Sound Unlimited

For the 1980s TV show, see Sound Unlimited (TV show).
Sound Unlimited
Also known as Westside Posse
Sound Unlimited Posse
Origin Sydney, Australia
Genres Hip hop
Years active 1990–1994
Labels CBS Records
Associated acts Renegade Funktrain
Def Wish Cast
Members Rosano (El Assassin) Martinez
Tina (T-Na) Martinez
MC Kode Blue
Vlad DJ BTL

Sound Unlimited, formerly known as Sound Unlimited Posse and Westside Posse,[1] was an Australian hip hop group from Sydney, New South Wales and the first Australian hip hop act signed to a major label (Sony BMG) during the 1990s.[2][3][4][5] The band's members were: Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez (who were brother and sister), MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.[6]

History

Westside Posse originated from the western suburbs of Sydney in the Burwood subdivision in 1983. Their first appearance on an album was a compilation called Down Under by Law, released by Virgin Records in 1988. Later in 1989 the group would become the Sound Unlimited Posse.

The group had members of Russian and mixed Spanish and Filipino origin[7] and rapped about "the evils of racism and the power of positivity" in their Peace by piece (by piece mix) song.[8] They released several singles from their 1992 album A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside, among them were "Kickin' to the Undersound", "One More From The City" and "Saturday".[9] Members Def Wish and Sereck of Def Wish Cast appear b-boying in the film clip for "Saturday". The album title was inspired by the 1990 film, Postcards From The Edge, which is about a recovering drug addict. A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside was the only Australian rap album to be released by a major label (Columbia Sony) in the 1990s.[10] This "breakthrough recording deal" was negotiated with the help of Public Enemy.[11]

The group's origins in Sydney's western suburbs impacted the music they produced.[12][13] The western suburbs of Sydney are "traditionally regarded as real people, working-class, underprivileged and crime-ridden," and have substantial immigrant communities. These suburbs have significantly less access to the cultural and social capital of those in more affluent, serviced suburbs, creating space for a different cultural form, that of underground hip-hop. Sound Unlimited publicly declares their underground status in their album title, "A Postcard from the Edge of the Under-side."[14]

Despite major label support, the group initially received some criticism from the Australian hip hop community[5] as their music was said to be "slick and heavily instrumental" and also because of claims by the band to represent Sydney Hip Hop.[15] They have contributed to the Australian Hip Hop scene due to supporting several other bands. The group supported acts such as Public Enemy, New Kids on the Block and De La Soul during their Australian tours, including opening for Public Enemy during their 1992 Australian tour.[11] They also performed at the Big Day Out Music Festival.[16]

The group split up in 1994, with Rosano and Tina forming the UK-based acid jazz band Renegade Funktrain with Tina's husband, Derek Antunes (a former drummer for New Kids on the Block's touring band).[17]

In 2004, the A.S.K. Mix of "One More From The City" featured on the compilation album 15.Oz Vinyl: 15 Years Of Australian Hip Hop On Vinyl. The album showcased early and important tracks in Australian hip hop. For the first time Sound Unlimited appeared with other key artists of the genre such as the AKA Brothers, Koolism, Def Wish Cast and the Hilltop Hoods.

Discography

Album Information Track Listing
Down Under By Law[18] Released: 1988
  • Label: Virgin Records Australia
  • Format: Vinyl
  • Genre: Hip Hop
  • Artist Name: Westside Posse
  • A1 Pull the Trigger[19]
  • Other tracks unknown
Peace By Piece[20] Released: 1990
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Produced by Troy Duncombe and Mickey Mahoney for Cat & Moose Productions
  • Format: Vinyl, 12"
  • Genre: Hip Hop
  • A1 Peace By Piece (By Piece Mix)
  • B1 Suicide
  • B2 Peace By Piece
Unity[21] Released: 1991
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Produced by Troy Duncombe and Mickey Mahoney for Cat & Moose Productions
  • Format: Vinyl, 12"
  • Genre: Hip Hop
  • A1 Unity (Escalator Mix)
  • B1 Paradise Lost
  • B2 Unity (7 Inch Mix)
  • B3 Paradise Lost (Instrumental)
Kickin' To The Undersound[22] Released: 1992
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Produced by Troy Duncombe and Mickey Mahoney for Cat & Moose Productions
  • Format: Vinyl, LP
  • Genre: Hip Hop
  • A1 Kickin' To The Undersound (12" Extended Mix)
  • B1 Contact
  • B2 Kickin' To The Undersound
A Postcard From The Edge Of The Under-Side[23] Released: 1992
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Format: Vinyl, LP
  • Genre: Hip Hop
  • A1 Sharks And Rodents
  • A2 Saturday Night
  • A3 Unity
  • A4 The Knowledge, The Power
  • A5 One More From The City
  • B1 New Beginning
  • B2 Sunshine
  • B3 Like I Love You
  • B4 Vlad's Groove
  • B5 Tales From The Westside
  • B6 Paradise Lost
Saturday Night[24] Released: 1992
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Format: Vinyl, LP
  • Genre: Electronic
  • 1. Saturday Night (7" Edit) - 4:06
  • 2. Saturday Night (After Dark Edit) - 5:26
  • 3. Tomayto Tomahto - 4:30
  • 4. Saturday Night (Morning After Edit) - 5:49

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Tony. "Indigensing hip-hop: an Australian migrant youth culture". Local Noise. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
  2. ↑ Pollard, Mark (2003-05-10). "Australian Hip Hop - Ministry Magazine article". Stealth Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  3. ↑ "15 MOMENTS IN SYDNEY HIP HOP by Mark Pollard". Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  4. ↑ Australian Ministry magazine, "Australian hip hop", Issue 04, April 2003
  5. 1 2 Colman, Tim (2005-04-08). "The Great hip hopes". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  6. ↑ "Sound Unlimited (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  7. ↑ Global Noise: Rap and Hip-hop Outside the USA - Page 273, by Tony Mitchell, (Google Books)
  8. ↑ Murphy, Jason (Blaze) (March 1991). "Sound Unlimited Posse". Vapors (Issue 7 March/April 1991). Code of Reason.
  9. ↑ "Soundbuzz". Soundbuzz Australia. 2004-02-06. Retrieved 2008-03-12.
  10. ↑ "Australian hip hop as a 'glocal' subculture" (PDF). The Ultimo Series Seminar. 1998-03-18. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  11. 1 2 Maxwell, Ian. "Sydney Stylee: Hip-Hop Down Under Comin' Up." Global Noise: Rap and Hip-Hop Outside the USA. Ed. Tony Mitchell. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2001: 268.
  12. ↑ Bennett, Andy (2001). "Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture". Cultures of Popular Music. UK: Open University Press. p. 101. ISBN 0-335-20250-0.
  13. ↑ Mitchell, Tony (1996). Popular Music and Local Identity: Pop, Rock and Rap in Europe and Oceania. London: University of Leicester Press. p. 8.
  14. ↑ Mitchell, Tony. "Australian hip hop as a 'glocal' subculture." Presented at The Ultimo Series Seminar. 18 March 1998: 5. <http://www.snarl.org/youth/>
  15. ↑ Phat Beats, Dope Rhymes: Hip Hop Down Under Comin' Upper - Page 49, By Ian Maxwell (Google Books)
  16. ↑ Big Day Out - Past Lineups, 1992
  17. ↑ Mitchell, Tony: Indigensing hip-hop: an Australian migrant youth culture, Local Noise (Australian Research Council).
  18. ↑ "Down Under By Law (vinyl)". Discogs. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Musical Visions By Gerry Bloustien (Wakefield Press 1999) page 88 ISBN 1-86254-500-6
  20. ↑ "Peace by Piece". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  21. ↑ "Unity". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  22. ↑ "Kickin' To The Undersound". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  23. ↑ "A Postcard From The Edge Of The Under-Side". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  24. ↑ "Saturday Night". Discogs. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
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