CATALOG: CLMN-12001
RELEASE DATE: 3/13/2008
This is technically the FIRST Colemine release ever. This is the Japanese import from 2008 from P-Vine Records. I (Terry Cole) believe this is the last of the remaining stock.
It is impossible to separate the music on this record from the Oxford, Ohio, based hip-hop outfit SoundScape. SoundScape was founded in 2005 by bassplayer Ian Baggette. Originally, the group’s style was a fusion of hip-hop and jazz reminiscent of Guru’s original Jazzmatazz album. Nearly all the band members were Miami University students at the time, and Louis Rideout was tapped to be the band’s MC.
Rideout, a Detroit native, brought his distinctly positive and socially conscious lyrics to the band as they immediately began to garner attention in Oxford. As the band continued to grow musically, band members came and went. When Ian Baggette had the opportunity to travel to South Africa, a new bassplayer was needed. Enter Terry Cole. Shortly after joining the band, Terry began dabbling in hip-hop production and studying electronic music composition under Dr. Jim Sheppard. The City is actually an outgrowth of a project Terry started during his senior year with Rideout. And with the help of a strong supporting cast, they were finally able to put together their first full-length album. The album is a blend of hip-hop, funk, jazz, and soul. It fuses each of their own musical styles, drawing heavily from artists such as Common, J Dilla, and De La Soul.
“Rideout conducts himself expertly, with a clear, fluid delivery, and accessible guy-next-door personality that allows his passion to show through without making him sound preachy. He’s a regular dude who loves Hip-Hop, loves his city and wants both to be as healthy as possible because if they’re healthy, he’s healthy, and I can appreciate that. And if you’re at all appreciative of the artistry of emcees like Blu, Lupe Fiasco, k-os, and Wale, you’ll probably appreciate this cat too.”
- Okayplayer
“One of the best live band hip-hop soul projects we've heard in a long time!”
- Dusty Groove