CODEFENDANTS + Jakob Nowell and THE CASTLE
Codefendants, Jakob Nowell and THE CASTLE
CODEFENDANTS + Jakob Nowell and THE CASTLE
CODEFENDANTS
Codefendants is a genre-fluid musical collective formed by Sam King (vocalist of the punk band Get Dead) and alternative hip-hop artist/producer Ceschi Ramos, alongside producer and core collaborator Fat Mike of NOFX. Rejecting traditional band boundaries, the group blends hip-hop, punk rock, new-wave, and flamenco into a self-defined aesthetic they call "Crime Wave". The project originated from genuine criminal justice roots. Sam King’s graffiti crew initially began tattooing and creating flash art to raise defense funds for Ceschi Ramos while he was incarcerated. Upon Ceschi's release, the duo met at the historic 924 Gilman Street venue in Berkeley, California, bonded over a bottle of whiskey, and set out to create an unclassifiable hybrid sound. Rather than a standard lineup, they function like a musical collective—described by King as "The Avengers". While Sam and Ceschi write the core material and Fat Mike handles heavy production, their records feature an expansive family of collaborators including rap icon The D.O.C., Jakob Nowell (of Sublime), N8NOFACE, P.O.S, and Factor Chandelier.
JAKOB NOWELL AND THE CASTLE
Jakobs Castle is the musical project of singer-songwriter and guitarist Jakob Nowell, the son of the late Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell. Formed alongside producer Jon Joseph, the band delivers a modern interpretation of alternative pop-punk and ska, organically weaving internet-age alternative rock with the reggae-infused roots of Nowell's heritage. While Jakob Nowell also serves as the official permanent frontman of the newly reunited Sublime—releasing the album Until the Sun Explodes in June 2026—he continues to spearhead Jakobs Castle as his primary personal creative outlet.