Sore Losers

But he can't tell you who. Yet.

The Sore Losers frontman, Brown, is blowing up, but he hasn’t lost his love for Dallas

DALLAS — Last week, we had the pleasure of interviewing Brown, the hilarious and talented frontman of the GRAMMY-featured hip-hop band, Sore Losers. See what we learned about the Dallas native’s achievements, future projects, and unique twitter name.

Where did you get the idea for Sore Losers come from?

My brain? Well at first, it was a duo, me and Blue. It was kind of my idea to start the group, so he kind of left it up to me. One day, we were going back and forth and texted him like 40 names. And then I was like we both have a mutual characteristic of competition. We wanted to win. So, I think Sore Losers made the most sense. So I sent to him, and he loved it.

Where did you get your musical influence and direction from?

Brown: Well, to be honest, I would be lying if I said the group has musical direction. Even at this point, we just make music. It just depends on the ipod playlist at the time. At that time [when they started the band], there was no music scene in Dallas for indie artists, especially our genre of hip-hop. SO, we just wanted to make something that we could identify ourselves with and people that were like-minded could identify with as well. But also separate ourselves from the mainstream of publicity like the boogie movement down here. We just wanted music that was ours. It was all organic.

If I had to pick any group, Gnarls Barkley kinda inspired us and N.E.R.D., but we never wanted to be like them.

Your music is different from traditional sound that has come out of Dallas. How have you been received by the fans in your hometown?

Brown: We were making music for ourselves, and people growing up in Dallas liked us because they had nothing else to identify with. It got a really got a good retention. So that gives you an idea of how its being received.

Congratulations! And you were also featured by The GRAMMYs recently. How did that feel?

Brown: I still can’t believe it! First hip-hop band, first all black band, first Stevie Wonder cover. I kinda feel lilke my ideas have always had potential, but to see them actually make it to where they belong…it’s a good feeling!

Aaron: I kinda copy Brown’s answer, in that same train of thought. It was excellent, especially for this to be the first showing with this incarnation of the group. It was an awesome honor. To be the first black band, the first hip-hop group. I was telling Brown how many levels you have to skip to be the first to be thrust into that category as an independent artist. To have the opportunity to be featured by such a prestigious organization. We were all honored. It was a great opportunity. It was very exciting the way it came together. Hopefully, we will continue to garner the same level of success moving forward as we have with The Grammy videos.

Other than the GRAMMYs, what were the other higlights of the year?

Brown: MTV picked up Euthanasia after the GRAMMYs did, and you know that’s a huge stride for hip-hop, making conscious music. Its reassuring, knowing that all the hours of work were worth it.

So, you guys have had a really great year, so what can we expect from Sore Losers in the upcoming year?

Brown: Um, you can expect a project. I can’t tell you a date, I can’t even tell you a title. I don’t know If I can give you the name of the producer I’m working with. But I will let you know, he’s a Grammy award winning producer, a legendary hip-hop producer. We’re working on a project together as well as an original production with the band. Also, some freelance stuff, That’s what the whole East Coast move is about. Its about getting up there and getting some work done. It’s a project that im working with individuals out there, so it made sense, logistically and financially, to go out there and make it work. Aaaand that’s what you have to look forward to! That and my excitement!

That collaboration sounds exciting! So what artists would you want to collaborate with?

Brown: D’Angelo!

And what hip-hop artist?

Brown: Yelawolf, I think he’s a talented lyricist

Other than Yelawolf, what other songs in your opinion do you admire for their lyricism?

Brown: Well, lately I’ve been really into gangsta rap. And a lyric that I like right now is from that Rick Ross song featuring Drake, “Us”: “Photos taken, four door Maybach I know you hatin’/ Stayin’ with women from Staten Island my flows so flagrant.”

So, you were with another group before forming Sore Losers?

Brown: Yeah I was with a million groups before this. I been starting bands sincle like 5th grade. I started a record label before this unofficially called Paper Soldiers Ent., and the group was 3 Wise Guys. It was me and 2 other rappers. That’s the first time people heard me.

On twitter, your name is encyclopedia brown…is that like the boy from the myster - Kelland Drumgoole of soso Active | Pegasus New | November 19, 2012

Sore Losers on Grammy.com: http://bit.ly/SYy5yE - The GRAMMYs YOUTUBE CHANNEL | October 3, 2012

Hip-hop collective performs a modern take on "Living For The City" plus two original songs exclusively for GRAMMY.com

Dallas-based hip-hop collective Sore Losers recently performed a cover of Stevie Wonder's GRAMMY-winning classic "Living For The City" for an installment of The Recording Academy's ReImagined series. Linking GRAMMY history with the present, ReImagined is a performance-based series featuring artists interpreting an iconic GRAMMY-winning song, an interview and performances of original music.

"Living For The City" earned Wonder a GRAMMY for Best Rhythm & Blues Song in 1974. The song is featured on Wonder's Album Of The Year GRAMMY-winning Innervisions. The album was also inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1999. Sore Losers also performed two original songs, "Madam M" and "Babylon."

Sore Losers' self-described experimental hip-hop sound draws on influences such as Gnarls Barkley, Lupe Fiasco, Foo Fighters, MGMT, Nas, and N.E.R.D. The collective is comprised of Vincent "Encyclopedia" Brown (MC/lyrics), Greg Clark Jr. (drums), Aaron Hardin (music director/keyboards), Kyle McPherson (guitar), Jordan Hughes (percussion), and Dre Pinckney (bass). In 2009 Sore Losers released a digital EP titled Free Loaders — The Soundtrack featuring songs such as "Dope," " 8587 (Birthday)" and "The Epic Outro."

In February Sore Losers released their debut studio recording, We Are Sore Losers, which they describe as "an observation of social structure using a sociological imagination." The project features 11 original songs entirely written, composed and arranged by the band, with themes focusing on issues impacting middle and lower class America. Sore Losers have performed throughout the country at events including the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest and the ESPY Awards.


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- Grammy.com | October 2, 2012

Euthanasia | Sore Losers | Music Video | MTV - MTV.com | August 28, 2012

“Ark The god given MC” is her name from houston TEXAS, now living in dallas TX. She has come from a long way in pursuit of the American dream.

This single “No Swipping” is the remix to the original off the previous mix-tape. As she introduce herself to dallas hiphop scene and beyond, “Ark the god given MC” has already been co-signed by the two most relevant artist in the City of Dallas, “Brown” from “Sore Losers” and “Slim” from “A.Dd+” .

To find out more about this talented artist please goto www.whoisark.com and follow her on twitter @thegodmc


- JKruz | 97.9FM The BeatDFW | April 22, 2012

Comedian/Actor Tony Rock put together an event during BET weekend, check out the photos of all the fun.
- Katherine | The Source | July 2, 2012

MEKA’S TWO CENTS: In case you didn’t know, today is Juneteenth (theres the Wiki link for those that are dumbfounded). Interesting, on April 20th I got nothing but weed-related “anthems,” yet on a day that actually matters to me the Sore Losers are the only ones to deliver something. Anyways, here’s the new video off the Dallas duo’s We Are Sore Losers EP.

PREVIOUS: Sore Losers – Euthanasia (Video)

digg - Blame It on Shake | 2Dopeboyz | June 19, 2012

Zeena Koda, SiriusXM DJ, VJ interviews Brown of Sore Losers at the Music Choice’s SWRV TV stage at The Hard Rock Hotels present: “The Sound of Your Stay” Music Lounge.

Hard Rock Hotels Present: “The Sound of Your Stay” Music Lounge

Hard Rock Hotels, belVita Breakfast Biscuits, Music Choice’s SWRV TV, Carrera Sunglasses, New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin, Revel Stoke Whisky, Asahi Beer, Red Bull, SOUL by Ludacris, & MOTEL.

SWRV is the first 24/7, non-stop interactive music video network that lets you take control. Each show offers a unique way for you to impact what music videos will play next by voting, rating, or commenting via text message or online at swrv.tv. Upload your personal pics or videos for the chance to appear on screen alongside your favorite artists. For 24/7 non-stop interactivity, the hottest music videos, and your chance to be a star, take control, with SWRV! - Zeena Koda | Music Choice SWRV TV on USTREAM Recorded Live I March 15, 2012

Dallas-based hip-hop six-piece Sore Losers are set to release their debut studio album, We Are Sore Losers, this month. Ahead of the album's release, in November 2011 GRAMMY.com gave you an exclusive first listen to the lead single, "Euthanasia." Today, GRAMMY.com has your exclusive first look at the video for the song.

Sore Losers' self-described experimental hip-hop sound draws on influences such as Gnarls Barkley, Lupe Fiasco, Foo Fighters, MGMT, Nas, and N.E.R.D. The collective is comprised of Vince "Encyclopedia" Brown (lyrics), K Cooks (guitar), Matt "Big Kuntry" Curtis (bass), Jordan Hughes and King Robinson Jr. (percussion), and Sir Tim (keyboards). In 2009 Sore Losers released a digital EP entitled Free Loaders - The Soundtrack featuring "Dope," "Birthday 8587" and "The Epic Outro." The group has performed throughout the country at events including the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest and the 2011 ESPY Awards post-party.

The video for "Euthanasia" was directed by Capital Agent Media co-owner/partner Walu Mwalilino, who has directed videos for artists including Joe Budden, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, and Wale, among others. "The main inspiration behind this video was finding a way to create a metaphor, using a viral affect to spread information and knowledge across the world," said Mwalilino. "And if you notice throughout the video, the message continues to get bigger and bigger as it spreads globally."

The group describes "Euthanasia" as "mankind's ultimate quest to understand reality while attempting to use science to manipulate and control his destiny on Earth. The constant struggle we experience as individuals; the quest for control over our lives while yielding to a higher power."

Tracks featured on We Are Sore Losers will focus on "functionalist and conflict theories" as well as topics that impact middle and lower class demographics in the United States. The album will mark the group's first studio recording and will feature original tracks entirely written, composed and arranged by Sore Losers. Sore Losers are currently on tour, with several dates scheduled through March. - TheGRAMMYs | The GRAMMYs YouTube Channel | January 11, 2012

Alternative live Hip Hop band, Sore Losers take the stage at Buca Lounge at SXSW 2012 and SocietyHAE is there to bring you footage and exclusive interview with the Dallas group. - SHAE | SocietyHAE | March 18, 2012

Sore Losers has been one of Dallas’ best-kept secrets since drop- ping the Free Loaders mixtape in 2009.
What was once a hip-hop duo has evolved into a sixpiece band fronted by the thoughtful and introspective rhymes of Brown. The band can rock a party live, and has earned one of the most passionate fan bases
around. With the release of We Are Sore Losers in February, the crew hopes to let the secret out of the bag. - Thomas Fawcett | The Austin Chronicle | March 16, 2012

When Houston’s Scarface rapped with Geto Boys about how their minds were playing tricks on them in the early ’90s, the state of Texas would forever be solidified in the minds of many as the birth place of southern hip hop.

Ironically, these Texan hip hop legends would supply the blueprint for a generation of southern hip hop artists that would come to dominate modern airwaves and music videos, but it would take another decade before the Dallas/Ft. Worth area cultivated a sound of its own. It was not until the Dallas’ “D-Town Boogie” was popularized by rappers like Dorrough’s 2008 hit “Walk That Walk” that D/FW was finally nationally recognized as having a signature hip hop sound.

Sore Losers keep winning
Two years before his breakout hit put Dallas hip hop on the map, Dorrough would introduce his childhood friend Vince Brown to an Arlington local producer named Brain Gang Blue. Brown and Blue joined forces to form a rapper/producer duo called Sore Losers who released 2009’s “Freeloaders: The Soundtrack,” a collage of southern hip hop lyricism venting over an alternative, folksy atmosphere. The mixtape marked the beginning of a renaissance in Dallas hip hop and ushered in a new era of experimental hip hop that valued intellectual creativity over dance crazes.

“We still don’t have a name for it, and that’s how you know it was just genuine, no gimmick,” says Brown, of newly awakened hip hop creativity in Dallas. “It was just us trying to represent the city the way we felt like it should be represented.”

When Brown merged with a group of local musicians called HelloeARTh, a traditional hip hop form of one emcee and one producer had evolved into six-piece hip hop band. Now, Sir Tim (keys), K Cooks (guitar), Big Kuntry (bass), King Robinson Jr (percussion), Coca Cola (percussion), and Brown (lyricist/acoustic) have just celebrated the digital release of “We are Sore Losers,” their first original material as a band. On March 10th , Sore Losers will join fellow Texas legends Bun B and Devin the Dude on 35 Denton’s main stage to claim their rightful place as Texan hip hop pioneers.

“For 35 to do their homework enough to have us, I feel like it’s a good look to have a music festival and have a hip hop band from down here,” says Brown as the band rests from a long rehearsal in a Dallas studio. Sir Tim jokingly agrees - “W!” - Ron Johnson | 35 Denton Music Festival | February 20, 2012

Even though rain poured all day on 35 Denton attendees near Main Stage 2, people refused to be dripped up and rained out of their authentic Texas hip hop. “Give it up for yourself for standing in the rain for some good music,” yelled Denton emcee AV, as he kicked off the festivities with his song “Texas.” While DJ Yeahdef fed him some trunk banging beats, AV vented about life obstacles, haters, and even his absent DJ. After airing out some demons, he humbled himself by playing the audience his favorite Bun B verse and doused his mouth with two cans of Dos Esquis to remind the rain-drenched audience of what was to come later in the night.

Yet, nothing could give the crowd a clue on what to expect from Dallas hip hop innovators Sore Losers. It’s not every day that you hear the opening notes of Foo Fighters’ “Everlong” from a hip hop band, but lead guitarists K Cooks pulled it off as if he jammed with Dave Grohl himself. These brief but refreshing samples of alternative rock bands would be a unique theme in their performance as well as in their music. After hyping the crowd with their carefree “Free Loaders,” the band sent the crowd into a smooth groove with “Madam M.” As lead emcee Brown lead the crowd into a two-step dance, K Cooks sizzled with a blues dripping guitar solo. “We about to get real rockish right now! I hope ya ready!” says Brown, as he ripped into a hard rock version of the band’s latest single “Euthanasia” that left the crowd screaming for more.

But a mellow bounce came over the audience once again when Devin the Dude hit the stage. The prolific Houston emcee’s crooning hooks, mouth-made scratching effects, and comedic persona had the crowd wondering if they watching a musical or comedic genius at work. But any thoughts of wonder was soon laughed off as the southern rapper took the audience through his hilarious tales of chain-smoking, no-strings-attached sex, and any other vice that had him chuckling. After playing his classic car jam “Lac Ville ‘79,” he takes time to heed a warning to the crowd on drinking and driving. “Be careful guys. Make sure you get home safe. I ain’t driving,” he says to a laughing crowd, before taking a swig of some alcohol.

Even though Devin didn’t smoke during his set, he would join fellow Texan legend Bun B on stage for a little “puff n’ pass” during Bun’s flawless performance. The crowd seemed awestruck from Bun’s timeless flow that ripped classic guest verses like on “Big Pimpin’” to his own classic hits like “Draped Up.” What made the Port Arthur trillionaire’s presence even more remarkable was his preserved ability to relate to his die-hard fans that had supported him for so long. “I’m going to stay as close to the rain so we can both get wet in this motherf****r,“ he says, before warming up soaked crowd with his intoxicating anthem “Get Throwed.”

After seeming to end his set by rapping his and Pimp C’s verses on “International Playas Anthem,” the blown away crowd chanted, “BUN B!” demanding an encore from the underground king. He soon appeared to thank his loyal southern brethren with a couple more performances of his most recent songs. “I was just about to take my lovely wife back to the hotel and procreate,” He halfed-joked. UGK for life! - Ron Johnson | 35 Denton Music Festival | March 11, 2012

WE SOAKED UP A LOT OF MUSIC IN THE RAIN

DENTON — We try not to talk too much about the weather, but it was difficult not to soak it all up on Saturday night at 35 Denton. Rain started falling early in the day and didn't let up until well after dark. It would've put a damper on the outdoor shows on the festival's two main stages were it not for the quality acts entertaining crowds.

Dallas hip-hop group Sore Losers had one of the standout performances of the evening. They've been one of the city's most exciting and innovative groups for some time now, and they got much-deserved love with a spot on the Dos Equis Main Stage. It was an opportunity they didn't waste, dropping local hits like "8587 (Birthday)" and "Cooler Than Coack K." The group kept the crowd moving and involved. Lead lyricist Vince "Encyclopedia" Brown even got down off stage for a moving rhyme session in the audience. - Josh Hogan, Alexandra Olivia, Brenna Rushing || Pegasus News || March 11, 2012

Dallas-based hip-hop six-piece Sore Losers are set to release their debut studio album, We Are Sore Losers, this month. Ahead of the album's release, in November 2011 GRAMMY.com gave you an exclusive first listen to the lead single, "Euthanasia." Today, GRAMMY.com has your exclusive first look at the video for the song.

Sore Losers' self-described experimental hip-hop sound draws on influences such as Gnarls Barkley, Lupe Fiasco, Foo Fighters, MGMT, Nas, and N.E.R.D. The collective is comprised of Vince "Encyclopedia" Brown (lyrics), K Cooks (guitar), Matt "Big Kuntry" Curtis (bass), Jordan Hughes and King Robinson Jr. (percussion), and Sir Tim (keyboards). In 2009 Sore Losers released a digital EP entitled Free Loaders - The Soundtrack featuring "Dope," "Birthday 8587" and "The Epic Outro." The group has performed throughout the country at events including the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest and the 2011 ESPY Awards post-party.

The video for "Euthanasia" was directed by Capital Agent Media co-owner/partner Walu Mwalilino, who has directed videos for artists including Joe Budden, Busta Rhymes, Sean Paul, and Wale, among others. "The main inspiration behind this video was finding a way to create a metaphor, using a viral affect to spread information and knowledge across the world," said Mwalilino. "And if you notice throughout the video, the message continues to get bigger and bigger as it spreads globally."

The group describes "Euthanasia" as "mankind's ultimate quest to understand reality while attempting to use science to manipulate and control his destiny on Earth. The constant struggle we experience as individuals; the quest for control over our lives while yielding to a higher power."

Tracks featured on We Are Sore Losers will focus on "functionalist and conflict theories" as well as topics that impact middle and lower class demographics in the United States. The album will mark the group's first studio recording and will feature original tracks entirely written, composed and arranged by Sore Losers. Sore Losers are currently on tour, with several dates scheduled through March.
- Grammy.com | January 11, 2012

VIBE is currently in Park City, Utah for the annual Sundance film festival. Our cameras are here to give you the inside look on everything going on behind the scenes. This weekend we captured Questlove, Neil Young, Cool Kids, Aziz Ansari, Dana Parish, Sore Losers and many more. - VIBE | VNLTV | January 23, 2012

Following up from our previous write-up over the Sore Losers‘ “We Are Sore Losers” EP listening session (which can be read about here: http://loyalkng.com/2011/12/21/sore-losers-sneak-peek-we-are-sore-losers-album-listening-party-at-dragon-studio/), we finally premiered the full documentary behind the scenes film of the event. The team at Sore Losers’ launched their official website premiere at WeAreSoreLosers.com, and along with the Sore Losers family we both blasted the film through all our media outlets! The film have been spreading rapidly in the hip-hop media outlets with notable features such as 2DopeBoyz.

The listening session was an amazing night experiencing what the experimental hip-hop band, Sore Losers, had to show from their newly developed and mature sounds. It was a great privilege for us here at the Loyal K.N.G. team to work with these talented artist on producing this film of their event.

In the short film, we wanted to give an intimate insight into each individual band members of Sore Losers and capturing the great personality behind all the sounds that are Sore Losers. And along with interviews, Q&A, and performance showcasings, we get to learn and love what Sore Losers are bringing into the hip-hop music genre. It’s a true honor for us to present this film, and we hope you guys enjoy it and learn a little bit more about one of our most favorite artists in the game! - Loyal KNG | January 10, 2012

Dallas-based hip-hop six-piece Sore Losers are set to release their debut studio album, We Are Sore Losers, in early 2012. Ahead of the album's release, GRAMMY.com has your exclusive first listen to the lead single, "Euthanasia."

Sore Losers' self-described experimental hip-hop sound draws on influences such as Gnarls Barkley, Lupe Fiasco, Foo Fighters, MGMT, Nas, and N.E.R.D. The collective is comprised of Vince "Encyclopedia" Brown (lyrics), K Cooks (guitar), Matt "Big Kuntry" Curtis (bass), Jordan Hughes and King Robinson Jr. (percussion), and Sir Tim (keyboards). In 2009 Sore Losers released a digital EP entitled Free Loaders - The Soundtrack featuring "Dope," "Birthday 8587" and "The Epic Outro." The group has performed throughout the country at events including the Sundance Film Festival, South by Southwest and the ESPY Awards post-party.

Tracks featured on We Are Sore Losers will focus on "functionalist and conflict theories" as well as topics that impact middle and lower class demographics in the United States. The album will mark the group's first studio recording and will feature original tracks entirely written, composed and arranged by Sore Losers.
- Grammy.com | November 29, 2011

This video is our short film recap of Sore Losers opening up for the renown Wu-Tang Clan tour through Texas for their “Rebirth” 2012 tour. The Sore Losers crew opened up an energetic and incredible performance to thousands of supporters and hip-hop enthusiasts.

Be sure to catch them at their “We Are Sore Losers” EP celebration and release party at Trees Dallas on February 4th! (More info in the video) - Loyal KNG | January 14, 2012

The unofficial turning point for local hip-hop came with the late 2009 release of Sore Losers’ Free Loaders, a free mixtape that gave Dallas artists like The Mohicans, A.Dd+, Tunk and -topic room to explore new territory.

At the time, the freeloaders were emcee Vince Brown and producer Brandon Blue, a couple of hyper-ambitious hip-hop kids who slaved over the release while suffering parental pressure to get a job, hence the mixtape’s name. Free Loaders was something that just had to happen, the ultimate overflow of creativity neither of them could hold in, but Brown and Blue seemed hindered by the emcee/producer dynamic from the start.













Colin McDermott
Sore Losers at Sundance
Sore Losers celebrate their EP release Saturday, February 4, at Trees”Even when we were a hip-hop duo, we always wanted to be a band,” Brown says of the early Sore Losers days. “We just weren’t actual musicians at the time.”

That wish came true in the summer of 2010, when Sore Losers played a packed house at The Lounge on Elm. They surprised the crowd by playing their set backed by relatively new band HelloeARTh, who’d essentially learned the whole album. This combination proved to be magic, fulfilling their desire to be a band and getting them attention from ESPN execs who promptly hooked them up with the chance to play VIP events during the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and the 2011 ESPY Awards. It only made sense for the band — a five-piece outfit consisting of K Cooks on guitar, Matt Curtis on bass, Sir Tim on keys and percussionists King Robinson Jr. and Jordan Hughes — to become a permanent fixture. Sore Losers now had seven members.

But for Blue, who has been creating some of the most innovative beats in hip-hop over the past couple years, producing tracks for Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar, the whole setup was a bit of a disconnect. By June 2011, he had decided to go solo, a move that was misunderstood by the public. Rumors spread quickly, and no one seemed quite sure the five musicians behind Brown were actually Sore Losers reincarnated.

“I’m a producer, that’s my career path,” Blue says. “It didn’t work out because they wanted to do the live band thing and I wanted to do my own thing and create a new sound.”

It seems to have worked out for him, as he’s now head of local outfit Brain Gang. His recentNumb EP has gotten plenty of buzz on the underground circuit, which earned him a spot opening Kendrick Lamar’s Texas dates last month. “It hurt, but now looking at what he’s accomplished and how he’s recreated his sound, I’m glad it happened,” Brown says of the split. There are even some Brown/Blue collaborations in the works.

The lineup provided Brown with a new set of challenges and opportunities. For one, he’s taken to learning guitar, a huge step toward legitimizing Sore Losers as something beyond hip-hop. It’s also changed his approach to writing songs, as he now collaborates with five other people before he puts pen to paper. The result on new EP We Are Sore Losers, the first collection of original music from the band’s current incarnation, is a more serious, conscious tone, showing maturity in handling his newfound visibility. The upside is the band now naturally appeals to a wider swath, something any group of musicians would embrace.

It’s almost not fair to keep calling it hip-hop, since the new sound is so driven by HelloeARTh’s influences, which range from Foo Fighters and N.E.R.D. to classic funk and jazz. At times the only connection comes from Brown’s lyrical involvement, as Sore Losers exist between hip-hop and live band, which will no doubt draw comparisons to The Roots.

Any questions as to whether they made the right decision should be directed toward the national exposure Sore Losers have gotten. They’ve seen Grammy.com run an exclusive debut of the song and video for “Euthanasia,” the first single from the EP, and last month the band hit Sundance in Park City, Utah, as guests of AT&T U-verse, their second trip to the festival. They played shows at the ESPN Lounge during the NFL Conference Championships and were interviewed by Vibe magazine.

On the local front, January saw the band open up for hip-hop legends Wu-Tang Clan at House of Blues and their Saturday EP release includes another unbelievable co-sign, as French producer and harmonica maestro Frédéric Yonnet is set to be the band’s special guest. Yonnet has played with both Prince and Stevie Wonder, and his local tie is Erykah Badu, with whom he’s shared the stage on a number of occasions.

Given the success of the Free Loaders mixtape, it proved a receptacle too small to house the creative energies of Vince Brown and Brandon Blue. So now that they’ve reinvented themselves as a band, Sore Losers have the room to explore some new territory of their own.
- Nic Hernandez | Dallas Observer Music Feature Story Print & Online | February 2, 2012

Trees has cultivated and planted seeds in the Dallas grassroots movement for about two years strong. This past Saturday at the “We Are Sore Losers” EP Release show was no different.

Discovering authentic musicians whom play actual instruments is similar to finding Waldo in the Emperor’s new clothes—virtually impossible. Hard to find, but a great feeling of accomplishment once you do.

The honorable mentions were The Boombachs, Fly Union, and Sore Losers, whom all showcased divergent sounds that ultimately and cohesively made for a great string of performances.

The Boombachs emulated an edgier Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band. They reminded me of Tran-Siberian Orchestra minus the holiday cheer. The saxophone, trumpet, drums, bass, keyboard, and even maracas all served as vital parts to every single note articulation. The singer’s voice had a Caribbean style which strangely complemented the constant jumping and alternative texture from the rest of the band.

Fly Union took flight after a group called, The Moonshine Kids who should be prohibited like the alcoholic substance after rapping about “say[ing] hello to Mr. nice guy” as opposed to nice music—makes sense. It is hard to rate Fly Union off this performance alone. It was great to finally see the three perform the “Girls these days ain’t nothin’ but trouble” track, I just wish that I would have liked something more original that didn’t rely on Will Smith’s initial song.

The main attraction, Sore Losers finally took the stage in a dramatic fashion.The guitarist, K. Cooks brought an aura of Guns ‘N Roses, Slash, and Jimi Hendrix strung into one while he ripped up his first of man guitar solos. The atmosphere was similar to the excitement and anticipation built up before the drum entrance on “Welcome to the Jungle.” There were definite highlights that stood out musically. The track, “Work” from the “Get a Life Mixtape,” released late 2011, was amazingly crafted with a 311, late 90's jam session feel. Records such as, “Laugh Now Cry Later” featuring the up-and-coming pop singer, Charlie B., pulled away from the past Sore Losers with a darker sound. “Baby Wanna Roll” featuring Dustin Cavazos was a smooth track that could accompany a calm drive with the sun setting in the background. Cavazos has an interesting sound, and I look forward to hearing more. “If I were Rich” took the crown for the best performance of the night. The song is beautifully articulated with warmth in the instruments and in Brown’s voice alongside the superbly talented harmonica player, Frederic Yonnet, who has played with the likes of Erykah Badu, India Arie, and Stevie Wonder. Sore Losers has obtained a more complex and alternative sound compared to their days as “freeloaders,” but is growing into the development of their new musicality and representing Dallas the best way they know how. Congratulations to them for the exposure from the Grammys and Sundance; the world can finally see a masterpiece. - Alexandria Byrd | Examiner.com | Dallas Music Examiner | February 6, 2012

With Sore Losers’ “We Are Sore Losers” EP recently making it’s premiere
on to the hip-hop scene, Sore Losers are making their mark in history and redefining the genre

On Saturday, 2/4, Sore Losers celebrated the recent release of their highly anticipated We Are Sore Losers EP . Hosted by NFL player Martellus Bennet and DJ Drop, Sore Losers fans new and old came out to be a part of the We Are Sore Losers EP Release Celebration Show at Trees. The standing room only crowd was treated to a great lineup that included The Boombachs, Zawcain (BET Music Matters) and Fly Union.

Shortly after midnight, Sore Losers guitarist K Cooks led the band processional on to the stage with a dramatic guitar solo entrance followed by King’s signature drum solo then one by one the rest of the band appeared on stage before the appearance of Brown. Once Brown gave the signal, the band immediately went all in on new song “Feedback”. Over the course of the next hour and a half, Sore Losers fans were taken on a high energy experimental hip hop musical adventure, an emotional soul stirring journey through the new We Are Sore Losers songs and popular fan favorites. Music artists Dustin Cavazos (featured on new single “Baby Wanna Roll”) and Charlie B (CMG/Bungalo/Universal Music Group artist featured on new singles “Laugh Now Cry Later” and “if I Was Rich”) joined Sore Losers on stage. French producer and harmonica maestro Frédéric Yonnet, also featured on Sore Losers new single “If I Were Rich” made a special trip to Dallas to perform with Sore Losers. Yonnet who regularly plays with Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Dallas own Erykah Badu graced the stage instantly mesmerizing the crowd playing harmonica throughout Sore Losers show. The rest of the night was filled with the roaring crowd of supporters rocking to Sore Losers phenomenal music captivated by every note and lyric coming from the stage.

At the end of the last song, Sore Losers gave heartfelt thanks to the fans before leaving the stage. However the fans wouldn’t have it. The crowd immediately began chanting Sore Losers commanding the group back on stage once again for an encore performance. Sore Losers returned to the stage to give a powerful performance of their Grammy.com featured lead single “Euthanasia - Loyal KNG | February 4, 2012

Considering that pre-South by Southwest bash 35 Denton announced its first round of performers last week, I guess it makes sense, then, that the Austin fest would announce its own first round of performers this week -- and that their list is indeed larger than 35 Denton's list of 17 names, clocking in at 105 names.

There are some nice names on the SXSW list, too -- acts like Against Me!, Com Truise, Cloud Nothings, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Say Hi, VHS or Beta and The Wedding Present. Interestingly, only two bands are for now slated to play both the Denton and the Austin festivals: Thee Oh Sees and Bare Wires.

Expect that number to go up in the coming weeks. Same, too, with the number of locals on the massive SXSW bill. For now, only two deserving locals -- hip-hop outfit Sore Losers and Denton/Fort Worth punk rock favorites Mind Spiders -- are on the Austin list; recent history has found North Texas averaging around 40 bands at SXSW each year.

In that regard, yes, this is just the first of many, many, many SXSW lineup announcements to come. So stay tuned. But, for now, check out the list of already confirmed acts heading down to Austin in March 2012 after the jump.


First Round of Official 2012 Showcasing Artists


Akina Adderley & The Vintage Playboys (Austin TX)
Against Me! (Gainesville FL)
Agent Fresco (Reykjavík ICELAND)
Ambition (Halifax CANADA)
ANR (Miami FL)
Antoine Reverb (Guadalajara MEXICO)
Avalanche City (Auckland NEW ZEALAND)
Balthazar (Gent BELGIUM)
Bare Wires (Oakland NY)
BeatauCue (Caen FRANCE)
Bestial Mouths (Los Angeles CA)
Big Deal (London UK-ENGLAND)
Big Scary (Melbourne AUSTRALIA)
The Black and White Years (Austin TX)
Black Books (Austin TX)
The Black Ryder (Sydney AUSTRALIA)
Michael Guy Bowman (Los Angeles CA)
Cashier No.9 (Belfast UK-N. IRELAND)
Class Actress (Brooklyn NY)
Cloud Nothings (Cleveland OH)
Com Truise (Princeton NJ)
Delay Trees (Helsinki FINLAND)
Delhi 2 Dublin (Vancouver CANADA)
Marianne Dissard (Tucson AZ)
Duck Fight Goose (Shanghai CHINA)
The Ettes (Nashville TN)
Fanzine (London UK-ENGLAND)
Fat Tony (Houston TX)
FEAR (Los Angeles CA)
Free Blood (Brooklyn NY)
THE GRANNIES (San Francisco CA)
Guadalupe Plata (Andalusia-Ubeda SPAIN)
He's My Brother She's My Sister (Los Angeles CA)
Howler (Minneapolis MN)
Ice Choir (Brooklyn NY)
I Got You On Tape (Copenhagen DENMARK)
il abanico (Bogota COLOMBIA)
Matthew Perryman Jones (Nashville TN)
Jonquil (Oxford UK-ENGLAND)
Just A Band (Nairobi KENYA)
Marit Larsen (Oslo NORWAY)
Letting Up Despite Great Faults (Los Angeles CA)
Library Voices (Regina CANADA)
Love Inks (Austin TX)
Maxim Ludwig & The Santa Fe Seven (Silverlake CA)
Mahogany (Chicago IL)
Marmalakes (Austin TX)
The Men (New York City NY)
Mind Spiders (Forth Worth TX)
Motopony (Seattle WA)
Mujeres (Barcelona SPAIN)
Musikanto (Chicago IL)
My Education (Austin TX)
Niki & The Dove (Stockholm SWEDEN)
Not In The Face!! (Austin TX)
Of Monsters and Men (Reykjavík ICELAND)
120 Days (Oslo NORWAY)
Outfit (Liverpool UK-ENGLAND)
The Parlotones (Johannesburg SOUTH AFRICA)
Parlovr (Montreal CANADA)
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (Waitsfield VT)
Pure Love (Brooklyn NY)
Molly Rankin (Charlottetown PE)
ROGe (Rio De Janeiro BRAZIL)
Peter Rosenberg (New York NY)
Rosie and Me (Curitiba BRAZIL)
Royal Canoe (Winnipeg CANADA)
Gabriel Santiago Quintet (Rio de Janeiro BRAZIL)
Sauti Sol (Nairobi KENYA)
Say Hi (Seattle WA)
The Scoundrels (Las Vegas NV)
Shout Out Out Out Out (Edmonton CANADA)
Skewby (Memphis TN)
Skinny Lister (London UK-ENGLAND)
Soft Metals (Los Angeles CA)
Some Community (Sao Paulo BRAZIL)
Something Fierce (Houston TX)
Sore Losers (Lancaster TX)
SPEAK (Austin TX)
Spectrals (Leeds UK-ENGLAND)
Spycatcher (London UK-ENGLAND)
Sudakaya (Quito ECUADOR)
Talking To Turtles (Leipzig GERMANY)
Team Me (Elverum NORWAY)
Telebit (Bogotá COLOMBIA)
Thee Oh Sees (San Francisco CA)
THULEBASEN (København V DENMARK)
Timbuktu (Toronto ON)
Truth Universal (New Orleans LA)
Turbogeist (London UK-ENGLAND)
Uncle Bad Touch (Montreal CANADA)
Uncle Lucius (Austin TX)
UV POP (Doncaster UK-ENGLAND)
Vampillia (Tenjinmachi JAPAN)
V for Volume (Bogota COLOMBIA)
VHS or Beta (Brooklyn NY)
WAX (Dunkirk MD)
We Are The Ocean (London UK-ENGLAND)
We Barbarians (Brooklyn NY)
The Wedding Present (Brighton UK-ENGLAND)
Chelsea Wolfe (Los Angeles CA)
Young Magic (Brooklyn NY)
Yukon Blonde (Vancouver CANADA)
Yuksek(Paris FRANCE)
The Zoltars (Austin TX) - Pete Freedman | Dallas Observer | November 1, 2011

It's been almost a year to the date since we posted, for your viewing pleasure, the music video for Sore Losers' "The Deadly Intro," the song that served as the lead track on the hip-hop duo's still-awesome late 2009 mixtape, Free Loaders: The Soundtrack.

And, far as we're concerned, 2010 was truly Sore Losers' year in the local hip-hop world, as the group rose from the ranks of obscurity to become one of the more engaging live acts around, hip-hop or otherwise. No surprise, then, that with a year of that experience under their belt, the Sore Losers of 2011 are not only a more confident bunch, but a group with a bigger budget, too. So much so that the book-end counterpart to "The Deadly Intro," Free Loaders' closing track, "The Epic Outro," kind of puts that other clip to shame.

Give the well-produced new music video for the Coldplay-sampling track a watch after the jump: http://www.freeonsmash.com/videos/watch/5fts8rcn75nk1mwa/

- Pete Freedman | Dallas Observer | February 8, 2011

http://sxsw.com/node/9610
As we inch closer to the close of this year SXSW 2012 fever begins to set in. Programmers are hard at work putting together the strongest event possible. You may have noticed a few other announcements being made recently and here's one more. In an effort to wet your appetite for the upcoming music festival, we are happy to release the very first batch of artists who have been selected to perform in March. - Stacey | November 1, 2011

My day just got better! Ya boi Phenom-BEE-EL-AYE-KIZZY ran to check his email and BAM!!! SxSW dropping lists and sh*t. So ya know a brutha just had to check out everyone on the list, looking for those Hip-Hop artists I've never heard of OR that I'm glad to see have a set at one of the biggest music festivals in THE WORLD! I can tell you this, that group WASL (We Are Sore Losers) is no joke. Those guys have something going on with their music that I'm ready to dive into. Check them out along with the other people in the list, especially Skewby and Truth Universal. Click Pics to link through to their music

List of ALL musicians performing at sxsw, for now... SxSW 1st Announcements - Big Simba | wheresmy40acres.blogspot.com | November 1, 2011

Team Sore Losers: Hail to the kings. Thats is what should be the cry all over the country. For anyone that hasn’t recognized the new era of hip-hop has arrived, and its kings answer to the name Sore Losers. To anyone that has listened to music over the last year and a half there have been rumblings of a change to the face of hip-hop, B.O.B and Lupe Fiasco have been on the cusp of this movement back to the type of music that requires skill to create.

Sore Losers is the distillation of this movement, blending multiple styles of music to create a unique sound that stands with one foot in jazz/indie rock territory and the other foot square in rap country. With their recent notoriety Sore Losers stands poised to lead a new wave of amazingly crafted music that offers something for everyone. Look up and recognize Sore Losers are here to stay and more Dallas talent is right behind them.

- Auditory Asylum | August 14, 2011

TexasStillReal
Sore Losers SXSW Take Over Video!
MAYNE HOLD UP! Why is Texas still killin' it in the rap game? Why are we on the verge of a whole Texas rap resurgence right now? It's cuz of artists like this. The Sore Losers and their ilk. They came to party and are bringing you with them. Watching this video made me smile so big. In my eyes, they are a fairly new group. The type of group I would have booked at SXSW 5 years ago and had folks look at me funny (then love them, ala PPT/Awkwarius).

Look at the shows on here, all of them are rocking. Crowds going INSANE for an indie group out of Dallas very much NOT doing what is expected from Texas. It's a beautiful new day. I am so happy right now. Peep this shit out.
- AustinSurreal | April 7, 2011