Blood In, Blood Out (Axe Murder Boyz album) explained

Blood In Blood Out is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Axe Murder Boyz. It was released on April 18, 2006 through Psychopathic Records, marking the group's debut project for the label. Recording sessions took place at The Lotus Pod and The Funhouse Studio in Detroit. Production was handled by AMB themselves together with Twiztid and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. It features guest appearances from Insane Clown Posse, Blaze Ya Dead Homie and Twiztid.

Conception

Background

See main article: Axe Murder Boyz.

Brothers James and Mike Garcia formed Axe Murder Boyz in 1999, naming their group after a lyric from the Insane Clown Posse song "Bring It On". After releasing a series of locally released albums on their own label, Axe Recordings, the Garcia brothers formed Canonize Productions in 2004.^[1] The following year, Psychopathic Records held an Underground Psychos contest at the year's Gathering of the Juggalos, which resulted in contenders AMB being awarded a one-album contract deal with the label.^[2]

Recording

AMB began recording Blood In Blood Out in 2005, and concluded production the following year. Mike E. Clark wrote much of the album's music, with other music created by Fritz the Cat, Polar Bear, Violent J, who worked under the name Dr. Punch in his production credits, Brian Kuma and Shaggy 2 Dope.^[3]

All tracks were recorded at Psychopathic's recording studio, the Lotus Pod in Detroit, except for "Scream My Name", "Old Girl (All Mine)" and "Honor", which were recorded at Mike E. Clark's Funhouse Studio. "See Thru" was recorded at both studios. 2 Dope provided scratching, while Twiztid, ICP and Blaze Ya Dead Homie contributed guest verses.

Reception

Blood In Blood Out debuted at number 199 on the Billboard 200, number 22 on the Independent Albums and number 11 on the Heatseekers Albums charts in the United States. AllMusic's reviewer found it appealing, writing: "packed with thumping beats, dark, ominous samples, and raps full of cartoonish violence, AMB prove they are well on their way out of the underground and into the national limelight".

Personnel

• James "Otis/Young Wicked" Garcia – vocals, producer
• Mike "Bonez Dubb" Garcia – vocals, producer
• Joseph "Shaggy 2 Dope" Utsler – additional vocals (tracks: 2, 12), scratches (tracks: 2, 5), composer (track 4)
• Joseph "Dr. Punch" Bruce – additional vocals (tracks: 2, 12), composer (tracks: 7, 14), engineering (tracks: 1-14, 16), mixing (track 14)
• Jamie "Madrox" Spaniolo – vocals & producer (track 9)
• Paul "Monoxide Child" Methric – vocals & producer (track 9)
• Chris "Blaze Ya Dead Homie" Rouleau – vocals & producer (track 14)
• Mike E. Clark – composer (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15), engineering (tracks: 4, 8, 14, 15), mixing (track 15)
• Brian "Kuma" Bukantis II – composer (track 3), engineering (tracks: 1-3, 5-7, 10-14, 16), mixing (tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14)
• Fritz "The Cat" Van Kosky – composer (tracks: 5, 9), engineering (tracks: 4, 5, 9, 10), mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 16)
• Polar Bear – composer (tracks: 10, 13)
• Eric Davie – engineering (tracks: 4, 8, 14, 15)

Charts

Chart (2006)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[4]	199
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[5]	22
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[6]	11

Notes and References

1. Web site: Yeung . Neil Z. . AMB Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More AllMusic . June 13, 2024 . . en.
2. Web site: Axe Murder Boyz biography . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080927025749/http://axemurderboyz.com/hh/bio.htm . September 27, 2008 . June 13, 2024 . Canonize Records . Wayback Machine.
3. Blood In Blood Out (liner notes) . 2006 . CD . en . . PSY4057.
4. May 6, 2006 . The Billboard 200 . June 13, 2024 . . . 41 . en . 118 . 18 . 0006-2510.
5. May 6, 2006 . Top Independent Albums . June 13, 2024 . . . 54 . en . 118 . 18 . 0006-2510.
6. May 6, 2006 . Top Heatseekers Albums . June 13, 2024 . . . 55 . en . 118 . 18 . 0006-2510.