Swollen Members, the Juno Award-winning Canadian hip-hop group, have
officially reunited and announced a full headlining Canadian tour with support
from Moka Only. Madchild, Rob The Viking, and Prevail are embarking on their
first full tour in over six years.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Swollen Members (Madchild, Prevail, and
Rob The Viking) have solidified their place in the hip-hop world. The group was
founded by Vancouverites Madchild (Shane Ralph) and Prevail (Kiley Hendriks),
who met in California and bonded over rhyming at a party in the late '90s. Their
undeniable chemistry took them to the B-Boy Summit in San Diego, where
Madchild won several rap battles, and they were initiated into the Rock Steady
Crew. Swollen Members is one of only three rap groups affiliated with Rock
Steady. This affiliation led to the release of their first official 12" vinyl in 1997
through their indie label, Battleaxe Records, with distribution by the iconic New
York hip-hop institution Fat Beats.
In 1999, the group released Balance, a classic album that broke barriers for hip-
hop in the Canadian music industry. Tracks like "Lady Venom" achieved massive
commercial success on radio, and the accompanying music video received
heavy rotation on MuchMusic, propelling the album to Gold status—a rare feat
for a hip-hop group at the time.
Swollen Members' rise continued with their sophomore album, Bad Dreams,
which reached Platinum status. This album produced chart-topping singles such
as "Bring It Home" and "Fuel Injected." Over their career, Swollen Members have
won four MuchMusic Video Awards and four Juno Awards for "Best Rap
Recording," with a fifth Juno nomination for their album Dagger Mouth in 2012.
They are regarded as one of the greatest hip-hop groups to emerge from Canada,
paving the way for future Canadian artists like Drake and The Weeknd.
Long before the global fame of artists like Drake or The Weeknd, Swollen
Members made their mark on Canadian hip-hop, earning Gold and Platinum
records. Their concerts, often compared to punk or heavy metal shows, featured
mosh pits and crowd surfing, which were uncommon in hip-hop. The group's
intense energy and raw performances built a dedicated fan base, with many fans
proudly sporting Swollen Members' skull logo and battleaxe tattoos. Their unique
blend of hip-hop forged a brotherhood that gained international recognition,
leading to sold-out shows, critical acclaim, and numerous awards.
