While in the US, the band played the CMJ festival in New York City, including a live-to-air in-studio on KEXP.
CMJ (7/12/99, p. 26) - "...solid fusion of RZA-esque string play and thumping jeep beats provide an equally formidable backdrop for the Genius's ever-heady lyrical chessboxing....Surface is a family affair with impressive guest spots....Behold the first true Wu-Banger of 1999."
CMJ (No. 914, p. 4) – "...an immensely absorbable experience with plenty of rhymes and funked-out marching beats to bite into."
CMJ (10/18/99, p.36) - "...treads familiar Misfits territory...this classic band shows why it's one of the most revered names in punk rock..."
" They received significant critical praise for their 2011 CMJ performances, with the New York Times stating on the first day of the festival, "Fort Lean is already a standout at CMJ".
In addition to the success of those works, his 2006 release IAMISEE vs DJ Demon was listed on the CMJ Hip Hop Airplay Charts in March 2007.
CMJ (11/29/99, p. 25) - "...top-game flow and edgy wordplay proves compatible with any groove tossed at him....proves he can hold his own..."
Then-music director China Bialos was nominated as ‘’Music Director of the Year’’ by CMJ.
Although they couldn't meet the request to play at Collette Millennium Party in Paris 2001 and CMJ Music Marathon 2001 (due to 9/11), they played at CMJ 2004 and SXSW 2006 & 2007 with good response.
The band toured in September 2009 in Quebec and Ontario to promote their upcoming album which was released in October in Canada and USA and also showcased at CMJ in New York city in October 2009, M for Montreal in November 2009 and SXSW in March 2010.
They have also preformed at a number of festivals around the world since the release of their debut album including Glastonbury Music Festival (UK), South by Southwest (Austin, Texas, US), Canadian Music Week (Toronto, Canada), Summerfest (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US), CMJ Festival (New York City, US), Wavefront Music Festival (Chicago, Illinois, US), The Great Escape (UK), and Homebake (Australia).
The band has three official LPs through botique Chicago based label Bobby Cahn Records and toured on the festival circuit in the United States, including SXSW and CMJ, as well as national support slots for the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Umphrey's McGee, Maps and Atlases, Battles, Peter, Bjorn & John, Sun Airway, Memoryhouse, Parts and Labor, J.Viewz, and more.
WTSR reports Top 30 and Loud Rock charts weekly to CMJ as well as being part of the magazine's select group of "Core Reporters." Previously WTSR had the distinction of reporting charts to Gavin Magazine before the publication's demise in 2002.
CMJ (4/24/00, p. 30) - "...Beams the spotlight on the Boricua bomber's unparalleled breath control and hilarious jaw-dropping wordplay."
Since 2011, Yvynyl has co-presented #MEGABLAAG with Ears of the Beholder blog: a music blogger party and meetup during South By Southwest Music Festival and CMJ Music Marathon.
Some of the events Hyatt has spoken at include South by Southwest, the CMJ SoundCtrl, ASCAP’s I Create Music, The Future of Music, Canadian Music Week, APRA’s Song Summit in Sydney, You Are In Control (Reykjavík), The ECMAs, NARAS, and The Taxi Road Rally.
The CMJ includes city exits from SH1 and SH16 to downtown, Grafton Gully (the first of the three large motorway projects, containing the section of the Northwest Motorway between the Upper Queen Street bridge and The Strand in Parnell, and the Auckland Southern Motorway between Symonds Street exit and The Strand), with five other pairs of ramps giving access to the central area.
Serious Business bands have played 3 CMJ showcases, the Knitting Factory, Pianos, Irving Plaza, the Highline Ballroom, the Bowery Ballroom, and innumerable small New York venues.
Shaka Ponk performed in New York City for the first time October 2009 in the celebrated CMJ Musical Festival and on November 7, AOL chose the track "How We Kill Stars" off the new album Bad Porn Movie Trax as the Music Video of the Day.
Suuns spent much of 2011 performing at a plethora of festivals in the US, Europe and Canada including New York’s CMJ, SXSW, Primavera Sound, and over twelve other festivals.
Their first album for Eastwest, Behind the Door I Keep the Universe, reached Number 8 on the CMJ College Radio charts and was followed by a six-week tour of the U.S. supporting Shonen Knife.
In the summer of 2005, they had a national tour in support of their first album Time to Echolocate, which culminated in a performance at the CMJ music marathon in NYC and the Northwest Music Fest in Portland, OR.
CMJ charts, MTV spins, international exposure, and a spattering of singles followed.