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Artist: Source of Labor

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Sureshotsingles Vol. 1

Seattle rap group Source Of Labor are true legends in the Seattle rap history books. The group first consisted of three members, Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore, Upendo “Negus I” Tookas, and Joel “Kamikaze” Lozano, who all came together while living in Atlanta. Moore and Tookas were good friends who met in Seattle in 1989. They were not related, but Moore would often use the term of endearment “brother” describing Tookas. In fact, Moore’s mother Dr. Gwendolyn Jones confirmed that they were not brothers, and she told me that, “Jon considered Upendo to be his brother from another mother.”

Moore, Tookas, and Lozano returned back to Seattle in 1992. In 1994 they added their fourth member, Igbnifa “Blahzey Blah” Fadoyamin who had moved to Seattle from Chicago. The foursome dropped a four-song, self-titled EP in 1995, and Seattle noticed. While the iron was still hot, Source Of Labor struck again later that same year with a twelve-inch vinyl release. This one was called Sureshotsingles Vol. 1, and it contained two innovative new tracks. Also along for the ride was a remix of “Come With We” from the earlier EP.

The A-side is Quietly Resurrect, abbreviated as “Q.R.” Blahzey has the first verse, and the minimal vibraphone-based beat allows Blah’s booming voice to resonate. Wordsayer rhymes second, in a freewheeling verse. “I’m a child of the sun, I’ll make the coldest crew sweat,” he insists. The instrumental is included, and the Negus I beat transmits deep emotion through the subtle melodies.

Side B of Sureshotsingles Vol. 1 starts with the aforementioned remix of “Come With We,” done by the one and only Vitamin D from Tribal Productions. Vitamin completely reimagines the original beat, removing the Eric B & Rakim sample, and the lyrics are different in many places. But the biggest change is the addition of a verse by Erika “Kylea” White. Kylea and Wordsayer had met in May of 1994, and by 1995 they had become a couple. “It’s that ultimate crew with that ultimate sound,” she brags.

Continuing side B is a Kamikaze-produced banger titled “S.O.L. Control.” The celebratory vibe is infectious, and this song makes me want to smile every time I hear it. “We’re four bad brothers with soul control,” the MCs rhyme together. This is the ultimate party song to get people dancing. Trumpet work by Cecil Young on both “Q.R.” and “S.O.L. Control” adds depth and integrity to the recordings as truly live creations. This was Source Of Labor’s second release, and it showed a group on the rise. Written by Novocaine132

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Source Of Labor

This cassette-only, four-song release marked the beginning of a powerful movement in Seattle. The art collective responsible was called Jasiri Media Group, and the most prominent musical group from Jasiri was called Source Of Labor.

When Source Of Labor was released, Source Of Labor consisted of the four members pictured in the cover photo. Two of the members, Jonathan “Wordsayer” Moore, and Upendo “Negus I” Tookas, met in Seattle in 1989, and then formed the group in Atlanta, GA with DJ Kamikaze. Moore and Tookas were close friends, but were not related. This has often been misreported. They returned to Seattle in late 1992, and connected with Igbnifa “Blahzey Blah” Fadoyamin in 1994. Source Of Labor in 1995 was the group’s first release.

Opener “Come With We” was the group’s first big single. It features an introduction of the group in the first line of the song, “We got two MCs (Wordsayer and Blahzey Blah), Pops (Negus) makes three, and Kamikaze makes four.” The song establishes the group as conscious with lyrics of positivity, and also includes some sprinkled old-school b-boy spirit in the form of bells from “My Melody” by Eric B & Rakim. Next is “20,000 Leagues Of Black,” which is a somber meditation. The lyrics reflect on the countless Black men and women who died during the passage to America. “At the bottom of the sea lay my ancestors’ bones,” laments Wordsayer.

Side B begins with “Charlie Says,” which is essentially a love letter to rap culture. The lyrics warn of the perils which await copycats and biters. After a strident horn intro, the tone becomes subdued as the group destroys all competitors over the rolling beat. The chorus says it all, “Charlie says I wanna be an MC; Charlie says I wanna be like you.” The last song “Tuff” is the most Caribbean-influenced track on the tape. It contains a Jamaican vibe with repeated calls of “Champion Sound” and lyrics about the fall of Babylon. My favorite line in the song repurposes the Roots “Proceed” lyric “Just think, what if you could just blink yourself away,” into “Just think, what if you could just read a book a day.” This self-titled EP was the beginning of a long and successful career for Source Of Labor. Written by Novocaine132

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Whatever / Overstandings

This split 12″ is the first vinyl release from Beyond Reality and the first post-Blahzay Blah outing from Source of Labor. Beyond Reality’s side features the track “Whatever”, with a hook provided by Felicia Loud. The “Moonlight Remix” of “Whatever” is in my opinion the stronger of the two, which is a sedated, dark trippy gem. On the flip side, Source of Labor represents with the track “Overstandings”, along with its also superior “Wetlands Remix”. What can I say, I’ve always been a fan of the b-side. With this release, Kylea proves to be one of Seattle’s dopest MCs of her era; her flow is impeccably even and on point. In contrast, Wordsayer’s flow is on the dense side, and without Blah he tends to crowd the track a little bit. But he’s an emcee who’s always had a lot to say, and his flow is perfect for his message. Negus I, who produced nearly all the tracks, has always been a dope producer – I love his work with BR and SOL, and consider him one of the best beatmakers out there. He certainly doesn’t disappoint here – Especially the “Moonlight Remix”, which I think is one of his best tracks. Source of Labor, unfortunately, folded after their 2000 album, Stolen Lives. Wordsayer has been successful in managing some notable talent in the new crop of 206 hip-hop, but I can’t find any information on what Negus I has been doing. I sincerely hope he’s still making music. (This review originally appeared on the Bring That Beat Back blog and was written by Jack Devo.)

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Wetlands

More greatness from Wordsayer and Negus I, aka Source of Labor. Here they present their Northwest hip-hop anthem “Wet Lands.” Vitamin D makes a well-deserved appearance on the turntables. “Interstate Translate” is on the flipside, featuring I-Self Divine from the Micranots. Take a careful listen to Negus I’s production on both cuts. His style is distinctive and dense, with layers upon layers of percussion. Over the years he’s become one of my favorite beatmakers, and these two tracks demonstrate his style well. (This review originally appeared on the Bring That Beat Back blog and was written by Jack Devo.)

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Balance

S.O.L. is the embodiment of Northwest hip-hop. They’ve been staples in the scene here for as long as I can remember. Emcee/school teacher Wordsayer was at all the functions; I’d see him at every single show and battle. Since ’95 they’ve been puttin’ it down on wax, and I assume they’ve been around for longer than that. This is their third release, from ’96, and features DJ Kamikaze, emcees Wordsayer and Blahzay Blah, and beatmaker Negus I.

It’s a strange record. The songs “Balance” and “Galaxies” are fully represented with vox and instrumental versions (“Galaxies” has a remix as well), but there are snippets included of three other songs I haven’t been able to find anywhere in their full versions. “Easy” showed up in a different form on their full-length album from 2000, but the version found here, along with “Sailing” and “50¢” have long eluded me. Eight tracks of hard labor. (This review originally appeared on the Bring That Beat Back blog and was written by Jack Devo.)

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IReality

Kylea comes out strong on this slab of hot wax from 1998. Blessed with one of the smoothest voices in hip-hop, she could be found all over Rain City releases for years, from 14 Fathoms to Choked Up to Stolen Lives–and often times I felt her guest appearances outshone the featured artist. With an impeccable delivery and imagery-filled lyrics, she is definitely an artist in command of her art. This collaborative 12″ features two stellar tracks from Kylea with Negus I on beats (two of his best, in my opinion), and an additional track by Source Of Labor. The A-side, “I reality”, has to be one of my all-time favorite Northwest tracks without a doubt. (This review originally appeared on the Bring That Beat Back blog and was written by Jack Devo.)

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Stolen Lives

Source of Labor’s Stolen Lives, from 2000, is a masterpiece of Seattle hip-hop. Source Of Labor was unlike any other rap group before or since. Everyone should have this in their collection. I can’t speak highly enough about this contribution to our city’s musical canon. (It’s oft-cited as the record that inspired a young Macklemore to begin rapping, FWIW.)

If you’ve never heard of this record, go seek it out immediately. Pictured here is the 19-track double vinyl. As Wordsayer raps on the opener, it’s an “out-of-body audio excursion.” If you can’t snag the vinyl, there’s also a CD version, with a different cover.

Source of Labor was primarily the work of emcee Wordsayer (the late, great Jonathan Moore) and Negus I, with contributions from Vitamin D and MC Kylea, aka Beyond Reality. Stolen Lives was the long-anticipated debut full-length album from a group whose influence is hard to measure. And they deliver here an album that is viscerally emotional, expansive, and experimental, sometimes with a careening rap flow that feels like a car accelerating down a very large hill without brakes. It’s thrilling.

The album is also defiantly proud of its Seattle roots, with civic anthems like “Wetlands,” or there’s “Sunshowers,” which opens with an audio clip that suggests that the people of Seattle think that “the sun is evil.” (LOL.)

The songs often incorporate live performance recordings, which I have to say groups today don’t do enough. I especially love Side 4 and the song “Invaded Lands”, featuring Beyond Reality, which I’ll confess I’ve often had on repeat, playing just that one side over and over again. Treat yourself and seek this own out today.

Here’s another take:

Source of Labor’s prominence on the local hip-hop scene is growing in accordance with the effort the group (and Jasiri Media as a whole) keeps pourin’ into it. If you’ll pardon the play on words, the labor that goes into the source of this sound is massive: From their regular, high-energy shows in Seattle to Stolen Lives, their new full-length album, Source of Labor are working hard to carve a distinct niche for themselves in a corner of the country that still isn’t recognized for the quality hip-hop that keeps sprouting up out of the region’s soggy, intellectual thought-generating climate.

It’s precisely that climate that Source of Labor keep paying tribute to on songs like “Emerald City,” “Sunshower” and “Wetlands,” a catchy song released last year as a 12-inch single. (Anyone else want to get “Wetlands” nominated as the city’s honorary theme song?)

Razor-sharp turntablism, an assortment of humorous, Northwest-specific samples and nice mixing touches make for a strong, original album, and Wordsayer (vocalist and songwriter Jonathan Moore) has got an unquestionable knack for loose, flowing, historically and socially grounded microphone poeticism. To be sure, not every track is particularly memorable-or even seems designed to be-but songs like “Easy” are standout cuts by any standard. Opening with a live version and segueing smoothly into the studio recording, “Easy” rushes you off on a kind of laidback, intergalactic journey, and stops along the way for some schoolin’ on the importance of a positively conscious lifestyle in word, intent, and deed. That’s the kind of message that we could all stand to incorporate more fully into our lives. (This review originally appeared in The Rocket and was written by Silja J.A. Talvi.)

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