Music
Press
I've always been infatuated with our Nation’s capital for a number of different reasons. I’ve been a political junkie since I could read and accompanied my Mom on mad trips to the Mall and Capital Hill. Then there was the abundance of relatives that resided there, my Howard year, the list goes on and on. But one thing that never drew much attention from me was DC’s Hip-Hop. Until I heard Asheru and a few others I thought that Go-Go was as close as DC brothers came to MCing. I was always amazed that such an intriguing world capital hadn’t produced an abundance of quality Hip-Hop. That being said I was really rooting for Birth of a Movement when the intro caught my ear and the linear notes told me Sunz of Soul repped Chocolate City.
But things can’t always be how you want them. Despite the intro Birth of a Movement is slow off the gates blocks. The beats are cool but not spectacular. Stylistically think of an East Coast Self Scientific b/w a little Lil Brother. Unfortunately the rhymes aren’t quite up speed. Despite all the great DC slang sprinkled in too many cliches are employed. But like a classic soul album Birth of a Movement chugs along and builds with each track until it arrives at “Soul 48”. This track reinvigorates the album. The beat is great, a soulful gem and the lyrics are up for the challenge. Blak Mamba even touches on the lack of DC MCs while reciting a nostalgia inducing Chocolate City roll call. The momentum continues with the melodic funk of “2” and “Love, Life”. “We Funk A” and “On Some Other” have more of a boom bap feel to them, with Blak starting to shine on the vocals of the latter. “I flow by the power vested in me/Drop soul from here to infinity” he recites at the beginning of one of his better 16s. The hand clapping and textured sample of “Bass and Treble” are a great nod to Tribe, an obvious inspiration for the Sunz. Blak spits his best on “Don’t Sleep” and “Brotha on the Run” is a great view on DC from the inside out. Birth of a Movement keeps getting better through its conclusion atoning for its shaky start. Hopefully Sunz and more artists of there ilk will give DC the representation it deserves in this Hip Hop universe.
- C. Benz
English Version:
Check out / Pay Attention to – Sunz of Soul
The internet has enormous advantages & disadvantages, but today again we see this indispensable thing called the internet. Surfing the web I found the link for the bunch called Sunz of Soul, a group from Washington, that are just into circulation their video called “Be like that” from their debut album “The situation” that was released in 2005 and now in 2007 they launched another album “Birth of a Movement”. The team of Black Mamba & Jewels serves up top urban caliber/quality, if you are a person that goes for folk like J.Dilla, Little Brother, 9th Wonder, Nicolay, or those whose grew up on ATCQ should instantly visit their myspace and what their video. Pure f*cking magic!!
The translation website:
http://www.wordbook.cz/index.php
- Czech Republic e-Magazine
Discography
Sunz of Soul "The Situation"
Sunz of Soul "Birth of a Movement"
Photos
Bio
Birth of A Movement, the sophomore release from Sunz of Soul, is not just another hip-hop CD, it's an experience that could possibly serve as the catalyst that converts hip-hop into a true art form. It's the fourth commercial release and the fifth overall project released by Infinite Soul Music, the label that prides itself on artistic integrity.
The project is best described as an eclectic, soulful journey through the Sunz' inner mind's eyes--accented with timely, pertinent social and political assessments and commentary.
Jewels filters his signature urban thump into a bona fide soul-sonic force, while Blak Mamba waxes prophetic and poetic over undiluted soul tracks. The duo's chemistry, dexterity, and hip-hop acumen is boldly brandished as they launch banger after banger in an unrelenting barrage of pure hip-hop soul.
Birth of a Movement is a collection of 16 possible lead singles of varying tempo, content, and intensity. There is no filler-material on the project.
"1st Things First," on Birth of a Movement the Sunz of Soul take you on a soulful journey that tells you "Just How it Is" with colorful language, head-nod-inducing beats and a chemistry that makes the project a true monster. "It's So Hard" to put the experience into words, so let me take "2" seconds to compose a proper description.
It's really about real life experiences. Not the dramatic shock and awe hood-tales that have become almost a caricature of themselves, but epic depictions of "Life and Love" that people from all walks of life can relate to and believe.
You will never be inclined to skip a track, although you may need to adjust your "Bass and Treble" to maintain the integrity of the perpetual groove. A stark departure from the mindless clowns who are "Sayin Nuthin," this one-hour soul tutorial emphatically confirms that Blak Mamba and Jewels are "On Some Other" ish!
Sunz of Soul follows the "Footsteps" of acts like The Roots, Common, and A Tribe Called Quest in delivering material that's off the beaten path, yet appeals to all who crave substance in their hip-hop. "Don't Sleep!"
Links
