Gym Class Heroes

Gym Class Heroes is an American band from Geneva, New York, formed when frontman Travie McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley met in high school. The group built its sound around a distinctive fusion of hip hop, rock, funk, and reggae influences, with McCoy's rapped and sung verses set against a full live band arrangement — an approach that set them apart from both straightforward rap acts and traditional rock bands.

After being signed to Fueled by Ramen and Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz's label Decaydance, the band released their breakthrough album As Cruel as School Children in 2006, which produced the hit single «Cupid's Chokehold», built around a sample of Supertramp's «Breakfast in America» and featuring Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy. The song became a crossover hit on pop and rock radio alike, establishing the band's genre-blending identity.

Gym Class Heroes continued to find success with singles like «Clothes Off!!» and later «Stereo Hearts», a collaboration with Adam Levine that became one of their biggest global hits. Their willingness to move fluidly between rap verses, pop hooks, and rock instrumentation, often paired with high-profile guest features, made them a recognizable act during the late-2000s alternative and pop-rap crossover era. The band went on hiatus in 2009 as members pursued solo projects, most notably McCoy's own solo career.