DISCERN/DEFINE

Poets Of Rhythm

A 11 track album () — released July 9th 2001 on QUANNUM PROJECTS

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A Little History As the Quannum Universe continues to expand, we've found it necessary to put it down for the uninitiated. Let's start with the facts: the label is called Quannum Projects. It was formed in 1997 by the core artists on the label, who exist collectively as Quannum, a play on the word 'quantum.' Quannum consists of: Lyrics Born, Lateef the Truth Speaker (together known as Latyrx), Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), and DJ Shadow. Also rotating in various orbits within the Quannum circumference are Joyo Velarde (songstress extrordinaire), Maroons (Chief Xcel and Lateef the Truth Speaker's collaborative monicker) Portland's Lifesavas and Erinn Anova, and the Poets of Rhythm (bringing Funk music and more, all the way from Germany). Quannum rose from the ashes of Solesides, an artist-run label realized within the hallowed halls of KDVS, the university-sponsored radio band at the University of California at Davis. Developed between 1991-2 by the same artists in Quannum along with mentor Jeff Chang, Solesides saw its first release in early 1993. 'Send Them' by Lyrics Born (then known as Asia Born), and 'Entropy' by DJ Shadow, proved to be a strong calling-card for the experimentation and rawness that was to follow; indeed, it has been recognized as a true classic of West Coast underground hip-hop. It's also been sampled by the likes of Black Moon, Chemical Brothers, and more recently, Fatboy Slim on his smash 'Gangsta Trippin'.' Blackalicious followed the opening salvo with their critically acclaimed EP 'Melodica,' eventually licensed by a fresh-faced Mo' Wax Records in 1994. The stellar lyrical stylings of Gift of Gab, combined with Xcel and Shadow's production acumen, led to Solesides' first bonafide hit: 'Swan Lake.' 1995 saw the Solesides baton passed again, this time to a newcomer. What started out as a novelty B-side of Lateef the Truth Speaker's first single quickly became a phenomenon, as the song 'Latryx,' featuring Lyrics Born, gave rise to one of Solesides' (and Quannum's) most popular acts. Their debut LP, released in 1996, continues to stand as Solesides' best seller. Several singles, an EP, and two Bammie nominations later, Solesides was ready to move out of the minor leagues. As Solesides gave way to Quannum, there was a feeling that the collective ideology had changed. What started out as 'a cool way to get our reps out there and represent hip-hop,' became more involved; goals became broader, tastes more varied. We needed a rallying cry, a project that the artists of Quannum could come together on and cultivate as a crew. The first LP release on Quannum projects, entitled Quannum Spectrum, is the result of that collaboration. Together with friends Jurassic 5, Divine Styler, Souls of Mischief (who appear on the single 'The Extravaganza'), El-P from Company Flow and Dan the Automator, Quannum Spectrum has upped the ante and raised our own standards of quality and variety. After six years since their first EP Melodica, Blackalicious have dropped their ground-breaking debut full-length Nia. After 99's instant classic A2GEP, Gab and X returned with their opus, a 19-track masterpiece featuring the singles 'Deception' and 'Reanimation.' But Quannum has only just begun.'

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