Oct 24, 2023
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Cristina

The Essentials: Dope

This article from 2017 where Edsel names the 10 best Dope songs got us thinking here at EDF.org.

A common question we get from new and even long time Dope fans is: what Dope tracks do we consider essential listening? A tough question indeed: Dope’s catalogue of work is huge, has a massive range, and its quality is consistently excellent.

After giving it a lot of thought (this article took a long time to write), I think we’ve finally come up with our selections. EDF.org’s picks are a bit unorthodox, but we think our choices display the very essence of what made us so devoted to Dope in the first place. Obviously we will not be counting cover songs (as they are not original Dope compositions), but there’s enough of them that we’ll definitely do a separate Essentials just for Dope’s covers.

Today, edseldopefan.org brings you The Essentials: Dope. Let’s get right into it.

  • I Am (Album: Group Therapy)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

I’ve said before that I Am is the fuck you anthem you didn’t know you needed. Where Die MF Die is venomous middle finger to the world, I Am is an ode to staying true to yourself regardless of what people think. It’s a song that’s often slept on, but we believe it personifies Dope’s zero fucks given attitude quite nicely.

A lot of people don’t realize how much range Dope as a band actually has. Darkness yet acceptance, fear yet resolve, My Funeral is a raging tumult. A showcase of both depth of emotion and depth of talent, Dope prove they are far from one note on this track.

  • Blood Money (Album: Blood Money Part 1)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

When asked to name the song that best exemplifies Dope’s vibe, many point to Die MF Die. We respectfully disagree. Blood Money IS Dope’s vibe, both musically and aesthetically. Not everyone’s going to align with this raw energy, and that’s kind of the point. But for those who “get it”, this song resonates deeply.

  • No Respect (Album: Blood Money Part Zer0)
Listen on Youtube (@dopetheband)

No Respect is one of those songs that grabs you by the neck and shakes you in the best possible way. The track is relentless from start to finish, holding you in its grip and refusing to let go. Unabashed, brutal, and uncompromising, this is essential listening for any Dope fan.

Another song that shows the range Dope possesses as a band. It was hard to choose between this and Easier, but we feel that Sing slightly edges out Easier in showing what Dope is capable of as a band and what Edsel is capable of as a vocalist. In many ways, it seems like Sing walked so that Believe could run years later, as both songs are seen as such stark departures from Dope’s baseline. Real ones know better, though.

And there you have it! We’ve limited our picks to five, but we feel these essentials are the perfect curated list for what we personally love about Dope: the fury, the introspection, the middle finger to the world, the vulnerability, the passion and pain. Personally, I hope Edsel does another one of these lists – with the release of Blood Money Part Zer0, I’d love to hear if any of his picks have changed!

For new fans, we hope our Essentials list gives you a window into the world of Dope. To long term devotees, do our picks align with yours? You’re always welcome to reach out and chat with me using the means here. Until next time!



Oct 18, 2023
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Cristina

HUGE Gallery Update!

EDF Photo has been updated in a big way – we’re now over 1000 photos strong and are proud to be your largest resource for media relating to Edsel Dope!

Let’s look at the galleries that were part of this massive update:

Music Video Screencaps

Interviews (All video sources are linked in the individual album’s description!)

Other Media Appearances

Band and Solo Gallery

Here at edseldopefan.org, we are committed to bringing you the very best. As such, we only use our platform to publicize media and news that comes from official or first hand sources (either Dope’s official website and social media or interviews conducted with Edsel himself). That’s my promise to you: I will only ever bring you the highest quality and most accurate media I can.

There’s more updates to come – even with this mega update, there’s still more in the pipeline!



Oct 14, 2023
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Cristina

LoveSong – Video Out Now (And gifts for you!)

WATCH “LOVESONG” ON DOPE’S OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL

We’re still celebrating the hell out of “LoveSong” here on EDF.org, and what better way to do that than new Edsel graphics? I did have a notion for this to be part of the new site layout, but the design went in a different direction than I expected. My loss is your gain in this instance, because now it’s available for your use! If you’re using it as a wallpaper, it looks best if you center it due to it being on the smaller side. (It wasn’t meant to be a wallpaper after all, but looks great in that capacity!) Click the image to view it full size.

I’ve also created two gifs from the video. As always with my work – credit is appreciated, but not necessary. Just do not repost claiming that you made them.

If you haven’t seen the LoveSong video yet, why not check it out now? Directed by Edsel and longtime collaborator Matt Zane, LoveSong breathes new life into the classic song by The Cure. It is an aesthetic delight, pulling you into a story that is deep and evocative.

LoveSong features the talents of Drama Club, Edsel’s other musical project. It’s a bit hard to describe Drama Club to those that have never heard them, other than issuing a warning that you won’t be able to sit still with all that energy coming your way. (I’m listening to them right now actually, and have to stop typing every so often to headbang.) Curious? Allow EDF to recommend a few selections for your listening pleasure: My Life, Halloween 365 (Never Coming Down), and Maniac. You can also like and sub to Drama Club’s YT if you fancy: @dramaclubtv1 .



Oct 13, 2023
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Cristina

Machine Killer Tour: Tabernacle, ATL

On the 10th of October, I was in attendance at the Machine Killer Tour’s stop in Atlanta. My advice? If you have a chance to see this show when it comes to a town near you, *do it.* It was absolutely incredible. I’ll try to give you a bit of a rundown of what went on as best I can.

While I was mostly in attendance to cover Dope, I have to say the entire show has a level of production value and polish that makes every moment a visual and auditory feast. Dope took the stage after Lines of Loyalty (keep reading for my opinions on them). Edsel’s voice sounded fantastic during this set, as though he had barely aged a day since Dope first exploded onto the music scene. I’d go as far to say that his voice sounds basically identical to how it does on Dope records, which is a feat not a lot of vocalists can claim. My only gripe is not even a gripe, really: I just wish the set had been longer! I could have gone for an hour of listening to them. As they were an opening act, their set was short but damn did it kick ass.

I’ve added several videos from the performance to EDF.org’s Youtube page. Though you might find the opinion of the webmaster of an Edsel Dope fansite a bit biased (Which… fair, enough, I guess?), I think the videos prove that Dope’s still got it. Click here if you’d like to see them! I’ve still got more to upload, so keep checking back! (And while you’re at it, please also sub to Dope’s official YT – you can do so at @dopetheband)

Additionally, I had the absolute honour and pleasure of meeting Edsel as part of the VIP Bus Hang add on. To say this was a dream realized is a massive understatement. He was very sweet and very kind. Just a really genuine and authentic person. I actually walked away from that meeting even more of a fan of his, which I didn’t think was possible! I also got to meet Daniel Fox, who is adorable. He gave each member of the VIP group one of his picks, a bonus I will certainly treasure.

If you can swing it, I recommend taking part in this VIP package if there are any left at the show you’re attending. I don’t use the phrase “best day ever” lightly, but this was probably my best day ever. Compared to a lot of artist meet and greets, this gives you a lot of value for what you spend and the memories are absolutely priceless.

My thoughts on the other acts on the bill:

  • Lines of Loyalty: I had actually never heard of this band before, and only managed to catch the tail end of their set. So my opinion is informed only by the little I saw. From what I was able to check out, they rocked *hard*. Give them a listen on their official YT page @LINESOFLOYALTY.
  • Sevendust: You might think it’s heresy that I was not too familiar with Sevendust in the ATL (that’s Sevendust country!), but their set gained them a new fan: me! Hearing Lajon speak about his deep roots and emotional connection to Atlanta was a powerful moment. The band brought the house down with their slick production values and not a single person was seated or still during the entire set. Mad respect to these guys.
  • Static-X: Though I was indeed there to cover Dope, I have to say I was equally excited to see Static-X. I didn’t indulge in the spoilers or fan vids I knew were floating around about their show, and this was a sound decision in my opinion. Seeing it with fresh eyes without knowing what was going to happen next was thrilling. The tribute to Wayne Static (“Cold”) was made even sweeter by the revelation that Wayne’s mother and sister were in the house that night.

It might seem like this post is just a gushing mountain of praise, and you’d be correct to think that. Because… it is! But it’s well deserved. I’m not the type to blow smoke up someone’s ass and tell them something’s worth it when it isn’t. And this whole experience was 100% worth every bit I spent on it (And I’m talking airfare, hotels and Ubers as well, since I travelled to be there!) In all honesty, if I had the money and resources I would see this lineup twenty more times. If the tour is rolling through or near your town: go. You’ll have a fucking blast.



Oct 12, 2023
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Cristina

Sending love to Andre “Virus” Karkos: Get well soon!

edseldopefan.org sends the utmost love and support to Dope guitarist Andre “Virus” Karkos. Virus was taken ill while on the Machine Killer tour, leaving to receive medical treatment. Virus, we love you and are hoping you make a speedy recovery!



Oct 4, 2023
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Cristina

“LoveSong” video has been released!

VIEW SCREENCAPS ON EDF PHOTO // VIEW VIDEO ON YOUTUBE

Dope’s hotly anticipated video for “LoveSong” has dropped! Directed by Edsel Dope and long time collaborator Matt Zane, it features Drama Club amid an aesthetic that seems both intensely Dope and intensely Drama Club at the same time.

Dope has always done amazing covers, and this one is no exception. Originally performed by The Cure, Dope’s addition of Drama Club on the track is a fun twist that breathes new life into a song that has been interpreted by many artists. Thus, making their arrangement truly their own.

If you haven’t seen this video yet, click here to give it a watch! 88 screencaps have been added to EDF Photo as well. My personal thoughts are I think this might surpass Now or Never as my favourite Dope video.

While you’re over there watching anyway, show your support to Dope by liking the video and subscribing to their channel if you have not already!



Oct 3, 2023
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Cristina

Dope releases video for “Lovesong” 10/04/2023!

Dope have announced that they are releasing a video for “Lovesong” tomorrow (10/04/2023). “Lovesong” is a track off the band’s latest album “Blood Money Part Zer0”. Originally performed by The Cure, Dope has given this classic a new twist by featuring Edsel’s second band Drama Club. Edsel also directed this video, which is a delight to see. You can view a tantalizing teaser for the video, where we see the band in Drama Club masks and a few pretty intense scenes of … don’t really know how to describe it? Two individuals in pretty awesome SFX makeup, that’s all I know. Very intriguing, indeed.

Looking to check out the video? This link will take you right to it: it’s set to premiere in 15 hours as of this writing. There’s an option to receive a notification when it does, so be sure to hit that bell so you don’t miss it!



Sep 27, 2023
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Cristina

Edsel Facebook Livestream

Yo to you too, sir!

Edsel was live on Facebook answering your questions on the 26th. Did you miss it? No worries, as it’s now available on Dope’s Facebook. Not only was Edsel there, but Tony Campos of Static-X as well! Click the picture to watch it for yourself.

We see you Tony, you can’t hide from us…

As of this writing, the post has 860 likes and 28 shares. That’s pretty good, but we can do even better than that, right? Right. If you aren’t already following Dope on Facebook, I think you know what you must do. While you’re at it, better follow Dope on all their socials. All you’re doing is doomscrolling and spying on your ex, anyway. (Also, please stop spying on your ex. Time to move on. Listen to Dope instead.)

Follow Dope on socials:

Instagram: @dopetheband
Facebook: @dopetheband
Youtube: @dopetheband Make sure that you hit that notification bell to make sure you never miss a video!



Sep 25, 2023
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Cristina

New Layout and Edsel Q and A reminder

EDF.org has a new look! We’re still celebrating the Machine Killer tour here, so we’re featuring a layout showcasing Edsel Dope live. Speaking of live, go to Dope’s official Facebook to watch Edsel’s live Q and A today! (Yeah, that was a reach as far as segues go… I’ll see myself out.) He’ll be on answering your questions starting at 9PM EST. Don’t miss it!