The Kickdrums
Alex Fitts of The Kickdrums
Alex Fitts of The Kickdrums
Background information
OriginCleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Record producer
Instrument(s)
Years active2005–present
Labels
  • Hopeless
  • 24West
  • Last Gang
MembersAlexander Fitts
Past membersMatt Penttila
Websitethekickdrums.net

The Kickdrums is singer-songwriter and record producer Alexander Fitts, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. It was formerly a production duo also including DJ Matt Penttila.[1]

Career

Indie rock singer-songwriter Alex Fitts started off as a Cleveland-based record producer, working with local hip-hop acts but took off when his music caught the ears of big-name rappers, looking for production that blended hip-hop and indie rock styles. He and his production partner, Matt Penttila, found work with artists such as 50 Cent, John Legend, and Kid Cudi, and did remixing for Kanye West, Adele, Ben Harper, and Peter Bjorn and John.[2]

At the same time, the duo began working on their own hybrid of indie rock and hip-hop, releasing an EP titled Just a Game in 2009, and continued with an album titled Meet Your Ghost in 2011 with Last Gang Records.[3]

Penttila left the band after this release and Fitts struck out on his own, turning The Kickdrums into a one-man band and trading in any vestiges of hip-hop for electronic-tinged singer-songwriter-influenced indie rock. After signing with Hopeless Records, an EP titled Still Logic was released in July 2013, followed by an album titled Thinking Out Loud in October of that year.[4]

Fitts' music has been used in a variety of TV shows, movies and games including The Sims, Teen Wolf, The Wire, Suits, Bloodline, Chuck, Cougar Town, Lovesick, Demoted, Famous in Love, The Unicorn, Temptation Island, ESPN, the BBC as well as ads for Ralph Lauren and Beats by Dre.

Albums including The Kickdrums' production have sold over 7.5 million copies worldwide. Fitts has cited The Prodigy, Wu-Tang Clan and Trent Reznor as influences.

Production discography

2005

2006–2007

  1. "Smokin' & Leanin"
  2. "She A G"
  3. "Dope Game"
  4. "Here I Stand"
  1. "Keep on Pushing"
  2. "Hello World"[7]
  3. "Get It Girl" (feat. Fat Al)[8]

2008

  1. "We Major"
  2. "Good Morning" (feat. Big Sean)
  • "Sky High" – Kid Cudi featuring Kanye West[12]

2009–2010

2011

2012

  1. "Thieves In The Choir" featuring Casey Veggies
  2. "Want My Blood" featuring DZ Deathrays & Rockie Fresh
  3. "My Life" featuring Machine Gun Kelly
  4. "Naked"
  5. "The Way It Goes" featuring Big Pooh
  6. "The Last Goodbye" featuring Backwood Jones
  7. "Traces"
  8. "Death Wish" featuring Maluca Mala & Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire
  9. "Safer Than Heaven"
  10. "Whatever You'd Like featuring Gilbere Forte
  11. "Come Come (KD Remix) by Hot As Sun - featuring Freddie Gibbs
  12. "Come And Go" by Alan Wilkis featuring The KickDrums

2013

2014

2015

  1. "No Where (Intro)"
  2. "Magic Bullet"
  3. "Indica La Roux (Ft. Miloh Smith)"
  4. "Naruto"
  5. "Psycho"
  6. "N O W H E R E"
  7. "Lambo, Pt. 1"
  8. "Lambo, Pt. 2"
  9. "Unagi"
  10. "Skank"
  11. "Bandcamp"
  12. "I Got A Lazer"
  13. "Now Here (Outro)"

2016

2017

  • "Lights Out" EP - Shiny Wet Machine – (Sizzy Rocket and The Kickdrums) of Diet Punk Records[34]
  1. "Euphoria"
  2. "Stun Gun"
  3. "Spectrum"
  4. "Chemicel"
  5. "Hospitals"
  • "Lights Out" B-Sides EP - Shiny Wet Machine – (Sizzy Rocket and The Kickdrums) of Diet Punk Records[35]
  1. "Breakfast"
  2. "Coma"
  3. "Spine"
  4. "Gash"

2018

  1. "First Time"
  2. "True Romance"
  3. "Barbara Walters"

2019

  • "Grow EP" – Mia Gladstone – 22Twenty Records[37]
  1. "Baby Dont Worry"
  2. "Hold It Down"
  3. "Revolutionize"
  4. "Love U"
  5. "Feel It"
  1. "Alone"

2020

  1. "All My Heroes Are Dead (The Introduction)"
  2. "Golden Oldies" (feat. Atmosphere and Eamon)
  3. "Angelic Boy"
  4. "Living Through a Screen (Everything Is a Lie)" (feat. The Kickdrums)
  5. "The Slayers Club" " (feat. Ice-T, Vinnie Paz, Brand Nubian, Chris Rivers, Chino XL, M.O.P. and Onyx)

2022

  • "Losing Sunlight EP" – Oh Bummer! – If This Then Records[41]
  1. "Mirrors"
  2. "Beautiful Day"
  3. "Going Out Of My Mind"
  4. "It Felt Real"
  5. "The Right Thing"
  6. "Losing Sunlight"

2023

  • "Psych Indie Pop" – Alexander M. Fitts – The Home Of Happy / BMG Production Music[44]
  • "The Color EP" – Doc Robinson & The Kickdrums – [45]
  1. "The Color"
  2. "The Otherside"
  3. "Ride The Wave"
  • "Pretty Orange EP" – Werdperfect & The Kickdrums [46]
  1. "Pretty Orange"
  2. "Potato Chip"
  3. "No Vacancy"
  4. "Wrong Number"
  • "Stupid EP" – Oh Bummer – [47]
  1. "Swimming"
  2. "The Bird and the Dog"
  3. "Listen Up"
  4. "Talk About It All The Time"

Discography

Studio Albums

  • Meet Your Ghost [co-produced with Alan Wilkis aka (Big Data)] (2011)[48]
  • Thinking Out Loud (co-produced with Andros Rodriguez) (2013)[49]
  • Blurred Colors (2020)
  • The Ghost Tapes (2021)
  • ZigZags (2023)

Compilations

  • Smash the System (2009)[50]

EPs

  • Just A Game EP (2009)[51]
  • Inspiration For Conversation EP (2013)[52]
  • Still Logic EP (2013)[53]
  • Breathe Again EP (2015)

Videography

References

  1. ↑ "Q&A: Meet the KickDrums". American Songwriter. November 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ "New Video: Alan Wilkis ft.The KickDrums – Come and Go". Respect-mag.com. December 21, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Album Review: The Kickdrums – Meet Your Ghost". Consequence of Sound. June 30, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  4. ↑ "The Kickdrums on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  5. ↑ Garcia-Roberts, Gus. "The Kickdrums may be hip-hop's next big beatmakers. And they work out of a closet in Avon". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Ray Cash – Cash On Delivery". Discogs. June 27, 2006. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Chip Tha Ripper – Hello World [Prod. By The Kickdrums] mp3 Download and Stream". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Chip tha Ripper (Feat. Al Fatz) – Get It Gurl [Prod. By The KickDrums] mp3 Download and Stream". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Kay Slay – Pop The Truck". Genius. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Rapper Big Pooh – Melt My Heart To Stone (Kickdrums Remix)", Genius, retrieved February 27, 2017
  11. ↑ "Slaughterhouse Premiere Official 'Move On' Video – DJBooth Article". DJBooth.net. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  12. ↑ "The 25 Best Kid Cudi SongsKid Cudi 'Sky High' (2009)". Complex. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Kid Cudi Feat. Chip Tha Ripper – T.G.I.F. [Prod. by The Kickdrums] mp3 Download and Stream". LiveMixtapes. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Waiting For The End". linkinpedia. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Like Its Her Birthday". spotify. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Nothing To Worry About". Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via YouTube.
  17. ↑ "Scarface – 2 The Beat". Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
  18. ↑ "The Kickdrums – Perfect World". Retrieved December 3, 2022 – via YouTube.
  19. ↑ "Ben Harper – Lay There And Hate Me". consequence.net. February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Alan Wilkis – Come And Go". consequence.net. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Machine Gun Kelly – Stereo Feat. The Kickdrums | Stream [New Song]", hotnewhiphop.com, February 16, 2011, retrieved February 27, 2017
  22. ↑ "MIXTAPE: The KickDrums & Dee Goodz - The Higher EP". thecouchsessions.com. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  23. ↑ "The Kickdrums – Follow The Leaders". genius. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Alex Fitts". Discogs. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Deniro Farrar". Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via YouTube.
  26. ↑ Cartoon Network (January 6, 2016), Ridin' With Burgess | Cartoon Network Mini, retrieved February 27, 2017 – via YouTube
  27. ↑ "Super Soaker". Spotify. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  28. ↑ "From Indian Lakes – Sleeping Limbs". Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via YouTube.
  29. ↑ "Mainland – Outcast Fake Guns remix". blahblahblahscience.com. November 6, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Duckwrth – Nowhere". genius. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  31. ↑ "SWIMM – Man's Man/Groupie". Hit City U.S.A. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  32. ↑ "Vagrant Records". Vagrant Records. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  33. ↑ "Rockie Fresh – Don't Worry". Hit City U.S.A. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Shiney Wet Machine – Lights Out". genius. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Shiney Wet Machine – Lights Out B-sides". genius. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  36. ↑ "SWIMM – Sentilmental Porno". discogs. June 5, 2018. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Mia Gladstone – Grow". 22twenty Records. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Vinnie Caruana – Aging Frontman". Big Scary Monsters Records. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Sick Individuals – Scars". Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via YouTube.
  40. ↑ "Introducing: Nite Therapy". UPPM Records. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Oh Bummer – Losing SunLight". If This Then Records. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Indie Sonics". Indie Sonics. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  43. ↑ "Doc Robinson – Ride The Wave". ffm.to. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  44. ↑ "Psych Indie Pop". BMG Production Music. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Doc Robinson & The Kickdrums – The Color". docrobinsonofficial. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Werdperfect & The Kickdrums – Pretty Orange". docrobinsonofficial. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  47. ↑ "oh bummer – Stupid". open.spotify.com. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  48. ↑ "9 Questions for the KickDrums: BKLYN Producer Duo Releases "Meet Your Ghost"". SonicScoop. June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  49. ↑ "premiere: the kickdrums "thinking out loud" (full album!)". Nylon. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  50. ↑ "Kickdrums 'Smash the System' with New Mixtape [Free Download]". Djbooth.
  51. ↑ "The Kickdrums – 'Just A Game'". PigeonsandPlanes. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  52. ↑ "The Kickdrums – 'Inspiration For Conversation'". consequence.net. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  53. ↑ "The KickDrums sign to Hopeless Records, release music video and EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
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