Group Name: Universal Soul

 

Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

 

Bio:

 

Universal Soul is a Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) based hip hop ensemble who have been a part of the Halifax scene since 1985. Its members have inspired and mentored other hip hop artists Such as Classified, Buck 65, Sixtoo and Trobiz, and they have had numerous collaborations with artists as diverse as The Jimmy Swift Band, Symphony Nova Scotiaand Anne Murray. Although they have avoided media limelight, they have been nominated and won several awards at the regional and national levels.

 

The group consists of three MCs; F.I.Z. (Finley Tolliver), Voodoo (David Adekayode), Tacktishion (Tracey Williams), and one DJ IV (pronounced eye-vee, Brian Pelrine). IV is the newest member of the group, has been spinning since 1999, currently he is the 2010 Atlantic Canadian Redbull 3Style Dj Battle Champion & 2010 Stylus Awards East Coast Dj of the Year and was mentored by Jorun, former member of Universal Soul (now heading First Words).

This group’s origin can be traced back to 1987 when they went by the name Down by Law. Back then their membership consisted of Jorun, as DJ, MCs F.I.Z. and Tacktishion, and Voodoo as dancer. Jorun still collaborates with Universal Soul and has been a driving force behind the Halifax hip hop scene.[1] Universal Soul along with Jorun were responsible for revitalizing this city’s scene in the 1990s after Cool G and MCJ left town. Jorun produced The Haltown Projex, and it was through this production that artists such as Buck 65 andSixtoo obtained media attention and subsequently made their careers.