Quannum Spectrum

Performer: Quannum
Artist: El-P; Souls Of Mischief; Jurassic 5; Divine Styler
Distributor: RED Distribution

Notes: Quannum: Lyrics Born (rap vocals, turntables); Gift Of Gab, Lateef The Truth Speaker (rap vocals); Chief Xcel, DJ Shadow (programming, turntables). Additional personnel: Joyo Velarde (vocals); El-P, Jurassic 5, Souls Of Mischief, Divine Styler (rap vocals); J. Whitefield (guitar); Til Sahm (organ); J. Curly (bass); M. Whitefield (drums); Bo Borale (percussion); Erin Anova (background vocals). Producers include: DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel, Lyrics Born, El Producto, Soul-Saints. A label-compilation project showcasing the varied and growing talents of the rejuvenated Solesides crew, now known as Quannum, Quannum Spectrum represents the unparalleled ambition of one of underground rap's most respected collectives. Though the critics have given DJ Shadow most of the attention, Quannum Spectrum boasts excellent productions and intricate rapping from a half-dozen important figures, including Chief Xcel and Gift of Gab (from Blackalicious), Lateef the Truth Speaker and Lyrics Born (from Latyrx), plus -- for one track -- guest producer El-P. Opening with the groovy Quannum/Jurassic 5 soundclash "Concentration," Quannum Spectrum works through over a dozen wildly diverse tracks, subtly reinforcing the concept of a free-form late-night radio show (it's occasionally broken up by spoken-word meanderings by "host" Mack B. Dog). Though "Storm Warning" and "Divine Intervention" provide a one-two punch early on, the album really never lets up; midway, an irresistible groove number ("People Like Me" by Joyo Velarde) fades into a great Lyrics Born number ("I Changed My Mind") that plays more like blues-rock than hip-hop. It's easily one of the most effective statements of purpose ever produced in hip-hop, much less the underground rap scene. ~ John Bush

The Wire (9/99, p.54) - "...as varied a HipHop album as you'll hear all year....Just as the individual tracks display individual talents, the collective tracks highlight the Quannum crew's solidarity....You can hear the joy in their voices - and the confidence. They know they can't be bested." Muzik (11/99, p.129) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...some fine moments and they're nice enough without the rapping, too." CMJ (1/10/00, p.22) - Included in CMJ's "Beat Box '99 Top 5" - "...confirms the Quannum posse as torchbearers for the...intercontinental struggle for subterranean supremacy....No other release defined the Cali definition of 'ill' quite like SPECTRUM."

Both a label (Quannum Projects) and a collaborative concern, Quannum brought together the brightest talents from the former SoleSides label. An artist-run label, SoleSides was founded in 1992 at KDVS, the college radio station for the University of California-Davis, with most of the above artists involved, plus mentor DJ Zen (Jeff Chang). Its first release, DJ Shadow's 1993 slab "Entropy," gained a worldwide profile after tastemaker James Lavelle released it on his Mo' Wax label. By 1997, SoleSides had become Quannum Projects, and the label debuted with a masterstroke, the brilliant collaborative Quannum Spectrum, including a bounty of West Coast underground talent. ~ John Bush

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.3

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