From OutDaBoxTV: “Out Da Box TV is happy to bring you Part 2 of our in-depth interview with Souls Of Mischief and Adrian Younge. Fresh off the heels of their successful concept LP entitled “There Is Only Now”, the group continue the convo with details on the turning point of the story line, their ability to translate the concept into their live shows and the place the album holds in comparison to their other work. We truly had an amazing time talking with these brothers. Definitely do feel encouraged to pick up their awesome new LP if you haven’t yet. Very worthy of the listen in my opinion! In the meantime, take a moment to check out this insightful interview and be sure to watch Part 1 below, if you haven’t yet.”

From OutDaBoxTV: “Out Da Box TV is happy to bring you the 1st Part of our in-depth interview with renowned West Coast Emcees’ “Souls Of Mischief” and talented producer “Adrian Younge”. We got a chance to chat with these brothers, in regard to their latest and much talked about concept LP, entitled “There Is Only Now”. We also got to hear from the album’s narrator, a.k.a. “Ali Shaheed Muhmmad” (ATQ) in reference to the role he was chosen to play in the story . In this interview, the group talk’s specifically about topics revolving around the creation of the album and storyline. We got a chance to hear details on everything from how they first met with Adrian, to the inspiration for the storyline, the writing process for songs and Busta Rhymes involvement on the album. There’s lots of depth to their new LP and I really wanted to take the time to explore the concept a little more and how the writing process came together. For those of you who already bought the album, I hope this interview serves as a guide to further understanding the greatness of the project. If you don’t have it yer, I hope it encourages you to support these magnificent artists’ and their awesome piece of work. “There Is Only Now” is one of the album’s that I feel will stand the test of time for years to come as one of the most creative and quality contributions to hip hop. Salute to Adrian Younge and Souls Of Mischief for their amazing work! In the meantime, please take a moment to check out the video and be inspired. Also check back next week for Part 2. Enjoy!”

Hieroglyphics’ Souls Of Mischief dropped a west coast classic with their Jive Records debut album, 93 ’til Infinity, which produced a hit single of the same name, alongside a series of excellent b-sides and remix tracks that held fans over until their next release. Despite a lukewarm response to their sophomore LP, No Man’s Land, the group still maintained a loyal fanbase, and solidified the Hiero brand with a series of independent albums and solo releases.

However like many groups from that era, they’ve never been able to recapture the magic found in hip-hop’s early 90′s “golden era”, largely thanks to strict sampling laws, making it impossible the reproduce that sound. This is where producer Adrian Younge comes in, on their new LP, There Is Only Now.

Younge, who is best known for his work on Ghostface Killah’s 12 Reasons To Die, takes a unique approach to hip-hop production, in that his beats are created from scratch, using live instrumentation. Unlike The Roots, however, Younge isn’t an ensemble, and samples his own work to create beats with that vintage, analog sound. This comes through all over his work on Souls’ new album, which is somewhat of a return to form for the twenty-year veterans of the game.

The title There Is Only Now is the antithesis of 93 Til Infinity, as it presents a philosophy of not looking towards a bright future, but instead living only in the moment, as today’s generation seems to do. The album also acts as an official sequel to 93 ’til, working as a tightly knit concept album, building a story around real life events that happened to the group in 1994, with a few creative liberties taken.

Without spoiling much, the story revolves around the members of Souls of Mischief beefing with a rival rapper, Womack, here played by Busta Rhymes on the track “Womack’s Lament”. The song, with a beat that plays like a slowed down version of “Scenario”, finds a wilding out Busta in character as Womack, hilariously threatening the whole Hiero crew, “Hey Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina, ass nigga / pack the gat quicker, then I spit them at you / Casual, see actually I’ll throw a kitchen at you! As I come back!”

But the events quickly unfold into darker territory, gorgeously animated by Tajai, Phesto, A-Plus, and Opio’s bulletproof flows, which have only improved over time. The picture is painted with a fine brush, and Adrian Younge’s brilliantly crafted production gives it that lost, classic feel, as if he had the budget to sample Bob James or Herbie Hancock, yet he’s produced it all his own.

Narrated by A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad, who plays sort of a Do The Right Thing style DJ, the story takes a brooding turn towards the end, as the characters seek revenge upon one another, each time upping the ante until the game is over. Abandoning the 93 ’til Infinity philosophy of living forever, for a more “YOLO” approach of There Is Only Now, the album’s theme explores some of the socio-political problems in Oakland, and to a larger extent, that of millennials as a whole.

Sonically different from both Ghostface’s 12 Reasons To Die and Souls’ own 93 ’til Infinity, the sound of There Is Only Now meets somewhere at the crossroads of those two albums. This is very much a record for longtime fans of the crew, or at the very least, anyone who bumped that first album to death some twenty years ago.

In the first clip, Souls of Mischief stopped by Sway in the Morning to discuss their new album with Adrian Younge, There Is Only Now. First, the members shared what they thought was their biggest career mistake in the music industry. They also broke down their lyrics and explained how a witnessing a shooting inspired this new record. The producer of the album, Adrian Younge spoke about his experience working with Souls of Mischief.

In the second clip, Adrien Brody plays his beats as Souls of Mischief freestyle on Sway in the Morning.

In the third clip, New York rapper, Troy Ave stopped by Sway in the Morning with Young Lito to promote his new mixtape, BSB Volume 5. Troy first discussed his comments about “bringing New York back” and why he does not think he will abandon his East Coast roots if he signs with TI. He also spoke about Birdman reaching out to him as well. Additionally, the Brooklyn native spoke about his new mixtape with LA Leakers and what BSB Volume 5 contains. Young Lito also spoke about his new music ventures. Both rappers went on to share how they are dealing with fame.

Taken from the full length LP, There Is Only Now. A collaboration by Souls of Mischief & Adrian Younge, released on Linear Labs.

Taken from the full length LP, There Is Only Now. A collaboration by Souls of Mischief Adrian Younge and released on Linear Labs. Directed by Unjust.

Souls of Mischief and Adrian Younge give some insight about their high concept album, There Is Only Now, hitting August 19th.

New music from the release of next week’s There Is Only Now LP.

Another one from Souls Of Mischief’s There Is Only Now LP, produced by Adrian Younge, due this September.

The sixth album from legendary hip-hop group Souls of Mischief, There Is Only Now, is a unique cinematic 90s crime tale of love, loss, and revenge. A conceptual collaboration with producer Adrian Younge and the first release on his freshly launched Linear Labs Records label, There Is Only Now gets its inspiration from a near fatal incident involving group members A-Plus, Opio, Tajai, and Phesto early in their careers. Set in 1994, There Is Only Now serves as a bookend to two decades of music since the release of their seminal debut album, ’93 Til Infinity.

There Is Only Now sees the Souls of Mischief crew members trading bars with a cast of hip-hop and soul luminaries. Narrated by A Tribe Called Quest member Ali Shaheed Muhammed-as DJ for fictional local Oakland radio station K-NOW-the album’s story unfolds under his all-seeing eye. Busta Rhymes makes an appearance as the story’s villain, Womack, on “Womack’s Lament,” while William Hart of the legendary vocal soul group, The Delfonics, lends his buttery falsetto to the contemplative “Another Side of You.” Snoop Dogg drops knowledge on the situation with an ice cold verse on the title track “There Is Only Now,” and Scarub from Living Legends goes in on “Stone Cold.”

Souls of Mischief and Adrian Younge have created a hip-hop album like no other. The result of a special moment for all involved, There Is Only Now proves that after two decades in the rap game hip-hop’s Fab Four remains committed to the expansion of their legacy as hip-hop innovators and pioneers.

The GetOnDown Souls Of Mischief “There Is Only Now” Super Box, Limited to 100 Copies includes:

- There Is Only Now 2 CD Set (Vocal + Instrumentals)
- There Is Only Now Picture Disc
- There Is Only Now Regular LP
- There Is Only Now Instrumental LP
- There Is Only Now Ali Shaheed Muhammad Remix 10″
- There Is Only Now 7″ Single Featuring Snoop Dogg
- There Is Only Now Vocal Cassette
- There Is Only Now Instrumental Cassette
- There Is Only Now Ali Shaheed Muhammad Remix Cassette
- There Is Only Now Cassette Slip Case
- Linear Labs Slip mats
- Housed in a Black & Gold Embroidered Linear Labs Premium Box
- LIMITED TO 100 COPIES!

Various incarnations of the package in vinyl, CD, and cassette formats are available for pre-order now at www.getondown.com.

Title track from Souls Of Mischief’s upcoming Adrian Younge helmed LP, There Is Only Now.

Earlier this month, it was announced that prolific Oakland hip-hop group Souls of Mischief joined forces with multi-instrumentalist producer Adrian Younge for a collaborative concept album, There Is Only Now, which will be releasing via Adrian’s newly launched label, Linear Labs, on August 26. Premiering this week, the first single and title song, “There Is Only Now” features Snoop Dogg trading verses with the Hieroglyphics quartet for the very first time. The song is now available for sale both digitally and as a 7″ single with the accompanying b-side, “All You Got Is Your Word.”

Taking inspiration from a real-life nearly fatal incident involving the group at the peak of their seminal hit “93 ‘Til Infinity,” in 1994, the concept album of There Is Only Now begins with Souls members A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai fearing for their lives as a masked gunman takes aim. What unravels throughout the 19-track masterpiece is a dramatic tale full of love, loss, and revenge, as fictional characters collide with a non-fictional event that nearly destroyed the group near the start of their career. On this title song (track #8,) listeners are introduced to a love interest between two characters, Stoney and his girlfriend Miriam. “Can’t nobody tell them nothin’, their love is unstoppable,” claims A-Plus, rapping bar-for-bar with Opio, who quickly adds “overcome any obstacle, together they will always grow.” Enter Snoop Dogg, who shares his perspective on young love, while also hinting at the development of a precarious love triangle, rapping “the homie Stoney in love with his girl, and so is his big homie/ now what a pity, a foot note to the cut throat/ it’s rare, see I was told all in love is unfair.”

Recorded solely on 2″ analogue tape using only live instrumentation, Adrian Younge and his band Venice Dawn offer break-beat drums, flurrying keys, and warm bass as the back drop for the Cali-bred MC’s. In addition to Snoop, the album includes features from Busta Rhymes, William Hart of the Delfonics, and Scarub of the Living Legends crew and narration by Ali Shaheed Muhammad who takes on the character of a radio DJ for the fictional radio station K-NOW, as he narrates parts of the story. “There Is Only Now” is currently available on 7″ single, with the accompanying b-side “All You Got Is Your Word.” With all iTunes pre-orders, purchasers will receive a free download of digital versions of “There Is Only Now” and “All You Got Is Your Word.”

Legendary hip-hop group Souls of Mischief announce that they’re releasing a conceptual collaboration with renowned producer and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Younge entitled There Is Only Now on Adrian’s newly launched record label, Linear Labs on August 26th, 2014. Inspired by a near-fatal incident involving group members A-Plus, Opio, Tajai, and Phesto early in their careers, the unique and cinematic crime tale creatively and expertly weaves stories of love, loss, and revenge throughout the entire album. Set in 1994, There is Only Now serves as a bookend to two decades of music since the release of their seminal debut album, ’93 Til Infinity.

There Is Only Now sees the Souls of Mischief crew members trading bars with a cast of hip-hop and soul luminaries. Narrated by A Tribe Called Quest member Ali Shaheed Muhammed – as DJ for fictional local Oakland radio station K-NOW – the album’s story unfolds under his all-seeing eye. Busta Rhymes makes an appearance as the story’s villain, Womack, on “Womack’s Lament,” while William Hart of the legendary vocal soul group, The Delfonics, lends his buttery falsetto to the contemplative “Another Side of You.” Snoop Dogg drops knowledge on the situation between Stoney and Womack with an ice cold verse on the title track “There Is Only Now,” and Scarub from Living Legends goes in on “Stone Cold.”

Souls of Mischief and Adrian Younge have created a hip-hop album like no other. Recorded solely on 2″ analogue tape, using only acoustic live instrumentation played mostly by Adrian himself, and recorded together as a group in one room, the project boasts incredible dedication, discipline, and skill sets that few others in modern day can match. Adrian employed no computers, no drum sampling, and everything was recorded in one take. The result of a special moment for all involved, There Is Only Now proves that after two decades in the rap game hip-hop’s Fab Four remains committed to the expansion of their legacy as hip-hop innovators and pioneers.

In observation of the 20th (or is that 21st?) anniversary of Souls Of Mischief’s seminal debut album, 93 Til Infinity, GetOnDown will produce a special deluxe edition of the album, set for a March 7th release date, retailing for $69.93.

The Souls Super Bundle Includes:

- A “Hiero Light Box” outer case with a 4.5 inch blue LED-lit Hieroglyphics logo – activated by a hidden button on the case. The iconic ‘third-eye’ logo glows in radiant neon blue when the button is pushed! The “Hiero Light Box” also holds the “Souls of Mischief Music Book” in a distinctive slide-out drawer emblazoned with the Souls graf-style logo.

- A 2-CD “Souls of Mischief Music Book” package with a unique CD casebook that plays the song “93 ‘til Infinity” when the cover is opened. It houses two CDs which include the full album plus 11 extra remix and instrumental tracks (8 never before on CD, including exclusive “93 ‘til Infinity” a capella which has not been previously released in any format.) This deluxe 2-CD hardcover “Music Book” also includes 36-pages of liner notes comprised of images and group interviews by Eric Arnold (from 2013) and Joseph “Jazzbo” Patel (from 1993).

- A 2-LP deluxe gatefold edition of 93 ‘til Infinity(with the same liner notes as the “Music Book”).

- An exclusive Souls of Mischief x Get On Down T-Shirt, available in black or white with front and back print.

Additional a la carte packages are available, as well.

Today, A-Plus and AAGEE are proud to release their album, Molly’s Dirty Water. Known for producing the seminal track “93 ’til Infinity,” A-Plus branches out from his traditional hip-hop sound and showcases the evolution of his production by unleashing his electronic side. A-Plus here offers unique insight into the world of “Molly” through reflective narrative about experimentation, social issues, and temptation. In addition to the album, A-Plus gives us something else to be excited about: a music video for “Blue Tear Drops,” the third track off MDW.

Explaining his musical transition, A-Plus stated,”The project started off as hip-hop, but as we pushed our creative boundaries [it] uncontrollably morphed into a Hip Hop/Electronic hybrid. The process was gradual, recording over 30 songs and fine-tuning the sound by testing songs at our favorite after-hour spots. I am very excited for people to hear this new production, as it is a true reflection of my creative freedom as an artist.”

Also, check out the video for “Blue Tear Drops”, released today.