Bando Jonez

Bando Jonez was a Detroit hip-hop collective that started putting out music in the early 2000s. They had a raw sound that felt like it came straight from the streets, with lyrics that didn't pull punches. Their 2001 self-titled debut album established their underground presence, and they followed it up with records like 'Porn Again' in 2003 and 'The Bando' in 2007.

The group included J-Zone on vocals, Mr. Porter handling production and rapping, DJ Spinbad on turntables, and Celph Titled contributing both rhymes and beats. They weren't trying to make radio-friendly hits, their track 'Sex You' gives you a sense of their direct approach. Their 2005 release 'Digital Dynasty' came out as a digital-only project at a time when that was still unusual for hip-hop acts.

Bando Jonez developed a reputation for being willing to tackle subjects that made some listeners uncomfortable. Their work sometimes drew criticism for being too explicit or confrontational, but they kept making music their way without softening their edges. They put out a handful of albums over about six years, then seemed to fade from the spotlight.