About this user
HIP-SOUL
"Genius is present in every age but the men carrying it within them remain benumbed unless extraordinary events occur to heat up, melt the mass so that it flows forth" -- Denis Diderot
To witness a performance by Philadelphia's Hip-Soul is to witness electric chemistry at work. It is an unprecedented, intangible ride through hip-hop, jazz, soul & funk that reminds the audience that hip-hop, at its core, is a juxtaposition of raw truth and conscious reflection. This group draws energy from the history of jazz and blends it with the freshness of contemporary beats and rhythms. The result is lyrics that speak honestly, unapologetically about our time in a language that is reminiscent of the past but peppered with today's dialect. The result is Hip-Soul.
The ordinary occurrences that led to the extraordinary event that was the genesis of Hip-Soul were decades in the making. No one member of the group could have envisioned himself in this musical space as each honed his musical skills over the years. Each member, in his own right, has played, toured, and has left an artistic imprint in the fabric of music within the Philadelphia landscape and throughout the world.
The music genres of each member of the group, like their backgrounds, ages and styles, vary. Several players' bios boast a vast jazz repertoire--Adam Faulk (piano/keys) & James Cooper (electric bass) are jazz virtuosos. Both play their instruments with unguarded precision, soaring beyond the boundaries of music scores. Will Wright's (trumpet, organ & keys) talents are an amalgamation of jazz & gospel roots. One easily compares him to Miles, only to discover the comparison is warranted-- but not necessary. He is an awesome talent in his own right. Kimpedro (drums) offers a delectable jazz and R&B flavor to the group. His percussion is both precision and power. It sheds new light & rhythms on the monotony of old beats & sounds. From the Bar-Kays, Lloyd Smith (electric guitar), gives the group a wicked funk flare that jolts, energizes, and catapults audiences to a new musical space.
Once the music transports us, the lyrics and vocals transform us. Russ Tate (vocals) reminds us of songs, moods, cadences of the past. His voice borrows from the strength of yesterdays. It soothes and sustains. Spit (emcee/vocals), an original member of Philly's Next of Kin, delivers scintillating lyrics that tease the senses. His phenomenal, street-laced wordplay is clever, sharp & penetrating. Finally, the group's producer, engineer and founder, Samori Coles (lead emcee/vocals), also a founding member of Next of Kin, offers lyrics that are introspective and cultured, poignant & enlightening. He poetically provokes thought.
Hip-Soul is a brotherhood that is bound by the chemistry of music. This group is a communion of all that is free in jazz, hip-hop and soul. It is the spirit of the past, the slickness of the present, the honesty of our times and the promise of the future of our music. It is a living testimonial that music rooted in truth and talent speaks, reflects, and moves the spirit of the young & the old. Hip-Soul is overdue and timeless--like true GENIUS.
Hometown
Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Boston, MA
