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INDUSTRY REPORT # 56
Catching Up with Codefendants
February 26th, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
Since their debut album, “This is Crime Wave” dropped, Codefendants have been a can’t-miss band immediately catching people’s attention. Not just singing about, but having lived that outlaw lifestyle, the band combines elements of hip-hop and punk with themes of criminality in their lyrics. Codefendants is the cumulating efforts Get Dead’s Sam King, folk rapper Ceschi Ramos, and former NOFX frontman, Fat Mike.
They’ve gained fans that traverse musical genres building a steady army of loyal followers. I caught up with King and Ramos to discuss first and foremost their upcoming follow-up album, “Lifers,” collaborating again with the legendary D.O.C. and the recent backlash about being on the bill for Punk in the Park.
The band released their latest single, “Lonely Life,” which features former child actress Lisa Foiles on vocals (a friend of Fat Mike’s) and the video features Jakob Nowell of Sublime.
Ramos told me last they started working with Regime Music Group, who also manage Sublime, Everlast, and Dilated Peoples, which is how they crossed paths with Nowell.
They said they could not be more impressed with Nowell’s humility, not only flying down from the Bay with a torn tibia but braving a 12-hour workday.
The two bands must have really hit it off because Ramos told me, “We’ll pretty much be touring with them for the rest of the year.” The first show on the calendar being the two-night “420 on the Rocks” show at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado this April, which Ramos describes as “a bucket list.” Next up, Codefendants will play the newly announced Sublime Me Gusta Festival coming to Fort Worth, Portland, and Salt Lake City this summer.
D.O.C. is a legend in the hip-hop community, from being one of the main writers for N.W.A., to his collaborations with Dr. Dre and Snoop.
To have him sing on “Fast Ones” from their first album was a dream come true but now having him as a fan and featured on “Rivals” from their follow-up is incredible. “I’m honored,” King confessed and even revealed D.O.C. was the one who approached Codefendants to be on another song. “He likes us! He likes us!” King laughed. Ramos said for fans to keep an eye out because D.O.C. was going to come out and guest on a few of their shows this year.
“Lifers,” which will be dropping April 3rd, also features a previously released single, “Bad Business,” featuring guest vocals from friend N8NOFACE. For the title track, Codefendants recruited former Sum 41 drummer “Stevo” Jocz. Fat Mike was much more involved with the making of “Lifers” than their first album, with Ramos telling me, “He did most of the music.” The first single off the album, “Right Wrong Man,” was the first time Fat Mike provided lead vocals for the band.
With a new album and partnership with Sublime, as well as several upcoming shows this year, things seem like they couldn’t get better. And yet, the band famous for singing about bad luck and hard times can’t escape some bad news of their own.
The boys were supposed to play a full tour of Australia this month and had to cancel, literally hours before they were to fly over. “The reason we’re even here talking to you right now is because we had to cancel the tour,” Ramos said regretfully. When I asked if there were any details other than what they posted online, King chimed in, “Yeah – me,” referring to his past indiscretions. “With the current administration they wanted us to jump through hoops to even apply for a work visa,” Ramos revealed, even going so far as being fingerprinted in three different states. But when the deadline came, the band was told they needed additional documentation and their request would still not be granted. Just know for their part Codefendants did everything they possibly could and are just as heartbroken as their fans in Australia, but they hope to play there in the future.
Punk in the Park (PITP) recently released their festival lineups for their upcoming road show dates and Codefendants will be playing Orlando and Vallejo, CA. This has led to some backlash from fans online after last year’s discovery that PITP founder Cameron Collins had donated to Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. Many bands have been vocal speaking out about the festival, none more than Dropkick Murphys who at the 2025 PITP announced they would no longer be playing the festival and that, “Punk rock and Donald Trump just don’t belong together.”
As such, many of Codefendants’ recent posts on social media have received comments calling out the band for playing the festival. King and Ramos told me they want to officially make a public post about this stance on this, but for the time being (as anyone who follows them should already know), “We are anti-I.C.E., anti-M.A.G.A., the last people on Earth to support a president… ANY president.” Ramos told me, “The reality is there are other promoters who donated far more to his campaign that no one really talks about, or that people stop attending their shows and festivals.”
King pointed out the irony that these same people leaving comments on social media like Meta, which donated $1 million to Trump’s 2025 inauguration, on their iPhones, while Apple’s Tim Cook donated another $1 million.
Collins has since come out and released a statement, “I think we all probably have common ground on a lot of big issues like being anti-racism, anti-war, and the belief in human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of race, sexual orientation, religion, or any other identity.” King and Ramos also said that the festival continues to book bands like Dead Kennedys and The Exploited, who criticize the government and police states, while speaking out against racism and hatred. For their part, if anyone still feels a certain way, the band has an open invitation to come meet them at their shows beforehand and have a discussion with them, which they welcome.
Despite some setbacks the future looks bright for Codefendants. “This is Crime Wave,” wasn’t just a clever album title, it was an introduction to the band’s record label and artist collective. King told me, “We’re working on a quarterly mixtape where guest DJs will do Side A and Side B with a mini magazine featuring various artwork and street art called ‘Cassette Magazine’” that will be released by the This is Crime Wave label.
Ramos said that they are continuing to stay independent releasing “Lifers” on their own label, while Regime manages the group and distributes the album. When I last spoke with them, they told me about an upcoming collaboration with underground rapper Myles Bullen which they will be releasing on the This is Crime Wave label. Finally, they are currently working on a hip-hop project with Factor Chandelier that will be “Codefendants and friends.”
The year is just getting started and it already looks like 2026 will be the year Codefendants build upon their initial momentum and fully blow up.
I’ve heard the new album, and I think fans are going to be in for a real treat, picking up where “This is Crime Wave” left off and continuing that momentum. The journey continues, keep tabs on this band and pick their music!
POSTSCRIPT: Since this interview Punk in the Park has been canceled due to a number of bands withdrawing from the festival.
TO FOLLOW
SID 260227 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
