Opio ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Souls Of Mischief Freestyle New Verses To 93 Til Infinity

The Souls Of Mischief have been celebrating 30 years of Hip-Hop respect with the fans that provided it. Tajai, A-Plus, Phesto Dee, and Opio are in the midst of a tour with 93 stops (dates below) celebrating the 30th anniversary of 93 Til' Infinity, the quartet's acclaimed debut album—and its... Read more

August 2, 2023 Video

The Juice Crew Takes On Hieroglyphics In A War Of Lyricism (Audio)

Since the very beginning, Hip-Hop has been full of dope crews. While many of them are made up of solo artists, they still tend to come together for posse cuts or sometimes even entire albums. The Juice Crew is easily one of the most influential squads of all time. Members... Read more

March 3, 2019 Audio

Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino & Dante Ross Detail The Making Of No Need For Alarm

The cornerstone of Del The Funky Homosapien’s career and artistic identity belongs to his second album, No Need For Alarm. Released 25 years ago last month, the Elektra Records LP may not be remembered as a commercial triumph. However, the record increased the profiles of Del’s Hieroglyphics cohorts, establishing a... Read more

December 2, 2018 Exclusive, Interview

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Souls Of Mischief. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

April 9, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Members Of Souls Of Mischief & Freestyle Fellowship Tag Team With Battle Rhymes (Audio)

In the early 1990s, Los Angeles, California's Good Life Café played host to some legendary lyricists with its open mic Hip-Hop shows. From Jurassic 5 (Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee) to Freestyle Fellowship, Skee-Lo to Volume 10, many great MCs made pre-album impact on a community of music, poetry,... Read more

December 5, 2016 Audio

Imagine Souls Of Mischief’s “93 ‘Til Infinity” Remixed To Over 15 Amazing Beats From 1993 (Audio)

Souls Of Mischief's "93 'til Infinity" remains a pinnacle for the veteran Oakland, California quartet. From the Jive/Zomba Records album of the same name, the introductory work from the Hieroglyphics members would see their strongest chart traction for album and single, in showing the rest of the world how they... Read more

May 13, 2016 Throwback

Casual & Saafir Go From Legendary Battle Opponents To Key Collaborators (Audio Premiere)

Almost 22 years ago, Casual and Saafir went off the rails (and reels) in a 1994 Wake Up Show (Sway & King Tech) syndicated radio battle. At the time, Casual had just released his Jive Records debut, Fear Itself, which featured "the Saucee Nomad" on one particular track. Saafir, who had... Read more

February 16, 2016 Audio, Exclusive

Del The Funky Homosapien & Souls Of Mischief’s 1997 Freestyle Is A Purist’s Paradise (Audio)

In 1997, the Hieroglyphics crew was embarking on the early stages of an independent Hip-Hop empire. Del The Funky Homosapien (or "Del Tha Funkee Homosapien" as it was at the time) had released two heralded albums with Elektra Records. The Oakland, California quarter of Souls of Mischief has been part... Read more

February 10, 2016 Throwback

Souls Of Mischief’s Opio & Free The Robots Recorded An LP In A Redwoods Forest. Hear Some (Audio Premiere)

Earlier this year, Souls Of Mischief/Hieroglyphics MC Opio and producer Free The Robots teamed for The Subconscious Mind EP, including "Let The Bass Go." Moving forward, the Oakland, California veteran and the accomplished producer (Capital STEEZ, Nocando, Busdriver) merge towards Sempervirens (September 18). The duo recorded this full-length in a California... Read more

August 10, 2015 Audio, Exclusive, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief’s Opio Knows Something About Making Futuristic Jeep Music (Audio)

Of all the members of Souls Of Mischief, it often seems like Opio keeps the lowest profile. The Oakland, California veteran may play the background, but he's laid down some critical verses for Souls as well as the Hieroglyphics releases. With a handful of projects, Ope' showcases a 2015 cut,... Read more

February 14, 2015 Audio

Zion I, Sadat X, Opio, Mr. Lif, Kev Choice & Deuce Eclipse Get It In (Video)

Zion I pulls out all of the stops for "Get Urs." The Oakland-formed duo of MC Zumbi and Amplive link with Sadat X (Brand Nubian), Mr. Lif (The Perceptionists), Opio (Souls Of Mischief), Deuce Eclipse, and Kev Choice for this stellar (and hella colorful) concept video. It's straight bars, and... Read more

October 5, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief Say There Is Only Now To Listen To The LP (Album Stream)

One of 2014's most-anticipated albums is Souls Of Mischief & Adrian Younge's There Is Only Now. The Oakland foursome's first LP in four years is their first with Adrian, who has garnered fame working with Ghostface Killah, The Dramatics, and others. With a strong response already to the group's star-studded... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Are Finally Back, Sounding As Great As Ever (Audio)

Tomorrow (August 26), the mighty Souls Of Mischief crew is teaming with producer/musician Adrian Younge to release There Is Only Now. The Oakland, California quartet's first LP in four years finds the crew in their mid-1990s pocket that made them an instrumental element in re-defining West Coast Hip-Hop diversity during... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief’s Ghetto Superhero Causes Electric Company Flashbacks (Lyric Video)

Lyric videos are all fine and good, but not all of them are from artists who really hold lyrics in high honor. Souls Of Mischief have over 23 years playing with words, using them to move crowds and give Hip-Hop's perception of Oakland Hip-Hop a facelift. "Ghetto Superman" from next... Read more

August 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief Leave Em Panic Struck + Ali Shaheed Slated To Remix Whole LP (Audio)

In just over two weeks, the Souls Of Mischief crew will release their album, There Is Only Now, produced by Adrian Younge. The looks keep coming though, from Tajai, Phesto, A-Plus, and Opio. Today (August 11), S.O.M drop "Panic Struck," which finds some hard, confident rapping over sparse percussion and... Read more

August 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Remind Us All That Word Is Bond (Audio)

The Souls Of Mischief are coming out (There Is Only Now, August 26) to remind Heads that the Oakland, California quartet helped architect so much of what is in vogue right now. Tajai, Opio, Phesto Dee, and A-Plus found the proper balance between smooth and thoughtful in the early '90s,... Read more

July 15, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Let Off Their First There Is Now Look & Snoop Dogg’s Down (Audio)

One of 2014's more anticipated albums appears to be Souls Of Mischief's There Is Only Now. Opio, Tajai, A-Plus, and Phesto spent last year celebrating 20 years of 93 'Til Infinity, with a tour, a box set, and a lot of much-deserved attention from the former Jive Records sensations. While... Read more

June 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief’s 93 ‘Til Infinity Deluxe Reissues, With A Light Box, Bonus CD & Music Book

In a month that's already announced a deluxe reissue of Mobb Deep's 1995 album, The Infamous, as well fellow Queens native/collaborator Nas' 1994 debut, Illmatic, next up is the Souls Of Mischief's debut, 93 'til Infinity. The Jive Records album by Tajai, Phesto, Opio, and A-Plus featured the breakthrough single... Read more

February 5, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Souls Of Mischief’s 93 ’til Infinity 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

By: Bandini My biggest gripe with the cliché-use of the word “classic” is the freshness in which it’s pulled out. In order to be a classic, you must endure the tendency to forget, overlook, and turn the page. The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Baritz is classic—with its long lines, razor-sharp edges... Read more

September 7, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief & Gummy Soul – 93 Still (Mixtape)

With permission (and some acapellas) from the heralded Oakland collective Souls Of Mischief (on tour now), Gummy Soul's Wally Clark was able to re-craft his own spin on the famed 1993 Jive Records album—93 Still. The original (read: classic) released 20 years ago this month. In a statement, Wally said,... Read more

September 4, 2013 Fresh, Mixes