Biography

ARMEY ANTZ

As solo acts continue to dominate hip-hop, Miami, Florida-based trio Armey Antz is a refreshing throwback to the era of rap groups. Not since the days of Public Enemy and Wu Tang Clan has a hip-hop unit generated such excitement and feel-good sentiment as J.P. “Cotton Mouth” Evans, Julian “Ju-Illa” Ullet and Kirk “Kirk Diggler” Richards. Armed with wicked beats and a military-like work ethic, Armey Antz are doing it new millennium style, prepping the “New School Music” movement with their independent C-D, Have a Nice Day, arriving in Summer 2009.

The bevy of musical genres that inspire this talented trio is evident on Have a Nice Day. Influenced by genres spanning hip-hop, rock, pop and even country, Armey Antz mixes them to create their own brand of musical genius. The album’s opener, “Have A Nice Intro," immediately holds listeners’ attention with its kick drum, buzz saw bass and celebratory lyrics like “God damn Dade County y’all did good/I see a lot more gold teeth in the hood.” The R&B-influenced “In Your City” speaks to the joys of reuniting with a significant other and features vocalist Terry Bennett (one of a number of artists signed to the Armey Antz Productions label). With its hard lyrics and a driving beat that utilizes soul legend Al Green’s organ-laced signature, the infectious “We Up” is sure to be a favorite among hip-hop enthusiasts. Ju-Illa says, “I just wanted to show that we can go hard -- give you that raw, lyrical hip-hop that people seem to be afraid of now-a-days.” But the father of two can also soften things up, as evident on “Nothing But Love,” a track he wrote for his daughters that deals with having children out of wedlock. Antz outdo themselves on the electro-rock flavored “Get Right,” a stand out track that chronicles a typical night out at the club through humorous lines like “Now I gotta piss like a race horse honey/concierge in the bathroom wanna take my money/ for wiping my hands I'm a grown ass man/two shakes and a flush here’s a dollar God damn.”

Naturally, each member brings something unique to the group. As lead producer, J.P. comes up with the concepts for most of the tracks. Those ideas are fine tuned by Kirk Diggler, who serves as his right-hand man. Ju-Illa explains, “Kirk is the offensive coordinator… He’s the ear that hears what you don’t hear. He's quick to say ‘Scrap it’ or ‘Do it like this.’ If he says he likes it you're good.” Illa himself is the secret weapon or “the family Rottweiler” they keep on hand for attack. J.P. says of the gruff MC, “I truly believe he has no equal. Think back when you first heard Method Man and was like, ‘Damn! Did you hear him say that?’ That’s what I feel when he approaches a track.” But they’re unified in their mission to bring back hip-hop as an art form, utilizing the slick word play and genuine thought process that originally inspired so many MCs to get on the mic. Ju-Illa says, “We are not trying to be singers or images. We’re trying to bring the passion back to the game.”

Ju-Illa and J.P. have been friends since grade school. J.P. and Kirk also share a past in the U.S. Military. Kirk came into the picture when he and J.P. met during a stint working as stock brokers for a Wall Street firm. Collectively, they’ve been making music since 2000.
J.P. says the group’s moniker came to him one day as he was watching a program on The Discovery Channel. “I saw how these army ants living in the Amazon Rain Forest came together to hunt, kill, protect and survive. I was inspired by how they operate as a collective unit. Since Kirk and I were in the military, team work was always a big part of what we do, so it just fit.”

While the trio could rival any artists, they remain first and foremost a team of producers. Their Armey Antz Productions includes label roster of artists that includes gifted vocalists Terry Bennett, Lexie Diamonds and Eugene Gary. The album title Have a Nice Day speaks to the group’s goal of bringing joy to music fans. Ju-Illa states, “We wanted a positive spin on things. Upon hearing the album, my hope is that it will make your day better.” No doubt with Armey Antz on the case, there are plenty of nice days ahead.

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