I had the privilege of knocking heads with Souls of Mischief at the Columbia Hotel. This was just before their massive in store event that took place on Monday 9th November at the Carhartt store in Covent Garden [Earlham St] London to celebrate the forthcoming Souls of Mischiefalbum Montezuma’s Revenge produced entirely by Prince Paul!!!
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.
Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future band mate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. 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.
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, withemcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. 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, 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).
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.
Castro The General, is part of hip hop group Fresh to Def and also founder and king of south London’s unstoppable r&b / hip hop collective D-Fam. Alongside business partners I-Henry and G-Linton, he has ambitions of being the next Jay-Z/ P.Diddy and Damon Dash of the UK. They have plans of owning their own record label, bar, club, restaurant, women’s lingerie line, and gym and clothing line ‘Jacob Omari’ which will cater for smart but casual clothing.
Self proclaimed ‘Prince of south London’, this 20 year old half Greek, half Jamaican south west London rapper, song writer, movie script writer and ghetto millionaire is looking to be the foundation of what bridges the gap between the US and the UK.
He has already worked with the likes of Swiss, Asher D, JD aka Dready Pac-Man, Cream Cartel P.D.C and Hale Mega, as well as producers such as Blacksmoke, Matt Burrell, Hypertone, Thez, DT Productions, Kamachy Sly, J Real and Para Beats to name a few.
Castro is arguably one of the best writers in the UK. He has written a large number of hits for several UK r&b artists and is now taking a stab at writing for acts in the pop market.
Castro plans to milk the industry for all it has, but at the same time not forgetting his roots and what gave him the hunger to achieve, the streets of Stockwell. He aspires to set up various charities giving back to the community that made him as well as stop gang warfare. “London is too small for this s**t, lets join forces and make millions together and not fall into a stereotype given to young diamonds in the rough growing up in this concrete jungle…Remember free your mind of greed, but hunger for more. Knowledge is power.”
Look out for new D-Fam affiliated artists Ruff Man, a young south east London based rapper looking to influence the game with his creative flows and passion for music and also So Solid, North Star, Cream Cartel, Musiz Kids and Black Parranaz.
This Friday on the Friday Spark City Boy Soul, aka Gak (pronounced Jack) Jonze
and Corée Richards, joins King Castro in the BANG 103.6 studios.
The Boys hail from London, where they have been leading influences in the undergroundR&B scene for several years.
Since his departure from the group Damage, Corée revisited his urban roots, writing and producing a catalogue of tracks and gigging internationally. Between tours, Corée was no stranger to the London club scene and it is here that he met Gak, a successful rapper in his own right.
City Boy Soul are currently touring Europe and concluding the recording of their debut album and you can hear what they have to say this friday night on the Friday Spark with King Castro on BANG 103.6 FM.
