Ces Cru Explained

CES Cru
Origin:Kansas City, Missouri, USA
Genre:Hip hop
Years Active:2000–2021
Label:Strange

Ces Cru (often stylized as CES Cru) is an American rap duo from Kansas City, Missouri, signed to independent record label Strange Music. The duo currently consists of members Donnie "Godemis" King and Mike "Ubiquitous" Viglione, but has had numerous members throughout the years. Ces Cru released their debut album Capture Enemy Soldiers in 2004. They went on to release Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant (2008) and The Playground (2009). In 2010, the duo signed to Tech N9ne's record label Strange Music and have released the EP 13 (2012) and Recession Proof (2015). Their first two studio albums on the label are Constant Energy Struggles (2013), and (2014). The most recent release from Ces Cru is their sixth studio album Catastrophic Event Specialists, released in February 2017. In 2021, both artists have since departed from the label.

Biography

The group went through a number of different group members before becoming the trio of Ubiquitous, Godemis and Sorceress in the early 2000s.[1] In 2004, the group released its debut album, Capture Enemy Soldiers.[1] But while promoting the project, Sorceress wanted to fire the group’s then-manager. Ubiquitous and Godemis disagreed, and Sorceress departed the group.[1] They returned as a duo in 2009 with The Playground, an album they hand delivered to Strange Music label boss Tech N9ne when he witnessed the group opening for Devin the Dude at a Kansas City show.[1] Tech signed them to Strange Music in January 2012, and eight months later they released their Strange Music debut, the 13 EP on August 28, 2012.[2] On March 26, 2013, the duo released their fourth album Constant Energy Struggles.[3] The album debuted at number 98 on the Billboard 200.[4] On August 5, 2014, they released their fifth album Codename: Ego Stripper which debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200.[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
USUS R&B
Capture Enemy Soldiers
  • Released: January 1, 2004 (US)[6]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant
  • Released: August 14, 2008 (US)[7]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
The Playground
  • Released: August 28, 2009 (US)[8]
  • Label: Commercial Entertainment Syndicate
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Constant Energy Struggles
  • Released: March 26, 2013 (US)
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
98 14 9
  • Released: August 5, 2014 (US)
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
40 4 2
Catastrophic Event Specialists
  • Released: February 10, 2017 (US)
  • Label: Strange Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download
150

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
USUS R&B
13 156 26 18
Recession Proof 26 19

Guest appearances

Title! scope="col"
YearOther artist(s)Album
"Livin' Like I'm Dyin'"2010Tech N9ne, Kutt Calhoun, Krizz KalikoBad Season
"Give It Up"2011Tech N9ne, LebowskiAll 6's and 7's
"Wiked Bizness"JLJust Landed
"Unfair"Tech N9ne, Krizz KalikoWelcome to Strangeland
"Test You"2012Nesto The OwnerCareer Killer 3
"Strange March"¡Mayday!, Brotha Lynch HungThrift Store Halos EP
"Reckless"2013Krizz KalikoSon of Sam
"Colorado"Tech N9ne, B.o.B, Krizz Kaliko, ¡Mayday!, Rittz, Stevie StoneSomething Else
"Nobody Cares: (The Remix)"2014Tech N9ne, Wrekonize, Bernz, Stevie Stone, Krizz KalikoStrangeulation
"Great Night"Tech N9ne
"American Horror Story"
"DIBKIS (Remix)"JL, Joey Cool, Info GatesBrain Scatter 2
"Young Dumb Full of Fun"2015Tech N9ne, Mackenzie NicoleSpecial Effects
"Fun-eral"FeltHave a Nice Life
"Wait On It"Stevie StoneMalta Bend
"One Wing"¡Mayday!Future Vintage
"War Within"ProzakBlack Ink
"PBSA"Tech N9neStrangeulation Vol. II
"Strangeulation Vol. II Cypher II"Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone
"Orangutan"2016Krizz Kaliko, Tech N9ne, JL, Wrekonize, RittzGO
"Stop Breathing"Rittz, Stevie StoneTop of the Line
"It Don't Go"BernzSee You on the Other Side
"Out There"Joey Cool, JL, Tech N9neSwank Sinatra
"Casket Music"2017Tech N9ne, WrekonizeDominion
"The Answer"Tech N9ne, Krizz Kaliko
"Plenty"Krizz Kaliko, Stevie StoneStrange Reign
"One, Two"2018Joey CoolJoey Cool
"Kcmo vs. Everybody"Info Gates, JL, Joey Cool, Bre the 1st LadyThankful

Music videos

YearTitleDirectorArtist(s)
As main performer
2012"The Playground"rowspan="3"
2013"Lotus"
"When Worlds Collide"
"Juice"featuring Tech N9ne
"Seven Chakras"
2014"Smoke"featuring Liz Suwandi
"Sound Bite"
"Wavy"
"Power Play"featuring Tech N9ne
"Jimmy Stewart"rowspan="5"
"Double OT"Marmo Films
2015"Letterman"
"Famished"
"Meditate"
2016"Ricochet"
2017"Average Joe"
"Slave"
As featured performer
2015"PBSA"Tech N9ne featuring Ces Cru
"Strangeulation Vol. II Cypher II"Tech N9ne featuring Stevie Stone and Ces Cru

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Company . The . CES Cru Announces Strange Music Album Title, Details "Colosseum" Concept . HipHop DX . 2012-08-31 . 2014-05-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140512220417/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.20976/title.ces-cru-announces-strange-music-album-title-details-colosseum-concept . 2014-05-12 . dead .
  2. Web site: iTunes – Music – 13 by Ces Cru . Itunes.apple.com . 2012-08-28 . 2014-05-11.
  3. Web site: iTunes – Music – Constant Energy Struggles (Deluxe Edition) by Ces Cru . Itunes.apple.com . 2013-03-26 . 2014-05-11.
  4. Web site: Ces Cru – Chart history . Billboard . 2014-05-11.
  5. Web site: iTunes – Music – Codename: Ego Stripper (Deluxe Edition) by Ces Cru. iTunes. 5 August 2014 . 29 November 2014.
  6. Web site: iTunes – Music – Capture Enemy Soldiers by Ces Cru . Itunes.apple.com . 2004-01-01 . 2014-05-11.
  7. Web site: iTunes – Music – Cesphiles, Vol. 1 Codename:irongiant by Ces Cru . Itunes.apple.com . 2008-08-24 . 2014-05-11.
  8. Web site: iTunes – Music – The Playground by Ces Cru . Itunes.apple.com . 2009-08-28 . 2014-05-11.