Bio

The wait is over! After two years, Wellington's pre-eminent hip hop crew The Footsouljahs follow-up the success of their critically acclaimed 2002 EP 'Stylz, Deliveriez, Flowz' with the jaw-dropping new full-length album, 'Puttin' In Work'.

This slammin' 16-track project confidently reasserts The Footsouljahs as standard-setters in Aotearoa's burgeoning hip hop industry. As the group proclaim on the heart-pumping track 'Don't Break the Flow', "you raise the standard, we up the stakes!" and the ferocious energy and masterful production of 'Puttin' In Work' are destined to raise the bar for any other local hip hop artist currently recording.

Steadily performing since 1994, The Footsouljahs are seasoned veterans in the Aotearoa music scene. Emcees K.O.S., Flowz, Ali and Shogun layer unique lyrical styles and fuse original flavors over the meaty beats of master deejay, producer and British Council award recipient DJ Raw. The end result is a guaranteed total package - music with heart, muscle, street credibility and production finesse.

A glowing feature article in a recent edition of New Zealand's premiere hip hop magazine, Back2Basics, described these crowd-rocking specialists as "renowned for their ability to stage some of the livest shows in the business." The same article also noted that The Footsouljahs' steady "ten year grind" has lent a definite maturity to their music that distinguishes them from the current crop of New Zealand hip hop artists. With 'Puttin' In Work', the group have triumphantly translated that heralded live energy and collective spirit into a solid studio album that, in K.O.S.'s own words, "bangs, beginning to end."

The Footsouljahs versatility is well-demonstrated on the new release, with tracks ranging from furious head-nodding anthems such as 'You' and the aforementioned 'Don't Break The Flow', to the smoky drawls of '2Much Sounds' and 'Drops', the classic hip hop braggadocio of 'My Lo Lo', and the unrelenting politically-charged messages of 'Shadows', and 'Struggle'. 'Puttin' In Work' also sees the crew updating their classic live show crowd pleaser, 'Always Represent', with a moving, acoustic rendition that underscores the group's commitment to producing "music from the heart." Other tracks, like 'Bass Booming', 'Warriors', and 'Tinted Windows', are certain to be pumping from cars from the capitol to Cape Reinga.

With their new release, The Footsouljahs bring Aotearoa one of the most consistent and entertaining local hip hop albums to date.

Band Members:
DJ Raw
Phizo aka Flows
K.O.S
Ali
Shogun