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Souls of Mischief

 
Artist: Souls of Mischief
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Souls of Mischief

Group Members:

A Plus, Phesto, Pep Love, Tajai, Opio

Similar Artists:

GLP, Get Low Playaz, Brand Nubian, Quannum, Dilated Peoples, Jurassic 5, Busta Rhymes, Tha Alkaholiks, The Pharcyde, Latyrx, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, JT the Bigga Figga, Ill Biskits, The Roots, Blackalicious, De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sheep

Influenced By:

Freestyle Fellowship, Eric B. & Rakim, Run-D.M.C.

Followers:

Epsilon Project, The Knux, People Under the Stairs, Shwayze, Blackalicious, will.i.am

Performed Songs By:

Tim Massey, A. Carter, D. Thompson

Formal Connection With:

Hieroglyphics
See Souls of Mischief Lyrics
  • Genres: Rap
  • Representative Albums: "No Man's Land", "Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution
  • Representative Songs: "93 'Til Infinity", "Never No More", "That's When Ya Lost

Biography

The East Oakland backpacker crew are members of the loose underground hip-hop consortium known as Hieroglyphics. The group consists of four erudite but hardcore MCs: A-Plus, Phesto, Opio and Tajai. Their debut album in 1993, '93 Til Infinity, produced an early-'90s anthem of the same name and spawned a movement towards bohemian yet rugged hip-hop. The crew drew comparisons to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest for their abstract, whimsical style of storytelling. '93 Til was a youthfully impressionistic album echoing jazz and funk influences combined with precocious lyrical gestures. Such tracks as "That's When Ya Lost" and "Never No More" were memorable for their lyrics and feel alike. Two years later, SOM shucked off their reputation for their sophomore release, No Man's Land, a derisive and brash departure from '93 Til. While the crew lost some fans who were looking for a '95 Til, they managed to cultivate a loyal fan base who respected their out on a limb artistic development. Rather than sticking to the formula that made them popular with the college hip-hop set, they chose to shatter their image similar to De La Soul's second album De La Soul Is Dead. Their Northern California mindset combines chaos, danger, and the avant-garde, all from a very intellectual B-Boy perspective. The crew dropped the virtually invisible Focus strictly for web heads in 1999, then returned with Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution, another dark, trippy, and brooding exploration in 2000. ~ Michael Di Bella, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Souls of Mischief
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Souls of Mischief
Origin Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active 1991—present
Labels Hieroglyphics Imperium, Jive/BMG
Associated acts Hieroglyphics
Website http://www.hieroglyphics.com
Members
A-Plus
Opio
Phesto
Tajai

Souls of Mischief is an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics. The Souls of Mischief formed in 1991 and is composed of emcees A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai.

Contents

History

Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future band mate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. [1] Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school.[2] Tajai later introduced A-Plus and Phesto to the remaining Souls of Mischief member, Opio, and the group informally formed in high school before making their major-label debut on Jive Records with their well-received album 93 'til Infinity, in 1993.[2]

93 ’til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200), and in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine. Souls of Mischief are considered members of the Native Tongues Posse due to their appearance on the collage of artists on A Tribe Called Quest's album Midnight Marauders.

The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during that same year.

In 1995, following the release of the group from its major-label contract with Jive, the group officially formed the alternative hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino.[2] The group participated as full members in both Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, and 2003's Full Circle.

The group has released two albums on the Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.

On October 30, 2006, Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief were currently working on their next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School).[citation needed]

On January 6, 2009 Souls of Mischief released the "Tour Stories" EP produced by Domino and co-produced by Prince Paul. The song is taken from the forthcoming album, Montezuma's Revenge on Hieroglyphics Imperium.

They have beef with Soulja Boy.

Discography

Studio albums

Album information
93 'til Infinity
  • Released: September 6, 1993
  • Chart positions: #17 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,
    #85 Billboard 200
  • RIAA certification: Gold
  • Singles: "93 'til Infinity", "Never No More", "That's When Ya Lost", "Let Em Know", "Disseshowedo", "Make Your Mind Up"
No Man's Land
  • Released: October 10, 1995
  • Chart positions: #27 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,
    #111 Billboard 200
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Rock It Like That", "Sho Fo Real"
Focus
  • Released: 1999 (Original cassette release)
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Shooting Stars", "Step Off", "Maximize 3rd Eyes"
Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution
  • Released: March 14, 2000
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Medication", "Bad Business", "Acupuncture", "Soundscience"
Montezuma's Revenge
  • Released: December 1, 2009
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Tour Stories", "Proper Aim"

References

  1. ^ "Tajai Interview". Gorilla Movement.com. 2005. http://www.gorillamovement.com/Tajai.html. Retrieved 2007-02-03. 
  2. ^ a b c StinkE (1996-07-18). "Phesto Interview". StinkE Productions. http://ensim.hieroglyphics.com/artists/souls/phesto-interview.html. Retrieved 2007-02-03. 

External links

v • d • e
Hieroglyphics
Casual | Del tha Funkee Homosapien | Domino | Pep Love | Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, Tajai)
Albums
3rd Eye Vision (1998) | Full Circle (2003)
Former members
Extra Prolific
Compilation albums
Hieroglyphics B-Sides (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II (1998) | The Corner (2005) | Over Time (2007)
Hiero-related artists
See also

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Souls of Mischief".  Read more

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