Royal Ruckus Merges Hip-Hop With Fred Rogers Philosophy In New Release

Bakersfield-born hip-hop group Royal Ruckus, who’ve been at it since 1998, is currently working on what might be their most unique project yet – a three-part EP series inspired by children’s television icon Fred Rogers. The project mixes their trademark sound with uplifting messages – a blend that frontman Jamey Bennett laughingly describes as “Beastie Boys and Kanye West have a baby with a conscience.”

“We create positive hip-hop music that sometimes is emotional and other times is humorous,” explains Jamey. “I hope listeners feel challenged, encouraged, and want to sing along.”

The planned trilogy consists of volumes titled “Come On and Wake Up!,” “Mr. Bennett’s Neighborhood,” and “Wisdom of Fred.” Their latest single from this developing series, “Officer C, Yo, We Gotta Put You On,” is available on Bandcamp.

The project features an impressive roster of collaborations, including the return of Flatline – another Royal Ruckus original member. “That’s right, Flatline of Royal Ruckus will be blazing mics again,” Jamey shared with obvious enthusiasm. “We’ve got a dream team of collaborators, which includes Sojourn, CookBook, Joey the Jerk, Spoken Nerd, Jeremiah Dirt and several others.”

While not officially part of Royal Ruckus, DJ Sean P serves as a crucial contributor behind the scenes. “Sean and I were in the studio making magic happen,” Jamey recalls. “He raps and scratches and delivers beats in a very speedy way!”

Looking ahead, the group isn’t slowing down. They’ve announced their forthcoming album “Let’s Be Together Today,” featuring collaborations with DJ Sean P, Soup the Chemist, Fred Lynch of PID, and several members of LA Symphony – including Pigeon John, Sharlock Poems, Cookbook, and Flynn.

When asked what he hopes people take away from their music, Jamey leaned back and thought for a moment. “You know, it’s pretty simple really. We just want to make you laugh sometimes, maybe make you think a little about your life… and honestly? With all the negativity out there, if we can push people toward kindness instead of all that cynical stuff, that’s a win in my book.”

When the conversation turned to his musical influences, Jamey’s eyes lit up. “Man, where do I start? I guess the Beastie Boys have always been huge for us… it’s that mix of styles they do, you know? The way they blend punk and rock elements into hip-hop. Then there’s Tribe,” he continued, nodding appreciatively, “just straight-up good-feeling classic hip-hop. And Wu-Tang?” He grinned. “Come on. Those dudes laid down some of the illest rhymes and dopest beats ever. Classic crew right there.”

Want to check them out? Fans can follow Royal Ruckus on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or support their creative journey through Buy Me a Coffee if they’re so inclined.

“If you’ve enjoyed the ‘Ruckus resurgence’ of the last few years, you’ll love this concept series,” Jamey promises. The group anticipates releasing the remaining two 8-song EPs this year, completing what might just be the positive vibe we could all use right now.