Voice as a weapon, words as bullets, spreading the universal message of peace, love, and justice through music. Sure, there's a cynical cultural tendency to make certain assumptions when you hear the word "gun" associated with rap music, but this seven-member live hip-hop band from Ithaca, NY, runs contrary to that image with their positive message and uplifting performances.
Since the band formed in 2008, their stellar catalog of albums and dedication to an ever growing and energized fan base has helped propel them to the top of the Central New York music scene. In addition to being one of the top homegrown acts in their musically rich hometown, Gunpoets have become staples at regional festivals such as the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance and the Great Blue Heron Music Festival. Progressively, over the band's eight years together, they have also become in-demand headliners at clubs and concert series across the Northeast.
In July 2016, Gunpoets released their third studio album, Bombs Away! The new album's title plays off the hard/soft juxtaposition that underlies the band's name and creative identity. The album is a call to the world to lay down all weapons of war, and to replace them with love, peace, and compassion. This powerful new release exemplifies the true definition of what it means to be a Gunpoet.
Band Members:
- Sun (mic)
- Jayhigh (mic)
- Colin Smith (mic and keys)
- Eliot Rich (guitar)
- Michael Wu (bass and bvox)
- Lars Burggren (drums)
- DJ Double A (turntables)
