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Grand Prize Winners From Last Year (GPWFLY)

Portrait of Grand Prize Winners From Last Year (GPWFLY)

" In a way we're kind of like the Beatles, but blacker"

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Hometown	Atlanta, GA
Genres	Hip_Hop, Alt. Rock
Band Members	Believe; Slaughter; Noname The Nameless
Achievements
Upcoming Shows	None

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About the Artist

An Atlanta based band featuring a drum machinist, guitarist, keyboardist, bass player, and a horn section. They refer to their music as genre-less but have drawn comparisons to NERD, TV On The Radio, and most notably Outkast.

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Music

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Achievements

Video Finals Grand Prize Winner October 2012

Rock Finals Grand Prize Winner September 2012

Pop Videos Winner, October 2012

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Press Coverage

Rolling Stone: The Grand Grand Prize Winners From by
The Band: The Grand Prize Winners from Last Year The Buzz: Think full-band OutKast: these fellow ATLiens blend Dre and Big Boi's knack for nimble rhymes with weirdo spaced-out funk and rock, making snarling songs that swivel and pounce. All of the members work as producers in Athens, which may explain their keen ear for hooks.

Sound Discovery: Roots Picnic 2012 by
On the Main Stage, emcee Amanda Seales announces Grand Prize Winners from Last Year, confusing the hell out of everyone unfamiliar with the young Atlanta-based hip-hop/guitar experiment. “Don’t be alarmed if we look strange,” says the lead guy. “That’s because we are.” One of them is wearing a Roman battle helmet, because that’s where he’s coming from. Read more: http://www.thefader.com/2012/06/20/sound-discovery-roots-picnic-2012/#ixzz25FwPQOda

Uncompromising and genuine hip hop that defies exp by
Unafraid of themselves or anyone who might be listening, Grand Prize Winners From Last Year cut loose on a hip hop album that shines with funk, rock, synth, and most of all limitless personality! The band’s latest album, The Last Night of The Earth Poems, plays on an energy-driven, charisma-saturated wave of effervescent tracks that keep the beat up and the lame down! As a whole, the songs draw from elements of Outkast, Basement JaxPicture 3.pngx, Justin Timberlake, and N.E.R.D., but these comparisons can only be made on the surface, because GPWFLY inject a hefty dose of unabashed character as they mix rap, rock, and rhythm in a wholly unique style that could find itself equally cozy among the indie dance rock scene as it does the hip hop circuits. Programmed beats are intensified by guitars, keys, bass, and brass throughout the album. Each track delivers its own flavor, from the electronic fortitude of “I Think I Like You” to the sexy smoothness of “You Got It” and the guitar-driven, punk-inspired “Get Out of My Head.” The most impressive track is “Mind Games,” where GPWFLY flaunt all their talents in one song, rapping in between a sweet vocal melody all on top of infectious electro-dance riffs and mischievous bass lines. They even flirt with industrial rock on “I Get High,” and get you dirty on the dance floor with “With My Clothes On.” Uncompromising and genuine, The Last Night of The Earth Poems radiates with the fearless creative nature of four guys who defy expectations and deliver a fresh sound. Review by Nadia Lelutiu

GPWFLY Won’t Play “Humdrum Radio Zombie Crap” For by
Imagine if you will, a giant nosh pot. Set it to simmer. Now imagine all your favorite bands and artists were ingredients which you can add to a soup. Grab a bit of Black Moon, Pharcyde, Midnight Marauding, Tribe Called Quest, and 311, stir in some early ska-ish No Doubt, a hint of Gnarls Barkley, and for good measure sprinkle with Basement Jaxx and some Shiny Toy Guns. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat. Chill over night. Garnish with a sprig of cool fresh mint and serve cold under an electric blue light. If you’re into the soul-infused, lyrical hip hop of the early 90’s, er wait. If you like fusion, ska-rock indie bands, mmmm wait. If you like quasi-electronic pop-rock acts with catchy hooks….you know what, scratch that. If you like all of the above you’ll probably like Grand Prize Winners From Last Year , or GPWFLY, if you’re into snazzy acronyms. The Atlanta based band has been compared to “Outkast meets TV On The Radio meets Blondie,” however don’t be fooled by all the references. GPWFLY has a sound all their own, and their pieces are groovy, bouncy funk goodness with just enough electronic influences to appeal to the young and, ahem, older (all you 30-somethings, accept it), okay, moving 0n. The band took a bit of time out of their “Electric Blue” July tour to sit down with Arketipo 187 to shed some light on why they’re so cool.

SHOW REVIEW: Grand Prize Winners From Last Year by
This past Friday (March 4th), I witnessed a truly amazing show performed by a truly amazing band, The Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, or GPWFLY for short. The reason I attended this show was because David Raghib, co-owner of the Typsy Gypsy, said that I shouldn’t miss it. I could tell by his body language and fervor for the band that it wouldn’t be a waste of my time… and it CERTAINLY was not! The Grand Prize Winners From Last Year is a band consisting of four strong personalities, but with only one agenda: to entertain the hell out of anyone standing in front of them. As I entered the bar, I noticed that the air was foggier than usual, but it didn’t smell smoky. These guys brought their own fog machine! Then, I noticed more light emitting from the stage than usual. These guys even brought their own lights! By the time I danced my way to middle of the raging crowd, it became apparent that the music was phenomenal. Whatever comparisons I make to other artists can’t compare to what GPWFLY actually sound like, but here goes: Imagine Outkast mixed with Gym Class Heroes (if Gym Class Heroes didn’t suck), then throw in some Cee Lo Green for good measure, and you may be able to draw a conclusion as to what you could expect from these guys. The thing that makes GPWFLY exceptional is the use of live instruments. Typically, all of the organic sounds produced in Hip-Hop, or similar genres, are sampled and never recreated live. Everyone in GPWFLY not only sang, but each member rapped and played at least one instrument. I saw a guitar, a bass, a drum machine or two, a couple of keyboards, and even some horns on stage. Even more impressive than that, these guys rocked harder than most rock bands I’ve seen, and each member made it a point to connect with everyone in the room, both on and off stage. After their set, I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the members, and I was immediately bowled over by their professionalism. They were confident without being arrogant, and humbly accepted my praise. Even though they are from the megalopolis that is Atlanta, they were more than ecstatic about the opportunity to play to a packed house here in the Upstate. I’m glad I didn’t miss this show, and you bet I’ll be at the next show, here in the Upstate. Find these guys online, and don’t miss them because I’m sure they’ll be packing stadiums before too long.

Grand Prize Winners Last Year by
Saturday Grand Prize Winners Last Year The first band I caught was The Grand Prize Winners From Last Year. Hailing from Atlanta, the trio’s energy was infectious. Armed with a Guitar, a Synth, and a Trombone, they rapped, sang, jumped in the crowd, rolled on the floor, and won over the crowd during their early day half hour set. It’s hard to not hear the influence of Outkast’s music on their own, but that is no way a complaint. I highly recommend checking out their newest release, Rocket People.

Inevitably Innovative, Irresistibly Impressionable by
Musicians should always strive to carry the upbeat, winning mentality in order to sustain their sanity and drive within the industry, but with Atlanta-based trio Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, there is no other way or will to endure. After meeting through a mutual friend and noting similar music taste in 2007, members Believe, No Name and Slaughter began a production project that soon emerged into an eclectically promising group of musical grandeur. At the time, it seemed everyone in hip-hop was chopping samples to make beats, but while in the studio, we found ourselves infusing more live instrumenta tion to give ourselves a more original sound,” says Believe. The problem was we had never played instruments before, but we were really inspired by bands like U2 and a lot of 70s punk bands who got together and taught themselves how to play. I bought a guitar, No Name bought a bass, Slaughter bought a keyboard, and G.P.W.F.L.Y. was born.” That follows is often a commonly trended question, with good reason to wonder: why the name?

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Stage Specs

Technical Requirements

Monitor Sytem/Mix: GPWFLY requires an adequate monitor system, preferably including at least 3-4 front wedges and a drum or side-fill monitor. Onstage mixer/drum machines should be heard loud and clear on stage by all musicians. Vocals should be heard clearly by all vocalist on stage. Stero DI boxes are requested for onstage mixer.