(hed) P.E.

Huntington Beach, California’s (hed) p.e. (the “pe” stands for “Planet Earth”) were founded in 1994 by frontman Jahred (aka M.C.U.D. aka Jared Gomes), whose goal was to fuse the region’s long-standing punk rock heritage with G-funk-inflected hip-hop — a sound he labeled “G-punk.” The group found mainstream success in the early 2000s via their second and third albums, Broke and Blackout, both of which were released by Jive Records. A move to indie label Suburban Noize yielded the 9/11 Truth Movement concept LP New World Orphans, and in 2019 the eclectic rockers issued their tenth studio long-player, Stampede.

(hed) p.e. (also comprising lead guitarist Wesley “Wesstyle” Geer, rhythm guitarist Chad “Chizad” Benekos, bassist Mark “Mawk” Young, drummer Ben “B.C.” Vaught, and Doug “DJ Product @ 1969” Boyce on turntables and samples) released their eponymous debut through Jive Records, then hit the road with Ozzfest and bands like Korn, Static-X, and System of a Down. A second album, Broke, followed in the year 2000, and a third, Blackout, arrived in 2003, after which (hed) p.e. switched labels from Jive to Koch and underwent something of an overhaul (welcoming new guitarist Jaxon Benge and drummer Mark “Moke” Bistany) prior to recording their fourth album, 2005’s Only in Amerika.

The all-new Back 2 Base X and the Best of (hed) Planet Earth compilation arrived in 2006, followed by Flat Bill Hat in the summer of 2007 and the politically charged concept LP New World Orphans in 2009. A second compilation, titled Major Pain 2 Indee Freedom: The Best of Hed P.E., was released in 2010, featuring a new track and a limited-edition concert film of the group performing live in Los Angeles. That same year they dropped Truth Rising, which broke into the Billboard Top 100. Yet another compilation was released in 2013, just as DJ Product parted ways with the band. More departures came the next year as Benge and Young left, replaced by Greg “Gregzilla” Harrison and Kurt “Kid Bass” Blankenship, respectively. Evolution (previously titled Ascension) was issued in the summer of 2014. Forever!, their ninth effort and first with only one founding member, arrived in 2016. In 2019 the band returned with their tenth full-length effort, the versatile Stampede. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia & Neil Z. Yeung, Rovi