Casey O'Brien
| Face Candy | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Eyedea and Friends |
| Origin | Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States |
| Genres | Jazz Rap, Alternative, conscious, experimental, indie, underground hip hop |
| Years active | 2005–2010 |
| Labels | Rhymesayers, Crushkill Recordings |
| Associated acts | Eyedea, Eyedea & Abilities, Kristoff Krane, Abzorbr, Carbon Carousel |
| Website | myspace.com/facecandy |
| Members | Eyedea, Kristoff Krane, J.T Bates, Casey O'Brien |
Face Candy was an improvisational Jazz Rap group from Minnesota formed by rapper Eyedea. The group released one album This Is Where We Were in 2006. The lineup consisted of Eyedea, Kristoff Krane, J.T. Bates and Casey O'Brien at the time of Eyedea's sudden death in 2010. The future of the group is uncertain but as of 2011 it had been confirmed the second album Waste Age Teenland would be released posthumously. It was released May 24, 2011, seven months after Eyedea's death.
Formed in 2005 as Eyedea & Friends the group originally consisted of well known freestyle battle champion and underground rapper Eyedea with drummer J.T. Bates, (also of Eyedea's rock band Carbon Carousel), bassist Casey O'Brien, and local rappers Kristoff Krane (also of Abzorber), Carnage, and Mazta I. The group started playing shows at local hip-hop oriented venues where much of the audience which showed up was expecting the music be similar to Eyedea's solo work and work as part of Eyedea & Abilities. However the Eyedea and Friends show's actually consisted entirely of extended freestyles with freely improvised instrumental backing this lend to disappointment and anger in many of the fans who in turn booed and threw objects at the group. After the first tour the group stopped performing for a while due partly to the negative reaction. However the project was revived with the new name Face Candy and found a better reaction to the music playing now that fans knew what to expect and through playing Jazz venues where the crowds were more receptive to the group's sound. During this time (2005) the album This Is Where We Were was recorded live while touring the Midwest. It was eventually released on November 21, 2006.
Carnage and Mazta I left in 2006 reducing the group to a four-man line up they continued to perform and record new material. Eyedea died in his sleep on October 16, 2010 due to an overdose. The future of the group is uncertain as of March 2011 they are still booked for tours in April and May 2011 and it has been confirmed the second album Waste Age Teenland will be released on May the 24th 2011 on Rhymesayers. This album was recorded in two days at the Winterland studios and one night in front of an audience at St. Paul's Black Dog Cafe.
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