Posted on November 30th
Fresh out of high school, the Souls of Mischief, A-Plus (19), Tajai (18), Phesto (19) and Opio (18) might be the media darlings of the whole Hiero crew having attracted the most attention with a phat album 93 'Til Infinity and even phatter videos for "That's When Ya Lost" and the title track. They made their first recorded appearance on "Burnt", the B-side of Del's "Sleepin' on Your Couch" single and wrecked shit. Fusing their talent to flip the script in the tradition of East Coast MCs with the storytelling ability of the Oakland vibe, the Souls represent the forefront of the West Coast new school.
Domino's crib must be the kickin'-it spot because everyone lounges there. A-Plus ran off to the store to fetch a blunt, while Phesto was analyzing the sports page of USA Today and playing Sega's Street Fighter 2, Opio was kicking the ass of Stanford University student, Tajai. A-Plus returns just in time to take winners and, after choosing partners, takes two-and-a-half minutes to save Opio. Appearing from a back room negotiating business on the cordless, Domino motions for everyone to come to the table to give their perspective on what Tajai calls the "State of MChood."
The Source: In high school, you guys weren't like traditional schoolboys playing football or basketball?
Opio: Like when everybody was playing football I was rappin'.
Tajai: On the real, it's like ever since we first heard hip-hop we just wanted to be MCs, doing what we can on the mic.
Opio: Something original. Something we can actually identify with. Whether we seen it, did it or whatever.
Tajai: It's basically what we see and our point of viewon things. We're still young in this, but this is our view on hip-hop or like. . .the "State of MChood" on the state of arrest we live in. Basically just telling people how we feel about everything.
How difficultis being new artists to flow in different combinations with four MCs?
Phesto: There is no set formula or difficulty level. You can have a lot of different combinations you know what I'm sayin'? It's like an attack formation. The flow and combo just comes naturally.
A-Plus: We just switch it off and flip it, never missing a beat on any song. We'll be sitting around and just match up.
Hip-Hop is a competitive nature and pretty bragadocious, so I'll let you describe each other instead of yourselves.
A-Plus: [Taking a hit from the bud] I'ma describe Opio. Op's like always chillin' but get him on the mic or in the studio and it's like an explosion and you wonder if he's like supressing hella shit all the time [Everyone is laughing]. he just explodes and then he's chilling again, and he takes hella pride in his raps.
Tajai: [Turns toward Phesto with a sinister grin] Just look at him! He's quiet just like he is now, but he'll talk and say some weird shit to you. He'll tell you some shit you don't want to hear. He's not insane or nothin', cause everybody wants to be insane on a record, Phesto's just overly sane. He's just too hard about stuff, he gets those veins in his forehead.
Phesto: [Looks over to A-Plus] He's like a pimp. A Jamican pimp. When he writes his lyrics he keeps them simple. at the same time he is straight forward comin' at you. But somebody can chime in and help.
Opio: [His eyes lazily roll over to look at Tajai] I'ma take a jab at this brother. Tajai. . .he's like Mr Brainiac going to Stanford and all that. And he's always got something to say. he'll never run outta things to say. He'll always come up with some incredible shit and he can't even help it.
A-Plus: He's got the most energy. he's like he must always eat sugar or something.
Phesto: We'll just be walking somewhere and he'll just take off running and shit.
How do you think the West Coast is gonna take to your style being that gangsta rap is the choice of a new generation, especially in the town of Too Short?
Tajai: Man, people are starting to open their minds to other stuff you know. I mean, I listen to Too Short now and man. . .he still comes with that Short flow but he's upgrading his stuff. Cube stepped it up, Dre, Breed. . .so on the lyrical tip everyone is stepping up.
Opio: We're prolific with our lyrics like Dre is with his beats. That's first and foremost, we gotta have dope lyrics, but we've got to have slammin' tracks too. there's gotta be a balance.
A-Plus: the West Coast is comin' up. all of this talent has been here, it's just that everyone is finally getting a chance to represnt itself. Pharcyde has ben here for years, Freestyle Fellowship, Alkaholiks, Hieroglyphics you know?! This ain't nothing new, we're just getting a chance to represnt ourselves.
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