(Hed)p.e. Fights Back Against Cancel Culture

Jared Gomes, the badass frontman of Hed PE, is tearing up the rulebook and flipping the bird at cancel culture. This move, especially from a black rock icon, is not just significant; it’s a seismic shift in the music scene.

G-punk pioneers (Hed)p.e. are no stranger to raunchy lyrics and divisive conspiracy theories that have been consistent throughout the band’s back catalog. During their rise amid the nu-meal ranks, (Hed)p.e. were known for their raw, brutal honesty, and often outlandish sense of humor. Their shows often united fans and were a giant middle finger to the corporate rock that was ruling the airwaves in the late 90s and early 2000s. (Hed)p.e. fuck-you attitude, energy and groove is what people related to and earned the respect of fellow musicians like Jonathan Davis from Korn, M. Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold, and Chester Bennington from Linkin Park

Bennington told Revolver, “You look at a band like Hed(pe), who have put more than their fair share of work in, and they deserve worldwide recognition. They’re a great live act, they make good albums, and they’re awesome. They’re not an easy act to open for or follow.”

Fast forward to 2024 and the state of rock and hard rock has been changed and perhaps not for the better. Many would say the “Cancel Culture” generation or the “Woke Mob” that want to live in a fairy tale world where everyone’s feelings matter more than creating art with attitude have taken the rock out of rock. Countless musicians have found themselves in the crosshairs of cancel culture mobs for not falling in line with the keyboard warriors that think musicians should not be allowed to have an opinion they don’t agree with.

Never one to shy away from controversy, (Hed)p.e. have joined the fight to return individualism to rock with the release of their new album “DETOX”. The band has embraced their own offensive past and doubled down on it as a direct response to the current cancel climate. Where albums like  2005’s ‘Only in Amerika’ was an intentional backlash against the more commercial radio-friendly sound of prior albums, “DETOX” is a giant middle finger in the face to a woke generation that tries to cancel everything.

When describing the band’s new album “DETOX”, Gomes released the following call-to-arms mission statement, “Everyone seems so scared and too afraid to do what they really want. When did people stop having fun with music? With this album we just said fuck it and had fun with it and embraced our nu metal roots. We brought back the old-school dirty sex raps and big heavy riffs. Fuck all the cancel culture pussies. We are having some fun on this one.”

Gomes isn’t just defying cancel culture with his lyrics; he’s smashing it with a sledgehammer of artistic freedom and raw individuality. In a world where artists get slammed for every word and riff, Gomes stands tall, unapologetically belting out his vision, uncensored and unfiltered. This fierce dedication to keeping it real has earned him a legion of fans who crave music that’s undiluted and unashamed.

“I think that cancel culture is a bunch of bullshit,” says Gomes emphatically. “Look at classic hip-hop records that were made in the early 2000s. The artists were able to be creative and say whatever they want and freely express themselves. That music and those lyrics were a snapshot of where we were at in history at that moment in time. You can’t look back at lyrics, music or art from an older era and force it to conform to the current without castrating it and changing history. Would artists like Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne or Tupac have had the same cultural impact on a generation if they weren’t allowed to freely be themselves?”

His stance isn’t just a ripple in the rock genre; it’s a tidal wave, especially as an African American voice in a scene that’s often lacking in diversity. By kicking back against cancel culture, Gomes isn’t just speaking for Hed PE; he’s amplifying the conversation about artistic expression and censorship in rock.

And let’s talk about the spirit of rock music – rebellion, challenging norms, and speaking uncomfortable truths. Hed PE’s music, a mix of punk, metal, hip-hop, and reggae, is the embodiment of this spirit. Gomes and his crew are not just resisting the suffocating grip of cancel culture; they’re leading the charge in the age-old tradition of rock – being the loud, unapologetic voice of dissent with lyrics like “             “ and “        “.

Gomes continues, “Should Jonathan Davis not be allowed to sing the song “Faget” anymore just because someone doesn’t like that word and considers it to be homophobic? Drowning Pool are friends of mine and and someone deemed their song “Bodies” lyrically questionable and tried to ban it in the wake of terrorist attacks, and that song has fucking nothing to do with terrorism or politics. My point is if you set out on a witch hunt looking for something to cancel somebody with you can find it in anything. The Beatles definitely weren’t saints, should we cancel them next?”

Gomes’ stand is more than just an inspiring call to arms for other artists, who feel the same way and perhaps are inspired by Hed PE and the fact Gomes comes from a minority background. His outspoken stance is highlighting the importance of diversity in artistic expression and the power of music as a platform for those often sidelined voices.

In a nutshell, Jared Gomes’ war against cancel culture isn’t just a personal stance; it’s a battle cry for artistic integrity, diversity, and the unbreakable spirit of rock music. He’s not just maintaining creative freedom; he’s showing the music world how it’s done, proving that real rock is about more than just chords and lyrics – it’s about standing up, speaking out, and never backing down.