Brokencyde was born from a specific kind of emotional fracture, a musical philosophy that claimed their sound was broke inside because of personal problems. Founded in 2006 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the group began as a duo of singers Se7en and Mikl before expanding to include Phat J and Antz. They emerged during a time when the internet was reshaping how music was consumed, leveraging the social platform Myspace to build a following that traditional record labels had yet to notice. Their debut mixtape, The Broken!, arrived in July 2007, followed quickly by Tha $c3ne Mixtape in 2008, establishing a sonic identity that fused crunk hip hop with screamed vocals. This genre, later dubbed crunkcore, became their signature, blending the high-energy beats of Southern hip hop with the emotional intensity of screamo. The name itself was a declaration of their internal state, a public admission that their art was a direct reflection of their personal turmoil. By the summer of 2008, they had secured a deal with Suburban Noize Records and released the BC13 EP, a project promoted heavily through the retail chain Hot Topic, signaling their intent to reach a mainstream audience despite their niche sound.
The Warped Tour and The Stage
The group's rise to visibility was propelled by their relentless touring schedule, which saw them sharing stages with bands like Breathe Carolina, The Morning Of, and Drop Dead, Gorgeous. In July 2008, they appeared on MTV's Total Request Live, performing the single FreaXXX on the segment Under the Radar, a moment that brought their chaotic energy to a national television audience. They joined the Millionaires-headlined Get F$cked Up tour in 2008 and later appeared on Fearless Music TV, performing tracks like Sex Toyz and FreaXXX in December of that year. Their first full-length album, I'm Not a Fan, But the Kids Like It!, debuted at number 86 on the Billboard 200 in July 2009, a commercial achievement that validated their cult following. Brokencyde was featured on the US Warped Tour 2009, but the band left the tour in August to play featured appearances in Europe, a decision that highlighted their growing international appeal. They continued to tour extensively, playing dates on The Original Gangstour with Eyes Set to Kill and And Then There Were None, and the Saints and Sinners Tour 2009 with Senses Fail, Hollywood Undead, and Haste The Day. These tours were not just performances but cultural events where the band's unique blend of music and style resonated with a generation of fans who felt alienated by mainstream pop culture.The Violence and The Departure
The band's history is marked by a violent incident that occurred in April 2011 at Smiling Moose in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where members of Brokencyde assaulted Punchline drummer Cory Muro. The attack resulted in Muro requiring three staples in his head and his friend Johnny Grushecky suffering a broken nose, an event that cast a long shadow over the group's reputation. Despite the controversy, the band continued to release music, with their third studio album Guilty Pleasure arriving on the 8th of November 2011. An updated version, Guilty Pleasurez, was released on the 13th of March 2012, and the band supported it with a European tour. In 2012, they played dates on the Fight to Unite Tour alongside acts like Blood on the Dance Floor, Deuce, Polkadot Cadaver, William Control, and The Bunny the Bear. The tension within the group eventually led to a significant change in lineup. On the 29th of October 2012, Julian Phat J McClellan announced via his official YouTube page that he was amicably leaving Brokencyde to pursue a solo career, a move that signaled the beginning of a new chapter for the remaining members.