rare presskit/bio from sire records in promotion of his album "standing in the spotlight":
The street level is the same. So are the cutting edge lyrics, the razor sharp humor and the intensity and integrity that grab you from the first cut. Even the face on the cover is familiar.
But that's about as far as the comparisons stretch. In fact, any similarity between Dee Dee King, one of rap's most innovative new arrivals, and his creator, Dee Dee Ramone, exist only in the ear of the beholder. As one of the founding members of, and bassist for, The Ramones -- one of modern rock's most influential groups -- Dee Dee Ramone has taken a startling and sensational step in a new musical direction with his rapping alter ego, Dee Dee King.
The proof is on dazzling display on Standing In The Spotlight, Dee Dee King's debut album on Sire Records. One of the most upfront, exciting, and explosively entertaining entries so far this year, Standing In The Spotlight features nine Dee Dee (make that King) rap originals, plus a hip-hop version of "Mashed Potatoe" that blows other recent dance craze remakes right off the floor. In some ways, Dee Dee King is the next logical step for the man behind the words of "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment," "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," "Lobotomy" (sic) and "Rockaway Beach." In other words, it's as completely unexpected as Dr. Jeckyl's transformation into Mr. Hyde.
This particular transformation began about three years ago, when Dee Dee (make that Ramone) first picked up on the burgeoning rap world. "I fell in love with the stuff," he enthuses. "It was happening on the street, which is right where my music has always been. The words just knocked me out, maybe because I've always considered myself first and foremost a lyricist. In fact, I'd been exploring ways to expand the whole verse-chorus-verse structure, to take it a step further and make it more like a short story."
After some intensive study of the best and brightest rappers on the New York City circuit, Dee Dee was ready to make his move. "I'm not black and not interested in pretending I am," he asserts. "My roots are in rock and roll and that is the direction I took my raps." What began to take shape is a sound Dee Dee called "Rap In' Roll," a mixture of Ramones energy and King-style rhymes that taked out a whole new musical turf. "The sound had to be there," he continues, "but in rap, the image can be just as important. I went out and bought the sweatsuits and Adidas sneakers, but it didn't feel right. So I mixed my own style with what the other rappers were wearing. I spent a lot of time getting just the right jewelry -- the best I could find -- and mixed it with my traditional Converse hi-top sneakers." The end result resembles a modern day hip-hop James Dean look, with which Dee Dee feels very comfortable.
Taking the name Dee Dee King, his next step was to try out his rapology on the public. An early single, "Funky Man," garnered favorable response and invited comparisons to such inventive rappers as Rappin' Rodney and Jazzy Jeff. "A lot of people including Schooly D. wanted to work with me after that and believe me, I was tempted. But I knew I was going in my own direction and I wanted to stay on track."
With producer Daniel Rey behind the boards, and such special guests as Debbie Harry and former Blondie guitarist Chris Stein, Dee Dee King started work on an album of his own. The result is "Standing In The Spotlight" and if it's safe to say The Ramones changed rock forever, you can be sure Dee Dee King will do the same for rap. "As my alter ego, King is able to do a lot of things I've always wanted," explains Dee Dee. "On 'The Crusher,' he becomes a professional wrestler. In 'Commotion In The Ocean,' he goes to California and becomes a surfer, and in 'German Kid,' he actually raps in German. But I think what was the most exciting to me was the chance to be really romantic on rap ballads like 'Baby Doll.' I think people have always seen me as a very hard-edged guy. Actually, love is the most interesting thing I can think of to write and sing about. Maybe some Ramones fans will be shocked at the sentiments coming out of Dee Dee King's mouth, but that's just another part of who I am and how I feel."
The pieces are all in place for Dee Dee King's "Standing In The Spotlight" to emerge as a sizzling solo debut. The immediate future holds plans for a video or two off of the LP and a possible tour, but one thing is certain: Dee Dee King is set to make the same kind of impact on rap that Dee Dee Ramone has made on rock.
