Bio

The KNOTZ musical style is best described as the fusion between hard-hitting hip-hop street lyricism and official rude-boy dance hall flavor. Born to Jamaican parents and raised in New Jersey, Megaton (Jelani Parkins), Aswad Mikal the Black Angel (Gyasi Parkins) and Dreadchild (Kareem Parkins) are on a personal mission to revive the true essence of hip-hop through the use of masterfully delivered rhymes, catchy hooks, and intricate instrumentals guaranteed to move the crowd. Fans of Lost Boyz, Wu Tang, Tribe Called Quest, and The Fugees will almost certainly love KNOTZ.

KNOTZ members, however, are not new to creating and promoting music on their own terms. Their first large stage performance was in 1995 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana for a BET sponsored event "Catch Wreck '95". This was followed by the Download CD release under the group's independently owned record label Damali Records which sold over 5,000 units and was featured on over 47 underground and college radio stations generating a large fan base known affectionately by KNOTZ members as the “Ruffians.” Ruffians are loyal KNOTZ fans who often travel to see them perform live. In addition to the retail sales and radio success of Download, one particular track on the CD entitled “Move” was also featured on Insomniac Magazine’s EP, Strategic Infiltration.

A feature article on KNOTZ appears in the 2007 issue of The Music Phonebook. The group was also named as the Independent Artist Registry's 2007 "IndiE Award" winner for Independent Artist of the Year and they are featured on the IAR website as well.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2007: Kicked-off Antidote Hip Hop Tour in September
2007: Featured in mid-Sept. issue of AnR Magazine
2007: Two tracks on Insomniac Magazine's new radio CD.
2007: Inked deal with AMMA for international representation.
2007: "THE ANTIDOTE" the Ep released on Aug 1, 2007.
2007: Will Appear in 2007 Music Phone Book as the Featured Artist
2007: Jan Appeared on Bandradiolive.com # 1
2007: Appeared on BandRadioLive.com top 10
2006: Independent Artist Registry Indie Artist Award Winners
2006: Single Bon Voyage in top 15 on bandradiolive.com
2006: Performed at the Urban Musicnoize Conference
2006: Appeared in Mic Magazines vol 3.3 Mic Check section
2006: Dj Captain Celsius Mixtape, "Budunkadunk mixtape", released Poizunous Paragrafz Volume 1
2005: Singles "Bon Voyage" and "Crime in da City" are released on Dj Watts's mixtape Tommy's Way.
2004: "How We Get Down" single is released by Insomniac Music, perform at The Delancy in NYC.
2003: Knotz performs at the Brooklyn Lyceum.
2003: Knotz perform at Penn Relays (Resurection of HipHop) opening for Common, Talib & J-Hood
2002: "Move" single is released on Insomniac Magazine's EP Strategic Infiltration
2002: Perform at Insomniac Magazine's 6th anniversary show in Orlando with MF Doom & Tribeca.
2000: Download EP is released December 11th.
1998: Knotz opened for Busta Rhymes at Hofstra University, NY.
1995: "Catch Wreck '95" RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana (BET).

DISCOGRAPHY
(1999) Harvest Music "Knotz Landin"
(2000) Damali Records presents "Download: A KNOTZ Project" (full album)
(2002) Insomniac Magazine "Strategic Infiltration" track "Move"(single)
(2002) Dj Celcius mixtape-"Blackout Season"(single)
(2003) Insomniac Magazine "National Hip-hop radio CD" track " How we get down"(single)
(2003) Appearance on "DOA and the Break bandits mix tape" exclusive freestyle - KNOTZ
(2005) Dj Watts mixtape"Tommy's Way" (multiple tracks)
(2006) Dj Captain Celcius mixtape -The Bodonkadonk-"Bon Voyage"
(2006) "Poizunous Paragrafz Vol.1" (full album)
(2007) "Black Rain" feat. Najwa (single)
(2007) The Antidote EP
(2007) Insomniac Magazine Radio Compilation CD