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Sore Losers (We Are Sore Losers) / About This Artist

Artist Details and Stats:

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Website: www.new.facebook.com

Sounds Like: The Roots, Cold Play, METRONOMY, NAS, Foo Fighters

Genre: Hip Hop

#-
Hip Hop charts for Dallas, TX
  • 3,980
    Total Fans
  • 10,564
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Biography:

Dallas, Texas originated, Sore Losers take the experimental approach towards music, combining hip hop elements with an alternative vibe. Inspired by artists such as The Roots, Nas, MGMT, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D., Metronomy, Foo Fighters and Gnarls Barkley, Sore Losers have created a sound that is different than any other artist, band or group in the world of rap and hip hop.

This acclaimed band has performed at major events such as the 2011 ESPYS Awards Post Celebration, 2011 SXSW Music Festival, 2011 & 2012 Sundance Film Festivals, 35 Denton Music Festival and most recently the 2012 SXSW Music Festival have garnered the attention of industry peers and tastemakers.

In 2009 Sore Losers released their first EP forever changing the Dallas music scene. The Dallas Observer writes:
“The unofficial turning point for Dallas hip-hop came with the late 2009 release of Sore Losers Free Loaders EP” Nic Hernandez, Dallas Observer

The catalyst of a major hip hop movement, Sore Losers “Free Loaders – The Soundtrack” 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." The then duo set out on a course to introduce the nation to the unique sound they created while beginning work on their sophomore project. Sore Losers authentic sound was further enhanced by the incorporation of live music which led then duo to a permanent expansion to a now six piece outfit. In 2011 Sore Losers issued its official response to “Free Loaders” with the release of the “Get A Life” Mixtape.

The mixtape further rooted the band musically in their self created experimental hip hop lane. From there, Sore Losers immediately began work on the We Are Sore Losers EP their first original live music recording as a band. Prior to the release of their first all original live music recording project, GRAMMY.com debuted the exclusive first listen of the We Are Sore Losers EP, the lead single, "Euthanasia” and so began the official countdown to the release of the We Are Sore Losers EP.

In January 2012, Grammy.com and The Grammys YouTube channel exclusively debuted the "Euthanasia" music video. Sore Losers hit the road performing at the Wu-Tang Clan Rebirthed 2012 show and 2012 Sundance Film Festival. In anticipation of the EP release, Dallas Observer featured a full page print and online story detailing the band’s evolution. The highly anticipated We Are Sore Losers EP released shortly thereafter to praises acknowledging Sore Loser’s growth musically:
"This album beautifully marries jazz and hip-hop. This is intellectual hip-hop - lyrically and musically. Listening to this new release, now with the live band etc., I am still wowed and amazed.” Goodchild.com

The beginning of February 2012 kicked off with the official We Are Sore Losers EP Release Celebration Show. Sore Losers 90 minute performance electrified the standing room only crowd and rivals many of todays’ top touring concerts. The live interactive at times emotional performance best described:
"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. Congratulations to them for the exposure from the Grammys and Sundance; the world can finally see a masterpiece." Alexandria Byrd, Examiner.com

Prior to heading to SXSW 2012, Sore Losers performed at the 35 Denton Music Festival representing hip hop alongside Bun B on the main stage. 35 Denton acknowledged Sore Losers as Texas hip hop pioneers:
"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” Ron Johnson, 35denton.com

Sore Losers were recently invited by The Recording Academy to be a part of The Grammys ReImagined Series. The ReImagined Series further shines the spotlight on Sore Losers as an emerging artist. Special guest artists vocalist Curt Chambers and Steve Wonder’s own harmonic maestro Frederic Yonnet joined on the Sore Losers ReImagined rendition of the Stevie Wonder classic, "Living For The City". Sore Losers Grammys ReImagined was released in October 2012 to great reviews.

Sore Losers combination of hot beats combined with live music and undeniable energy, has landed them at a quintessential crossroad of their musical journey…a dreamland place where Rock meets Soul and flirts with Country and marries Hip Hop and gives birth to a music utopia of Alternative Hip Hop.

Press:

“Interview: Dallas-based Sore Losers work with Grammy-award-winning producer 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. 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....”
Kelland Drumgoole of soso Active | - Pegasusnews.com

“Sore Losers - ReImagine Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City"”
The GRAMMYs - The GRAMMYs YouTube Channel

“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...”
Grammy.com - The GRAMMYs, Grammy.com

“MTV JUST ADDED VIDEOS: EUTHANASIA by SORE LOSERS”
MTV.com - MTV.com

“Tony Rock's Sore Loser Event (Photos): Comedian/Actor Tony Rock put together an event during BET weekend, check out the photos of all the fun. ”
Katherine Echevarria - TheSource.com

“Sore Losers – Group Economics (Video) 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. ”
•Blame it on Shake - 2DOPEBoyz.com

“Local hip hop artists represent Dallas pioneers on 35D stage | 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.”
Ron Johnson - 35Denton.com

“Sore Losers Collectively Reinvent Themselves: 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. "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. ”
Nic Hernandez - Dallas Observer

“GRAMMY.com First Look: Sore Losers: 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. 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...”
Grammy.com - Grammy.Com First Look

“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.”
Grammy.com | - GRAMMY.com First Listen: Sore Losers

“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.”
Pete Freedman | - Dallas Observer: Sore Losers and Mind Spiders Among First Round Of Bands Announ

“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 - SXSW REVEALS 1ST LINE-UP OF 2012 HIP-HOP ACTS!!

“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. | http://sxsw.com/node/9610”
Stacey | - SXSW 2012 | http://sxsw.com/node/9610 (November 1, 2011)

“It's that time of year again, folks. It's Dallas Observer Music Awards season! On 10/15, on various stages throughout Deep Ellum, some 50 or so award-nominated bands will gather to perform our DOMA Showcase. As with last year, there will also be an outdoor stage boasting some big names in bright lights. Heres where we'll crown the reader-voted victors in the 32 different categories we have, all of which aim to highlight the best and brightest in the Greater Dallas music scene. Later this week, online voting will open on this year's ballot. Some 80-plus invited members of the local music community (journalists, bloggers, booking agents, managers, producers, DJs, etc.) filled out a form in which they were asked to nominate up to five acts for each award. We compiled the most-nominated bands onto our final ballot. Congratulations to all of our nominees! Rap/Hip-Hop Act: A.Dd+, Damaged Good$, galleryCat, The Mohicans, Sore Losers, Treal Lee & Prince Rick”
Pete Freedman | DOMAXXIII: Announcing 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards Nominees - Dallas Observer Blogs

“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. ”
Stephen Ellis - www.AuditoryAsylum.com | Featured Artist: Sore Losers

“Enjoying the festivities of this years ABL presented by Gentleman Jack, we caught up with the Dallas based band, Sore Losers. Traveling all the way from Texas to Atlanta, Sore Losers rocked the crowd with a crazy set giving the crowd a mix of dope vocals and sharp percussion. Heads nodded, people danced, and they definitely left the city with new fans including us. We had a chance to catch up with them after their set. ”
K.D. Gray | www.indiemuzikspotlight.com - Sore Losers interview: Arts, Beats, Lyrics 2011 | video interview

“The Texas-helmed team is set to perform at the 2011 ESPYS Awards Post Celebration alongside Cee-Lo and Karmin (heh), and they’re chronicling their travels leading up to the big day. ”
Meka - Sore Losers: Road To The ESPYS | Erreon Lee TV video interview

“At the Can I Kick It SXSW Concert hosted by KVRX's Marcus and Tayo, we had a chance to catch up with the Sore Losers again, this time we had the whole band in participation. We've clipped in footage of several of their shows so you can get a taste of the Sore Losers band experience. They've had a lot of exciting things happen for them so let's listen. ”
ThaTrunk.com - Sore Losers SXSW Interview with ThaTrunk.com | video interview

“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 - TexasStillReal: Sore Losers SXSW Take Over Video!

“I sincerely wish the same audience response greeted Portland's statesman of the hip-hop community, Cool Nutz. All expectations were that he'd have a healthy audience to work with after Dallas rappers Sore Losers packed Nuvola with fans who were close to mayhem during their set. Alas, the room emptied right after the band finished, leaving Cool to do his best with the dozen or so folks who stuck around. ”
Robert Ham - Special to The Oregonian: SXSW: Typhoon, Cool Nutz, Yoko Ono, Brains

“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 Blogs - Watch: Sore Losers -- "The Epic Outro" | video

“ESPN had is it's annual party up at Sundance this year for the divisional championship games. Check out this mini doc featuring the Sore Losers. What do you think? ”
JROCK, The Sore Loser's Mini Doc @ Sundance 2011 - Vibe.com | video

“Don’t let the name Sore Losers fool you. Blue (the producer) and Brown (the lyricist) are aiming to win. Together these two have created their own lane.”
Jeevan Brown - Ozone Super Bowl 2011 Special Edition

“Brown may start the song bemoaning his vocals ("I'm gonna sound like a bum, but oh well..") and his lack of good traits, but, turns out, things aren't nearly as bad as he'd have you believe. Actually, they're pretty great: By our count, the infectious "Free Loaders" is the best hip-hop track put out in the region this year.”
Pete Freedman | Dallas Observer Blogs - The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Sore Losers Free Loads Its Way to No. 15

“Sore Losers "Free Loaders: The Soundtrack Mixtape" In 2010, the local underground hip-hop scene blew up in a big way, drawing big crowds to the types of venues that the radio-friendly rappers of the region wouldn't dare play for fear of small turnouts...And much of the credit for that change should go Sore Losers' way”
Pete Freedman | Dallas Observer Music - Counting Down the Best Local Albums of 2010 16.

“This was something new. Something different. Sore Losers' two energetic performers were riding on a different vibe, backed by a full (and, for once, competent) backing band. And it just felt right—so much so that no one even batted an eye when, as Brown and Blue walked off stage, their backing band launched into a cover of Coldplay's "Clocks."”
Pete Freedman - Sore Losers Helps Dallas Move Past The Boogie

"Over the past year, the DOMA-nominated group has built an exceptional following in North Texas, and, in listening to their music, it's easy to see why."
Nick Hernandez - Dallas Observer Blogs

"This is their debut project. “Free Loaders: The Soundtrack” Let me tell you, this album is funky. The production is on point and very creative."
Adrian Pottinger - Analog Hype

“Encyclopedia Brown and Out the Blue, together known as Sore Losers, have got to be two of the most creative people I’ve ever heard of coming out of Dallas, TX. Music-wise”
StephTheCool - theCOOL Blog

“The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Fizzy Dino Pop's Remix of Sore Losers' "Bizarre Celebrations" Has Us Cheering at No. 4”
Pete Freedman - Dallas Weekly

“If you have labeled the state of Texas with a certain sound for music you are in for a awakening.From the production to the lyrical delivery and catchy hooks be prepared to enjoy the duo that is the sore losers.”
Serious J Walker - PuttingPeopleOnGame.com

“it seems that this is the direction music is going, and if it is, then its not half bad. Check it out.”
Tito - www.54thAve.com

“First impressions of their myspace page suggested they were the new Cool Kids (the cooler Cool Kids perhaps?), but i quickly realized they were their own brand of Hip Hop.”
Sam Coffman - The 33 CW

“After their energetic debut in Dallas at The Lounge in Deep Ellum, it was evident that the two young (and single) men were in love with what they do”
Patrice J. Holmes - Dallas Weekly

“I like the music…A LOT. It’s fun, and fun hip hop never gets old!”
d(-_-)b guerillamilk - ARTamental