Soul Inscribed is an American hip hop–fusion band and beatbox crew from New York City, formed in 2011. The group blends hip hop, soul jazz, dub, afrobeat, and live beatboxing into an eclectic live performance style.
Formation
Soul Inscribed was founded by Baba Israel (emcee, beatboxer, didgeridoo), who was raised in New York City by parents who were core members of The Living Theater. Baba Israel previously co-founded the Australian hip hop crew Metabass'n'Breath. In 2000, he met future bandmate Yako 440 while on tour with DJ Logic, and the two began collaborating on albums including Force of Life, Beatbox Dub Poetics, and Highest Degree. While teaching music at "The Door" community center in New York City, Baba and Yako met 17-year-old singer-songwriter and beatboxer Jonathan "Duv" Zaragoza. The three began working together, with Baba and Yako co-producing Duv's debut solo album Urban Artistik before later uniting to form Soul Inscribed. Saxophonist and flutist Sean Nowell joined the group after Baba Israel collaborated with The Kung-Fu Masters.
Career Highlights
In 2016, Soul Inscribed was selected to perform and tour as part of the "American Music Abroad" program, sponsored by the United States Department of State. The group toured Russia, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Mauritius, serving as cultural ambassadors. Their self-titled debut album was released on February 5, 2016. Baba Israel and Yako 440 also created, wrote, and starred in The Spinning Wheel, a theatrical production paying tribute to the life and work of Baba Israel's father, Steve Ben Israel. In April 2016, they were featured in the Brooklyn Academy of Music's program "Poetry 2016: Past is Present."
Band Line-up
- Baba Israel – rapping, beatboxing, didgeridoo
- Yako 440 – multi-instrumentation, beatboxing
- Duv – vocals, beatboxing
- Sean Nowell – saxophone, flute, beatboxing
- Grace Galu – vocals
- Doron Lev – drums, rapping
Discography
- Soul Inscribed (self-titled debut album, 2016)
Genre
Hip hop, soul jazz, jam band, beatboxing, dub, afrobeat
