Gym Class Heroes - As Cruel As School Children

That sense of artistic juxtaposition extends to the album as a whole. "AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN" might appear upbeat and carefree on first glance, but attention paid unveils a far darker underbelly of personal and social commentary. The album's title, McCoy explains is "a metaphor for the world today. It's crawling with lunch money bullies and insecurities. Once you come to realize that, the second you decide to live by your own rules and push aside outside opinion, you really begin to live life."

From the word go, Gym Class Heroes have defined themselves via that kind of free-thinking philosophy, always breaking musical boundaries and changing perceptions of what hip-hop or indie or rock can be. With "AS CRUEL AS SCHOOL CHILDREN," Gym Class Heroes make plain that they are proudly unified in their disorderly vision, confident that their integrity will pay off dividends in the end.

"We're doing this on our own terms," McCoy says. "We're not interested in changing who we are or what we do to make anybody happy, which makes it even cooler when people start picking up on it and noticing us.

"In a sense, we're a lot like the chubby kid smiling away on the album artwork. Everyone has their opinion of who he is and what he should be. He keeps smiling and doesn't change. Instead he waits and watches the world around him change to fit his standards. This album is the chubby kid's middle finger held high."

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