2013 marks twenty years of Souls of Mischief; Tajai, Phesto, Opio, and A-Plus sat down with Sway earlier this week to discuss everything from their twentieth anniversary “Still Infinity” tour, the new Hieroglyphics album “The Kitchen”, which dropped July 16th, to up-and-coming artists they listen to and how they managed to stay together for two decades and beyond. Souls have stayed relevant and respected since their debut, and they explain that when they got in the game, success was based around the content of an artist’s music, rather than the so-called “extracurricular activities” which drive musicians’ careers nowadays. The integrity of their craft has sustained Souls of Mischief over the years.

Below is the full Souls of Mischief interview on Sway in the Morning, complete with freestyles, banter, and knowledge that’s valuable to anyone striving for a long-term career.

The post Video: Souls of Mischief Discuss “Still Infinity” Tour, Staying Together, Hiero Day, and Much More on Sway in the Morning appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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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