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Common Kings

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Common Kings
Common Kings performing in Boston in 2022
Background information
OriginOrange County, California, United States
Genres
Years active2011 (2011)–present
Labels
  • Island Empire
  • Mensch House
Members
  • Jr. King
  • Mata
  • Uncle Lui
  • Big Rome
Websitecommonkings.com

Common Kings are an American, Hawaiian, and Samoan reggae rock/pop band from Orange County, California. The band's debut album, Lost in Paradise, was nominated for a Grammy Award.

History

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Formation (2011)

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Born in the South Pacific and raised in Orange County, California the members of Common Kings which consists of 'Jr. King' (Sasualei Maliga) on lead vocals, 'Mata' (Taumata Grey) on guitar, 'Uncle Lui' (Ivan Kirimaua) on bass, and 'Big Rome' (Jerome Taito) on drums, formed after forging a bond from a jam session at Ivan's house.[1]

Originally from Hawaii with Samoan roots, Sasualei Maliga, who has a three-octave range voice, met drummer Jerome Taito (from Tonga), bassist Ivan Kirimaua (from Fiji/Kirimaua) and guitarist Taumata Grey (from Samoa) when they were growing up in the Orange County towns of Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, and Irvine, all through a close-knit O.C. Pacific-Islander community. The four met in 2002 during a barbecue at Kirimaua's beachfront house in Newport Beach, California.

They formed the band while studying at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California, and began recording songs in 2011.

The band name pays tribute to their proud heritage and the love for their home lands of Fiji, Hawaii, Samoa, and Tonga where their ancestry comes from royalty. So all members have ruling-class bloodlines.[2] But they remind us that they're just "everyday guys" from Orange County, California living out their humble dreams. Common Kings developed a style of reggae with hints of rock and an island sound. Their songs feature an array of "head-rocking beats, feel good vibes, and emotional fever."[3]

EPs and Touring (2013–2014)

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After releasing two EPs in 2013; #Weontour Soundtrack on July 20 and Summer Anthems on August 13 (both of which were top ten hits on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart),[1][4][5] Singles, "Alcoholic" and "Wade in Your Water" from Summer Anthems were the first to hit Hawaiian radio.

Since their rise in popularity with the masses, Common Kings' songs have garnered the attention of pop music superstars. They have toured with Bruno Mars, CeeLo, Fifth Harmony, and Meghan Trainor, who was so impressed by the band that she helped write some songs off the Summer Anthems EP like "24/7", "Sickness" and "Your Turn".

Common Kings toured Australia and New Zealand as a support act on Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience World Tour' in 2014.[2]

Hits & Mrs. (2015)

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The band signed to Island Empire Records, who issued the EP Hits & Mrs. on October 9, 2015 peaked at #2 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.[1][4] The band teamed up with Meghan Trainor again for their single, "Before You Go". She co-wrote the song and was featured singing on it.

Lost in Paradise (2017)

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Their debut album Lost in Paradise, released on February 3, 2017, received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Reggae Album category,[6] and topped the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart.

One Day EP (2018)

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The band's fourth EP, One Day, which was released on August 10, 2018 on Mensch House Records reached #2 on the Billboard charts for Top Reggae Albums.[4]

Common Kings was featured as one of many reggae bands on Collie Buddz riddim album, Cali Roots Riddim 2020 with their single, "There I Go", which was produced by Buddz and mixed by Stick Figure's touring guitarist, producer Johnny Cosmic.

In 2021, Common Kings was one of several reggae and punk bands on The House That Bradley Built, a charity compilation honoring Sublime's lead singer Bradley Nowell, helping musicians with substance abuse. They covered Sublime's song "Garden Grove", the first track on the album.

Celebration (2023)

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Common Kings recorded their second studio album titled, Celebration. It was released by Mensch House Records on August 25, 2023. The first single is "Celebration (One Shot)", a feel-good, party anthem. They tapped into their community of musicians to bring their album full circle and "celebrate" their pop and reggae roots by featuring reggae artists J Boog, Demarco, Kabaka Pyramid, Marc E. Bassy, and more.

The long-awaited follow-up is based on the past 10-plus years of their careers. It's a way to "toast" to more than a decade of their musical experience. The band worked once again with the talented pop-production duo The Audibles who also co-wrote a handful of the songs. They also synced up with producer Poo Bear (Justin Bieber) on "City of Champions".

Uncle Lui describes the album's meaning, "It's a celebration of doing things our way" says Uncle Lui. We've made a lot of things happen in an unconventional, unorthodox way. It's a celebration of where we are today. We're able to live in so many different musical worlds." JR adds, "It's a culmination of our careers, jamming 20 years, raising families, living life and making music; all of it coming together and being able to share that with the world."[7]

Common Kings was one of the many featured reggae rock artists on Crossed Heart Clothing presents Pop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1, which was produced by frontman Nathan Aurora of Iya Terra. The 16-track album was released on September 15, 2023 by Ineffable Records.[8] The band covered "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" by Panic! At The Disco.

Musical Influences

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Common Kings sound is mixing catchy beats into pop music hits that's infused with the members' love of reggae, rock, R&B and island music.[9] Through individually different musical influences, the members came together with their own unique styles from artists and bands such as, Bob Marley, Earth Wind and Fire, Gypsy Kings, George Benson, Jim Croce, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, and The Who to name a few.[10]

Other projects

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Common Kings teamed up with SRH Productions to collaborate on a short sleeve button down shirt and package called the "Aloha-Bro". It's available in limited quantities (50 black shirts and 50 white shirts). In order to keep the "aloha spirit flowing", every order comes with free items, which include Common Kings One Day and Lost In Paradise CD's, a Common Kings die cut decal, and 2 SRH stickers.[11]

They are supporters of Donald Trump, playing for his rally at Madison Square Garden on March 27, 2024.[12]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Common Kings Chart History
Year Album Label Billboard Top Reggae peak
2017 Lost In Paradise Island Empire Records #1
2023 Celebration Mensch House Records TBD

EPs

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Common Kings Chart History
Year Album Label Billboard Top Reggae peak
2013 #Weontour Soundtrack (EP) Self-produced #7
2013 Summer Anthems (EP) Island Empire Records #4
2015 Hits & Mrs. (EP) Island Empire Records #2
2018 One Day (EP) Mensch House Records #2

Singles

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Title Release Date Album
"She's a Professional" 2013 #Weontour Soundtrack EP
"IDGAF" 2013 #Weontour Soundtrack EP
"Wade in the Water" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"No Other Love" (feat. J Boog & Fiji) 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Alcoholic" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"24/7" 2013 Sumner Anthems EP
"Just Another Lover" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Sickness" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Your Turn" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Fly" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Fall in Love" 2013 Summer Anthems EP
"Kingdom Come" 2014 (Single)
"On the Low" 2015 Hits & Mrs. EP
"Since I Woke Up" 2015 Hits & Mrs. EP
"Ain't No Stopping" 2015 Hits & Mrs. EP
"Before You Go" (feat. Meghan Trainor) 2015 Hits & Mrs. EP
"Take Her" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"Mary Wanna" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"License to Smoke" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"Always Beside You" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"Speaking My Language" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"I Want Your Body" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"Everybody Wants to Fool the World" 2017 Lost In Paradise
"Cali Girl" (feat. Don Corlean) 2017 (Single)
"One Day" 2018 One Day EP
"Today's A New Day" (feat. ¡MAYDAY!) 2018 One Day EP
"Champion" (feat. Kat Dahlia) 2018 One Day EP
"Broken Crowns" (feat. Matisyahu) 2018 One Day EP
"Queen Majesty" (feat. Sammy Johnson & The Green) 2019 (Single)
"Neil Armstrong" (feat. Landon McNamara) 2019 (Single)
"Happy Pill" 2020 (Single)
"Fish in the Sea" (feat. Marc E. Bassy) 2020 (Single)
"Let Me Down Slow" 2020 (Single)
"There I Go" (feat. Collie Buddz) May 22, 2020 Cali Roots Riddim
"California Day" (feat. Shwayze) August 28, 2020 (Single)
"Garden Grove" (Sublime cover) September 4, 2020 The House That Bradley Built
"Damn Good Time" July 22, 2022 (Single)
"Raggamuffin" February 3, 2023 Celebration (Single)
"Celebration (One Shot)" June 23, 2023 Celebration (Single)
"Hideaway" July 14, 2023 Celebration (Single)
"Came Up" (feat. Kabaka Pyramid & SpreadLof) August 25, 2023 Celebration
"Raggamuffin" (feat. J Boog August 25, 2023 Celebration
"Do My Thing" (feat. Royal Blu) August 25, 2023 Celebration
"City of Champions" August 25, 2023 Celebration
"Just One of Those Days" (feat. Demarco) August 25, 2023 Celebration
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" (Panic! at the Disco Reggae Cover) September 15, 2023 Pop Punk Goes Reggae, Vol. 1 (Single)
"Stand By Me (Drew Forever)" December 15, 2023 (Single)

Lineup

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Current band members

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Common Kings performing at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA on July 28, 2022.
  • Jr. King (Sasualei Maliga) – Vocals
  • Mata (Taumata Grey) – Guitar
  • Uncle Lui (Ivan Kirimaua) – Bass
  • Big Rome (Jerome Taito) – Drums

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kellman, Andy "Common Kings Biography", Allmusic. Retrieved August 24, 2018
  2. ^ a b Garcia, David (2015) "Common Kings Became OC Reggae Royalty By Never Resting on Their Laurels", OC Weekly, October 2, 2015. Retrieved August 24, 2018
  3. ^ "About".
  4. ^ a b c Jackson, Kevin (2018) "Common Kings debuts at two on Billboard", Jamaica Observer, August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018
  5. ^ "Common Kings", billboard.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018
  6. ^ "Meet the Nominees: Common Kings", grammy.com. Retrieved August 24, 2018
  7. ^ https://thepier.org/common-kings-capture-aloha-spirit-with-new-album-celebration/ [bare URL]
  8. ^ https://ineffable.to/poppunkgoesreggae [bare URL]
  9. ^ "Common Kings". 16 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Common Kings | Island Empire Records / Mensch House Records".
  11. ^ "Aloha-Bro Button Up SRH x Common Kings Collab Shirt". shop.srh.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11.
  12. ^ McCreesh, Shawn (October 27, 2024). "Beyoncé? Springsteen? Trump Fans Feel Both Anger and A-List Envy".
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