Hollywood Undead

• Genre: Rapcore
• Hometown: Los Angeles
• Hollywood Undead Website

About

By throwing together a kitchen-sink mix of hip-hop, metal and pop punk, Hollywood Undead update the sound of '90s rapcore acts like Insane Clown Posse and Korn. It's hardly groundbreaking, but it works -- they've won wide adoration from MySpace crowds, who have helped them break out of the social networking site and into mainstream pop culture on the strength of their singles. Hollywood Undead became the first act to sign on with MySpace Records in 2005, wearing hockey masks that introduced the band's puzzling public image -- another imitative nod to Insane Clown Posse. After a number of personnel changes (all of which happened behind the shroud of their veiled identity), the core duo of Deuce and J-Dog put together a lineup for live gigs in 2008. That same year Hollywood Undead signed to a major and released their debut, the encouragingly titled Swan Songs.

- Nate Cavalieri