Our friend Tom wrote this...

THE BAND: The core of the Smokehouse Style Kings (SSK) is made up of two charismatic-badasses - R-man (aka. G-Hogg, aka. Bawst) and Mad Mike. Long time friends, the two have been making music together for three years. After many months of experimenting with sounds and styles, they recently finished recording Hillbillia, their first full length release. Fiercely independent, the duo wrote, played, and produced the CD themselves, with a little help from their friend Armand Abagliani (Cherry Bikini), now also a member of the SSK.

THE SOUND: The Style Kings sound is raw, melodic, and original, with blues riffs and hot electro hooks set over solid beats and bass lines. R-man's unconventional, at times old school delivery comes through in every song, making Hillbillia a lyrical gem, matchless in its originality, variety of themes, and wit. Often bittersweet, sometimes angry and sharp, the rhymes fit perfectly with the beautiful melodies. Despite the fact that many of the songs are about day-to-day life in the American South, the duo deny any regional loyalties.