive rap group from Denver, CO, with a political conscience, musical chops, and a powerful live show. Influenced by progressive rappers such as the Roots and Common as well as alternative hard rock bands such as Rage Against the Machine and Tool, Flobots were founded in 2005, comprised of MCs Jonny 5 (born Jamie Laurie) and Brer Rabbit (born Stephen Brackett) -- who originally met in elementary school -- along with musicians Andy Guerrero (guitar), Mackenzie Roberts (viola), Joe Ferrone (trumpet), Jesse Walker (bass), and Kenny Ortiz (drums). The group released its debut recording, the seven-track Platypus EP, in October 2005. Their debut full-length, Fight with Tools (2007), followed a couple years later. Flobots inspired a strong following in the Denver region and found themselves opening shows there for national acts such as Public Enemy and the Fray. In 2008 the group was offered a major-label recording contract by Universal Music Group, which re-released Fight with Tools on its Republic subsidiary. March 2010 saw the release of Flobots' sophomore studio effort, the Mario Caldato-produced Survival Story, which demonstrated a heavier rock edge and featured a guest appearance by Rise Against's Tim McIlrath on the single "White Flag Warrior." In 2011, on the same day the Occupy Wall Street movement began, the socially conscious band announced they would be releasing a new album, making good on their promise with the arrival of The Circle in the Square in 2012.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 2000
Number of Albums 13
Record Label
Website www.flobots.com
Wikipedia Flobots on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What was Mackenzie Roberts trained to be?

violist

...uitarist Andy Rok Guerrero and Mackenzie Roberts, a classically trained violist , were recruited. Bassist Jesse Walker and drummer Kenny Ortiz complete...
Who was the bassist in the sextet?

Jesse Walker

...nzie Roberts, a classically trained violist, were recruited. Bassist Jesse Walker and drummer Kenny Ortiz completed the sextet, with an occasional pop...
What was the name of Flobots' debut album?

Fight with Tools

... together. After a year of writing and producing, Flobots released Fight with Tools , its debut album. Laurie rapped about human rights laws, the dark ...
What song did Flobots never see become a radio success?

Handlebars

... other sharply contested topics. Flobots never saw the quirky, catchy Handlebars becoming a radio success, but after fans bombarded local station KTCL...
When did the Flobots form?

2005

...ther band, the Flobots, quickly gained popularity after its formation in 2005 . The band made an impression on music lovers not just in Colorado but ar...
When did Jamie Laurie begin creating music?

2000

...ormed in 2005, founding member Jamie Laurie began creating music back in 2000 . In 2005, Laurie, known as Jonny 5, joined with Brer Rabbit (Stephen Bra...
What was Laurie known as in 2005?

Jonny 5

...mie Laurie began creating music back in 2000. In 2005, Laurie, known as Jonny 5 , joined with Brer Rabbit (Stephen Brackett), Andy Rok Guerrero (guitar...
What was the name of the band's first album?

Platypus

...), Kenny Ortiz (drums) and Jesse Walker (bass). The bands first album, Platypus , was released in the fall of 2005, and its second (but first fulllengt...
What was the name of the album released in March 2010?

Survival Story

...band was approached by Universal Republic; the Flobots signed a major label deal with the company and released the album Survival Story in March 2010....
What are the names of the members of the band?

Jonny 5 (vocals), Brer Rabbit (vocals), and Kenny Ortiz (drums).

...They consist of Jonny 5 (vocals), Brer Rabbit (vocals), and Kenny Ortiz (drums). The band became popular in 2008 when their singles Handlebars and Ris...
What is Kenny Ortiz's job?

drummer

...st Andy Guerrero, bassist Jesse Walker, trumpet player Joe Ferrone, and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the end of the year, it was clear that the band's refr...
What do the band frequently use to fill out the lineup?

touring musicians

...ed and toured with them as well, although the band frequently uses touring musicians to fill out the lineup. When a pair of quickwitted emcees joins f...
Who was the trumpet player in the band?

Joe Ferrone

...oberts, guitarist Andy Guerrero, bassist Jesse Walker, trumpet player Joe Ferrone , and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the end of the year, it was clear that ...
Who was Joe Ferrone?

trumpet player

...t Mackenzie Roberts, guitarist Andy Guerrero, bassist Jesse Walker, trumpet player Joe Ferrone, and drummer Kenny Ortiz. By the end of the year, it wa...
How many studio albums and one EP has the band released since its 2007 debut?

four

... a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008. The band has released four studio albums and one EP, with their latest Noenemies being released in ...
Which album was released in May 2017?

Noenemies

...The band has released four studio albums and one EP, with their latest Noenemies being released in May 2017. History edit Origins (20002005) edit The ...
What was the name of the title track that was released in 2001?

Onomatopoeia

... teamed with producer Farhad Ebrahimi, a.k.a. Together they released Onomatopoeia in 2001, and the title track ended up in a compilation by the MIT So...
Who played guitar on the title track?

David Gralow

...Club at Yahktoe's alma mater. The title track featured guitar player David Gralow , cello player Terrence Favors, and bass player Jaymz Haynes. Platypu...