The Phunk Junkeez are the pioneers of an original style of music they helped create in 1991. The style of fusing live, raw funk/punk minded grooves with hip hop rap lyrics on top, seems common place in today's day of "anything goes" in music. Although Phunk Junkeez were gaining a strong underground following in their hometown of Phoenix through numerous giant warehouse style parties and shows, the mainstream of that scene didn't care to acknowledge they were ever making any real waves, in a city flush with jangle rock, Gin Blossom knock-off bands. The release of their self-titled debut record in 1992 only helped to make their sub culture following bigger, with over 32,000 sales of that record with no support from their label, Ichiban Records. They earned those sales with the unique and new style sound they created on that record and then bringing that sound to the stage in high energy, top fuel shows.
At some point in 1993, after doing all of their past shows promoted and ran on their own, Phunk Junkeez started doing "legitimate" shows with local promoter, Tom Lupena of Evening Star Productions. The mainstream of Phoenix didn't ignore Phunk Junkeez anymore, after they continued to sell show after show out with Evening Star, mostly at the legendary Electric Ballroom. During that period of those shows everything seemed to start coming the Junkeez way. They inked a deal with a major label (Trauma/Interscope Records) and starting getting offers to tour with national bands like 311, which they did, the summers of 1994, 1995, and 1996. This was the same time the Junkeez second record, INJECTED, was released. This album, along with relentless touring, put them on the map coast to coast. Now with a great nationwide underground following and after opening for larger national acts, the Junkeez were able to start headlining shows and bringing a full show to other cities. For the first time kids in Missouri, Louisiana, Virginia, and everywhere else they played were hearing something that was brand new to them, just like their fans in Phoenix had discovered.
Numerous years and hundreds of thousands of miles later, Phunk Junkeez have now released a total of six full length records and toured the country many times over. Although a couple of members have changed over the years, they still put the same high energy, top fuel shows on they did in the early days. They wouldn't have it any other way. The dedication of the Phunk Junkeez fans, who call themselves JUNKEEZ 4 LIFE, has kept the band playing their pioneering, unique style of music.... As Lead Singer/Rapper SOULMAN says, "Money was never the reason for starting up this band, the crazy reaction of the fans in front of us at shows was! We feed on that. "
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