Sound Unlimited
Encyclopedia
Sound Unlimited, formerly known as Sound Unlimited Posse and Westside Posse, 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. The band's members were: Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez (who were brother and sister), MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.
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 and 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". 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. This "breakthrough recording deal" was negotiated with the help of Public Enemy.
The group's origins in Sydney's western suburbs impacted the music they produced. 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."
Despite major label support, the group initially received some criticism from the Australian hip hop community as their music was said to be "slick and heavily instrumental" and also because of claims by the band to represent Sydney Hip Hop. 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. They also performed at the Big Day Out
Music Festival.
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).
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
.
Australian hip hop
Australian hip hop music began in the early 1980s; originally it was primarily influenced by hip hop music and culture imported via radio and television from the United States of America. However, since the 1990s, a distinctive local style has developed. Australian hip hop is an underground music...
group from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and the first Australian hip hop act signed to a major label (Sony BMG
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
) during the 1990s. The band's members were: Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez (who were brother and sister), MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.
History
Westside Posse originated from the western suburbs of Sydney in the BurwoodBurwood, New South Wales
Burwood is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Burwood is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Burwood Council....
subdivision in 1983. Their first appearance on an album was a compilation called Down Under by Law, released by Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 1988. Later in 1989 the group would become the Sound Unlimited Posse.
The group had members of Russian and mixed Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
origin and 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". Members Def Wish and Sereck of Def Wish Cast
Def Wish Cast
Def Wish Cast are an Australian hip hop group originally from around Penrith, Sydney. Currently they reside in a few areas around the City of Sydney.-Biography:...
appear b-boying in the film clip for "Saturday". The album title was inspired by the 1990 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, Postcards From The Edge
Postcards from the Edge (film)
Postcards from the Edge is a 1990 American comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Carrie Fisher is based on her 1987 semi-autobiographical novel of the same title.-Plot:...
, 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. This "breakthrough recording deal" was negotiated with the help of Public Enemy.
The group's origins in Sydney's western suburbs impacted the music they produced. 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."
Despite major label support, the group initially received some criticism from the Australian hip hop community as their music was said to be "slick and heavily instrumental" and also because of claims by the band to represent Sydney Hip Hop. 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
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
and De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
during their Australian tours, including opening for Public Enemy during their 1992 Australian tour. They also performed at the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
Music Festival.
The group split up in 1994, with Rosano and Tina forming the UK-based acid jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
band Renegade Funktrain with Tina's husband, Derek Antunes (a former drummer for New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block are an American boy band from Boston, Massachusetts, assembled in 1984 by producer Maurice Starr. The band currently consists of brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood.New Kids on the Block enjoyed success in the late 1980s and...
's touring band).
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
Koolism
Koolism is an Australian hip hop duo originating from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.The members are lyricist Hau Latukefu and producer/DJ/musician Danielsan Ichiban .-History:Koolism started out in 1992 when Elleson joined a group by the name...
, Def Wish Cast
Def Wish Cast
Def Wish Cast are an Australian hip hop group originally from around Penrith, Sydney. Currently they reside in a few areas around the City of Sydney.-Biography:...
and the Hilltop Hoods
Hilltop Hoods
The Hilltop Hoods are an ARIA Award winning Australian hip hop group, from Adelaide, South Australia. Their members are MCs Suffa , MC Pressure , DJ Debris and formerly DJ Next. They have been at the centre of the Australian hip hop scene for the better part of two decades, originally forming back...
.
Discography
| Album Information | Track Listing | |
| Down By Law | Released: 1988 |
|
| Peace By Piece | Released: 1990 |
|
| Unity | Released: 1991 |
|
| Kickin' To The Undersound | Released: 1992 |
|
| A Postcard From The Edge Of The Under-Side | Released: 1992 |
|
| Saturday Night | Released: 1992 |