Universal Soul
Encyclopedia
Universal Soul is a Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) based hip hop
ensemble who have been a part of the Halifax scene since 1985. Its members have inspired and mentored other hip hop artists Such as Classified
, Buck 65
, Sixtoo
and Trobiz, and they have had numerous collaborations with artists as diverse as The Jimmy Swift Band
, Symphony Nova Scotia
and Anne Murray
. Although they have avoided media limelight, they have been nominated and won several awards at the regional and national levels.
).
This group’s origin can be traced back to 1987 when they went by the name Down by Law. Back then their membership consisted of Jorun, as DJ, MCs F.I.Z. and Tacktishion, and Voodoo as dancer. Jorun still collaborates with Universal Soul and has been a driving force behind the Halifax hip hop scene. Universal Soul along with Jorun were responsible for revitalizing this city’s scene in the 1990’s after Cool G and MCJ left town. Jorun produced The Haltown Projex, and it was through this production that artists such as Buck 65
and Sixtoo
obtained media attention and subsequently made their careers.
In an interview produced by puppetier and filmmaker, Joey Adrian MacNeil, they appear as puppets rather than “in the flesh” and claim that they don’t live the gangsta or the pop lifestyle, they are happy to make music everyday, be who they are, and represent Halifax hip hop.
Their latest release is Back and Forth, featuring Trobiz and Amelia Curran
, with a video aired on MuchMusic.
Universal Soul's song "20 Years Ago" was released July 2 2010 and appears on the Halifax BoomBap Project(2010). Produced by Halifax DJ and producer Petey Punch, the Halifax Boombap Project brings together many artists in Halifax' hip hop scene. The album would not have been made without Universal Soul, the earliest pioneers in Halifax Hip Hop.
- 2005 Video of the Year for “Way Back in the Day”
- 2004 African-Canadian Recording of the Year for Time Capsule
- 2004 New Artist of the Year
- 2004 Urban Recording of the Year for “Bring the Funk 2 U”
They’ve won four African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards :
- 2003 Winner for the Artist/Group of the Year at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Award Show
- 2003 Winner for Best Album at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Award Show
- 2003 Winner for the Best Hip Hop Group of the Year at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards
- 2003 Winner for the Urban Group of the Year at the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia
African Nova Scotian Music Association. Universal Soul Artist Profile http://www.ansma.com/artists-universalsoul.html
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
ensemble who have been a part of the Halifax scene since 1985. Its members have inspired and mentored other hip hop artists Such as Classified
Classified (rapper)
Luke Boyd , professionally known as Classified, is a Canadian rapper and producer from Enfield, Nova Scotia.-Career:...
, Buck 65
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
, Sixtoo
Sixtoo
Sixtoo was the main project of a Canadian hip hop DJ, MC and producer Vaughn Robert Squire between 1996-2007. He has since retired the Sixtoo name pursuing other directions in electronic music, with a large genre shift from experimental hip hop to deeper club sounds of various temposSquire rose to...
and Trobiz, and they have had numerous collaborations with artists as diverse as The Jimmy Swift Band
The Jimmy Swift Band
The Jimmy Swift Band was a band from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada that combined elements of rock, jam, and electronica. Composed of Craig Mercer on guitar and vocals, Mike MacDougall on bass, Aaron Collier on keyboards and effects, and Doug Cameron on drums, the band was most often described as...
, Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Symphony Nova Scotia traces its origins back to several different orchestras, including the Halifax Symphony , the Halifax Sinfoniette , and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra . Its current structure began in 1983...
and Anne Murray
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray CC, ONS is a Canadian singer in pop, country and adult contemporary styles whose albums have sold over 54 million copies....
. Although they have avoided media limelight, they have been nominated and won several awards at the regional and national levels.
Origins and Members
The group consists of three MCs; F.I.Z. (Finley Tolliver), Voodoo (David Adekayode), Tacktishion (Tracey Williams), and one DJ IV . IV is the newest member of the group, has been spinning since 1999, currently he is the 2010 Atlantic Canadian Redbull 3Style Dj Battle Champion & 2010 Stylus Awards East Coast Dj of the Year and was mentored by Jorun, former member of Universal Soul (now heading First WordsFirst Words
First Words is a Canadian hip hop group, consisting of Halifax beatmaker Jorun, DJ STV and emcees Sean One & Above. Their pre-release peaked at #1 on the top 30 and hip hop charts of Fredericton, New Brunswick's CHSR, which landed them at #13 on cumshots national hip hop charts in December, 2004...
).
This group’s origin can be traced back to 1987 when they went by the name Down by Law. Back then their membership consisted of Jorun, as DJ, MCs F.I.Z. and Tacktishion, and Voodoo as dancer. Jorun still collaborates with Universal Soul and has been a driving force behind the Halifax hip hop scene. Universal Soul along with Jorun were responsible for revitalizing this city’s scene in the 1990’s after Cool G and MCJ left town. Jorun produced The Haltown Projex, and it was through this production that artists such as Buck 65
Buck 65
Richard Terfry , who uses the stage name Buck 65, is a Canadian experimental artist, MC and turntablist. Underpinned by an extensive background in abstract hip hop, his more recent music has extensively incorporated blues, country, rock, folk and avant garde influences.Terfry is also a radio host,...
and Sixtoo
Sixtoo
Sixtoo was the main project of a Canadian hip hop DJ, MC and producer Vaughn Robert Squire between 1996-2007. He has since retired the Sixtoo name pursuing other directions in electronic music, with a large genre shift from experimental hip hop to deeper club sounds of various temposSquire rose to...
obtained media attention and subsequently made their careers.
Style
Universal Soul maintain that they “rap like human beings” and they “aren’t one thing or another.” While they make local references in their music, the most prominent theme is nostalgia for youth and times past, as in the case of their best known single Way Back in the Day, in which they rap about their arrival in Halifax as children and being the new kid on the block.In an interview produced by puppetier and filmmaker, Joey Adrian MacNeil, they appear as puppets rather than “in the flesh” and claim that they don’t live the gangsta or the pop lifestyle, they are happy to make music everyday, be who they are, and represent Halifax hip hop.
Releases
Their album Time Capsule was released in 2003, and features music compiled over the preceding ten years including the single Way Back in the Day.Their latest release is Back and Forth, featuring Trobiz and Amelia Curran
Amelia Curran (musician)
Amelia Curran is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador and currently lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia...
, with a video aired on MuchMusic.
Universal Soul's song "20 Years Ago" was released July 2 2010 and appears on the Halifax BoomBap Project(2010). Produced by Halifax DJ and producer Petey Punch, the Halifax Boombap Project brings together many artists in Halifax' hip hop scene. The album would not have been made without Universal Soul, the earliest pioneers in Halifax Hip Hop.
Awards
4 East Coast Music Award Nominations:- 2005 Video of the Year for “Way Back in the Day”
- 2004 African-Canadian Recording of the Year for Time Capsule
- 2004 New Artist of the Year
- 2004 Urban Recording of the Year for “Bring the Funk 2 U”
They’ve won four African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards :
- 2003 Winner for the Artist/Group of the Year at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Award Show
- 2003 Winner for Best Album at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Award Show
- 2003 Winner for the Best Hip Hop Group of the Year at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards
- 2003 Winner for the Urban Group of the Year at the Music Industry Association of Nova Scotia
External links
Universal Soul MySpace websitehttp://www.myspace.com/universalsoul902African Nova Scotian Music Association. Universal Soul Artist Profile http://www.ansma.com/artists-universalsoul.html