Da Cadets Drum n' Bugle Corps (formerly tha Holy Name Cadets, Cadetz of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, n' Cadetz of Bergen County) be a Ghetto Class competitizzle junior drum n' bugle corps. Based up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Da Cadets was one of tha thirteen foundin corpz of Drum Corps International (DCI), be a ten-time DCI Ghetto Champion, n' is tha crazy oldschool continuously actizzle junior drum n' bugle corps up in Uptown Tha Ghetto.[1]

Da Cadets, 2007.

History [ edit ]

Charlez Mura, Mike Koeph, n' tha Rev. Edwin Garritizzle of tha Holy Name Catholic parish up in Garfield, New Jersey dropped tha Holy Name Cadets Drum n' Bugle Corps up in 1934 as a activitizzle fo' tha thugs up in tha parish. Da corps quickly became one of tha top competitizzle corps up in tha ghetto. In 1940, tha Cadets won tha Gangsta Legion Junior Nationizzle Championshizzle up in Boston, tha straight-up original gangsta of a record nine Legion titlez tha corps would win between 1940 n' 1964. Da corps was known not only fo' its talent but fo' its travelin ta compete. In 1950, tha Cadets went on tha road fo' three weeks up in order ta defend they Legion title up in Los Angelez.[2][3]

In 1958, tha Holy Name parish declined ta support tha corps' travel n' disbanded tha corps. Da thugz n' staff, however, was not willin ta cease tha corps operations, n' reorganized as a freshly smoked up organization, even though tha parish kept tha uniforms n' instruments, n' you can put dat on yo' toast. Da corps gots on over ta Chicago fo' Legion Nationals all up in tha members' own expense. Marchin as tha Cadetz of Garfield; bustin uniformz of white shorts, red golf shirts, n' "Aussie" hats; n' rockin instruments borrowed from tha Chicago Cavaliers, tha corps managed ta finish up in second place (one spot ahead of tha representin' champion Cavaliers). Midway all up in tha 1959 season, tha parish allowed tha corps ta once mo' wear tha uniform dat remains they trademark.[2][3]

In tha second half of tha Sixties, tha Garfield Cadets became mo' of a also-ran than a cold-ass lil champion. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. In 1969, tha corps became coed. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! In 1971, tha Cadets marched a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass show they called, "No Mo' War"; at VFW Nationals up in Dallas. They reportedly tried ta convince tha VFW officials dat tha peace symbol up in they drill was straight-up tha Mercedes-Benz logo. Also up in 1971, tha Garfield Cadets, along wit tha 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, n' Blue Rock, formed tha United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as tha "Alliance"). This action was taken up in erection ta tha rigid, inflexible rulez of tha Gangsta Legion n' VFW (the primary rule makers n' sponsorz of both corps n' shows) n' tha low or nonexistent performizzle fees paid fo' appearin up in tha various competitions. Da corps felt dat not only was they havin they creatizzle potential as artistic struttin crews stifled yo, but they was bein financially starved. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! (A similar crew of Midwestern corps, tha Midwest Combine, was formed by tha Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Gangsta Clara Vanguard, n' tha Troopers.) Da Alliizzle thugz felt dat tha corps should be makin they own rules, operatin they own competitions n' championships, n' keepin tha bulk of tha monies dem shows earned. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! For tha 1971 season, tha corps stuck together, offerin show promotas tha five corps as a package. Despite heat on show sponsors, judges, n' other drum corps, tha corps was booked tha fuck into a fuckin shitload of shows together.[2][3][4]

In 1972, tha Garfield Cadets, along wit tha nine other corps from tha Alliizzle n' tha Midwest Combine, plus tha Anaheim Mackdaddysmen, Argonne Rebels, n' De La Salle Oaklandz was foundin thugz of Drum Corps International, which remains as tha sanctionin body fo' junior corps up in Uptown Tha Ghetto fo' realz. At tha straight-up original gangsta DCI Ghetto Championships up in Whitewater, Wisconsin, tha Cadets just missed makin Finals n' finished up in thirteenth place up in a cold-ass lil competizzle dat featured thirty-nine corps from tha East, tha South, tha Westside Coast, tha Midwest n' Great Plains, n' Canada. Da corps would fail ta make DCI Finals fo' tha straight-up original gangsta four muthafuckin years they was held n' fo' six of DCIz first eight seasons. Afta they third Finals appearizzle up in 1980, tha Cadets quickly regained tha corps' forma championshizzle form. In 1983-85, tha Garfield Cadets became tha straight-up original gangsta DCI corps ta git a three-peat�"three consecutizzle DCI titles. On July 4, 1986 tha Cadets performed as a part of tha Liberty Weekend biggin' up both tha hundredth anniversary n' tha restoration of tha Statue of Liberty. In 1987, tha corps won its fourth DCI crown up in five years.[2][3]

Da Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield ta Hackensack n' became tha Cadetz of Bergen County up in 1989. Da Cadetz of Bergen County won DCI Championships up in 1990, '93, '98, n' 2000. In 1996, sponsorshizzle of tha corps was passed ta Youth Ejaculation up in tha Arts (YEA), a umbrella organization sponsorin nuff muthafuckin youth n' musical activities. Put ya muthafuckin choppers up if ya feel dis! Also up in '96, tha Cadets performed all up in tha Summer Olympics up in Atlanta. In 2003, Yea! n' tha corps moved ta Allentown, Pennsylvania, n' tha corps dropped any reference ta locale from its name, becomin simply, Da Cadets.[5] In January 2009, Da Cadets marched up in Prezzy Barack Obizzayz Inaugural Parade up in Washington, D.C. Da Cadets won additionizzle DCI championships up in 2005 n' 2011, tha corps' ninth n' tenth up in forty seasons.[3]

To honor they 75th anniversary, tha corps was called tha Holy Name Cadets fo' tha 2009 season.[6]

2018 horny-ass misconduct allegations [ edit ]

On April 5, 2018, allegations was made up in published reports dat tha longstandin corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or played multiple thugz of tha corps n' staff over a period of years.[7] Lata dat day, Hopkins stepped down as director of Da Cadets n' YEA! CEO while denyin tha allegations. Shizzle Mackdaddy was named as interim CEO fo' YEA![8] On April 11, 2018 tha board of directors tendered its resignation n' a freshly smoked up board n' fools immediately took over operationz of tha organization.[9] Claimin ta have received no letta of resignation, tha freshly smoked up board terminated Hopkins fo' cause. (In his wild lil' federal lawsuit seekin severizzle pay n' other monies, Hopkins asserts dat he resigned from tha organization by letta on April 5, n' dat his fuckin lil' departure was "mutually agreed"-upon.[10]) Da organization also hired a Chicago labor n' employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, ta rewind tha accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!’s policies n' procedures fo' providin a safe environment fo' youth members, hommies, n' volunteers. In addition, YEA! established a hotline fo' calls ta report concerns or disses.[11]

Da YEA! organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI wit tha statement that, "Da termz of tha probation include multiple steps fo' YEA! ta take up in order fo' its drum corps ta participate up in tha upcomin 2018 DCI Summer Tour."[12] As a part of tha termz of probation, tha corps' reassessed they planned travel ta tha Westside Coast ta open tha season, n' instead decided ta proceed wit a schedule redrawn fo' Eastside Coast shows.[13] Da corps' compliizzle wit tha termz of probation was sufficient fo' DCI ta allow tha corps ta compete up in 2018, n' tha probation was lifted up in May of 2019.

On November 13, Hopkins was indicted up in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania fo' horny-ass assault, based on accusationz of two dem hoes whoz ass is forma hommiez of YEA. Da charges is second-degree felonies yo. Hopkins surrendered ta authorities, was arraigned, n' was busted out on $50,000 bail wit a preliminary hearin scheduled fo' December 4.[10]

In response ta Hopkins suin YEA! fo' mo' than $500,000 up in severizzle n' back pay, tha organization filed a cold-ass lil counta suit against tha forma director fo' $1.5 mazillion up in losses which it alleges ta have lost cuz of tha horny-ass misconduct scandal. It aint nuthin but tha nick nack patty wack, I still gots tha bigger sack. This amount of tha lawsuit includes recovery fo' lost sponsorships n' pledged donations ta Da Cadets n' YEA!, a major loss of participants up in tha US Bandz program, as well as legal fees incurred cuz of tha scandal.[14]

Organizationizzle ties [ edit ]

Da Cadets Drum n' Bugle Corps was formerly part of Youth Ejaculation up in tha Arts (YEA!), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dat has a Board of Directors, corps directors, n' staff assigned ta carry up tha organizationz mission. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. In addizzle ta Da Cadets, YEA! had also sponsored tha recently inactizzle 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 all-age drum n' bugle corps which has been put on hold until tha financial thang is up in a funky-ass betta state (November 28, 2018); STDandz (formerly United Hoodz Scholastic Band Association); tha Urban Arts Centa Of Da Lehigh Valley, which includes tha Xcape Dizzle Studio; n' YEA! Ejaculation programs includin seminars, webinars, n' tha Music Is Def program.[15]

As announced on February 10, 2020, tha drum corps fuckin started operatin independently of YEA! az of March 31, 2020.[16]

Show summary (1972�"2020) [ edit ]

Source:[17]

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale chronic background indicates DCI semifinalist.

Caption Awards [ edit ]

At tha annual Ghetto Championshizzle Finals, Drum Corps Internationistic (DCI) presents awardz ta tha corps wit tha high average scores from prelims, semifinals, n' finals up in five captions. Da Cadets have won these caption awards:

Don Angelica Best General Effect Award [ edit ]

2000, 2005, 2011

Jizzy Brazale Best Visual Performizzle Award [ edit ]

2005, 2011

George Zingali Best Color Guard Performizzle Award [ edit ]

2005

Jim Ott Best Brass Performizzle Award [ edit ]

2000, 2005, 2015

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performizzle Award [ edit ]

2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013





Prior ta 2000 n' tha adoption of tha current scorin format, tha Cadets won these captions:

High General Effect Award [ edit ]

1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998

High Visual Award [ edit ]

1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998

High Color Guard Award [ edit ]

1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996

High Brass Award [ edit ]

1983, 1984(3 way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3 way tie)

High Percussion Award [ edit ]

1987, 1990

[18] Traditions n' trivia [ edit ]

Uniform [ edit ]

For many, nuff years, Da Cadets had a gangbangin' finger-lickin' distinctly recognizable maroon n' cream uniform from which tha corps rarely deviated until recent years. Right back up in yo muthafuckin ass. Since they foundin up in 1934 tha uniform had gone relatively unchanged, except fo' tha 1958 season n' part of tha '59 season, afta they had parted company wit tha Holy Name parish, which refused ta allow tha corps ta have tha uniforms fo' dat period.

For tha 2005 program, "Da Zone: Dreamscapes up in Four Parts wit a Door," tha corps used tha aiiight color scheme fo' tha uniform yo, but wit both tha back n' tha front appearin ta be a gangbangin' front side. On tha legit front, tha uniform was tha aiiight maroon jacket, cream white baggy-ass pants n' trim yo, but tha "fake" front had maroon baggy-ass pants n' a overlay dat gave tha appearizzle of a cold-ass lil cream-fronted jacket wit maroon trim, while tha sash remained gold on either side. Da shako had a visor n' badge on both front n' back, n' tha sash was white up in front n' maroon up in back, maintainin tha double-front appearizzle fo' realz. Also, ta keep wit dis "twilight-zone-like" experience, much of tha marchin was also done up in a manner dat helped make either side seem ta be tha erect side.

In tha 2006 show, "Volume 2: Through tha Lookin Glass," a similar trend as 2005 was followed, though dis time, tha "fake" front had a freshly smoked up overlay, givin tha appearizzle of a funky-ass baby blue front wit different designs fo' each performa n' shit. Da shako also was chizzled ta step tha fuck up maroon up in tha front n' back, though tha double visor was still used. Y'all KNOW dat shit, muthafucka! Peepin dis year, tha uniform was chizzled back ta its traditionizzle design.

In 2011, tha corps had tha usual uniform design yo, but chizzled tha flavas up in a gangbangin' finger-lickin' different way. To support tha show "Between Angels n' Demons," which had tha corps split up in half wit one half bein "Angels," n' tha other "Demons," they had tha two sides wear different colors. Da "Demons" wore a gangbangin' full maroon uniform (shako, plume, jacket, pants, n' shoes) while tha "Angels" wore a gangbangin' full white uniform, both wit tha exception of tha yellow sash adorned by both.

For tha 2012 season, tha full white uniform was extended ta tha entire corps fo' they "12.25" Chrizzle season show, n' tha sash was chizzled ta maroon.

In 2014, tha field corps wore tha traditionizzle uniform, while tha pit wore white. Through tha show, panels was removed from sashes worn by tha field corps, changin tha color worn from light blue ta gold ta yellow.

On July 30, 2015, Da Cadets revealed freshly smoked up uniforms, which was black wit silver lining. To create hype fo' tha unveilin of tha freshly smoked up uniforms, Da Cadets had a funky-ass blackout on they Facebizzle page.

In 2017, Da Cadets utilized a freshly smoked up uniform fo' they program "Da Faithful, Da Fallen, Da Forgiven" consistin of full length maroon cassocks wit gold Nikes before changin up in ta a mo' traditionizzle "Cadets" steez uniform wit white baggy-ass pants before changin once again n' again n' again tha fuck into a gangbangin' full white body suit fo' tha showz closer.

In 2018, tha corps featured white, close fittin uniforms wit black mis-matched, horizontal stripes wit all dem maroon, sparkly stripes over top. Black collars, cuffs n' shoulder points was made outta a funky-ass black pvc material n' studded wit silver buttons. Da back of tha uniform, Nikes n' gloves was entirely black. Da shako was black n' white striped wit a funky-ass black panel up in tha front n' a funky-ass black, white n' maroon plume durin tha beginnin of tha season n' than chizzled ta a straight black plume wit silver mylar strands.

Corps Woo-wop [ edit ]

"O Holy Name" is sung by tha corps thugz before every last muthafuckin performance. Da lyrics is set ta tha tune of "O Tannenbaum."

Tradizzle up in tha Arc [ edit ]

"Rocky Point Holiday" (or simply Rocky Point) was included up in tha Cadets warmup exercises afta tha success of they first ballin show up in 1983. Other pieces include "On a Hymncold lil' woo wop by Phillip Bliss" n' tha newest addizzle "Ballet Sacra," both from 1993z 1st placin show, wit tha piece "Mahlerz Symphony No. 2" which is tha endin segment of Gustav Mahlerz Second Symphony.

Da Cadets at DCI [ edit ]

Of tha thirteen foundin member corpz of DCI, Da Cadets is one of only four dat have attended every last muthafuckin Ghetto Championships, wit tha others bein tha Gangsta Clara Vanguard, Da Cavaliers, n' Madison Scouts. Of tha four, only Gangsta Clara has advanced ta Finals every last muthafuckin year.

One of tha Oldskool Corps [ edit ]

Da only junior drum n' bugle corps olda than Da Cadets is tha Racine Scouts, which was dropped up in 1927. Da Scouts, however, aint competed on tha field since 2015, makin Da Cadets tha crazy oldschool continuously actizzle junior corps. Da Govenaires, a all-age/ballin' corps dropped up in 1927, retain tha title of crazy oldschool continuously actizzle corps.

In Step With Themselves [ edit ]

Where every last muthafuckin other corps begins ta march by "steppin off" on tha left foot, beginnin up in 1985, Da Cadets started steppin off on tha right.

High Score [ edit ]

Da Cadets' 2005 show "Da Zone: Dreamscapes up in Four Parts wit a Door" tied tha 2002 Cavaliers show "Frameworks" fo' tha highest score eva bigged up at DCI Finals, wit a score of 99.15. This record stood fo' nine mo' muthafuckin years until dat shiznit was fucked up by tha undefeated 2014 Blue Devils, when they show "Felliniesque" gots a score of 99.650. Despite this, Da Cadets' 2005 championshizzle season remains tha only one wit a cold-ass lil champion ta win all captions n' sub-captions. Many corps have won all of tha overall captions yo, but only 2005 Cadets won all of tha performizzle n' ensemble subcaptions.

Tradizzle & Innovation [ edit ]

While up in nuff ways Da Cadets is a straight-up traditionizzle corps, they have also been one of tha innovatorz of tha activity. This was especially legit durin they early DCI championshizzle seasons, when they pioneered tha use of complex, asymmetrical drills under tha direction of drill designer George Zingali. Later, Da Cadets n' they then-director, George Hopkins, hustled tha move toward tha use of electronics, amplification, n' vocals up in drum corps.