This rap quortet from Oakland was formed in 1991 with members A-Plus, Phesto, Opio, and Tajai. After signing with Jive Records in 1993 Souls of Mischief released their debut album, 93 ’til Infinity, with a lead single of the same name. The album was well recieved among the hip-hop community for its jazz influeced production,and energetic rhyming style, contrary to the hardcore sound common among West Coast rappers at the time. The majority of the production work for the album derived from group member A-Plus and from Domino and Del tha Funkee Homosapien of Hieroglyphics, a group also out of California that Souls of Mischief became affiliated with. The album reached number 85 on Billboard Top 100 that year. Other singles included “That’s When Ya Lost” and “Never No More“.
Souls of Mischief’s debut album would end up being their best project commercially. After their sophomore effort No Man’s Land, in 1995, Jive Records decided to release the group from the label. Collectively three more albums would be made under the name Souls of Mishief. Only the last album in 2009, Montezuma’s Revenge, would bounce them back on to the charts peaking at number 93 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list. Prince Paul was brought in to do the bulk of the production for the project including the single “Proper Aim.” Even with each of the four members trying their luck at solo careers none have reached the success of their very first album. The song “93 ’til Infinity” has become a staple in hip-hop history influecing other artist such as Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Yelawolf. Today, the group is still performing together at shows and making new music.
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