J.Soul profile picture

J.Soul

About Me

Born into a musically eclectic background...grandfather was a swing band leader, father was a classically trained pianist, J-Soul aka Joel MacDonald was raised listening to all genres of music. From the soulful sounds of Sade and Anita Baker, the funky tunes from Sly & The Family Stone and The Meters, to the folk rock blends of Joni Mitchell and James Taylor...all these sounds would help shape the styles of one of Canada's most talented and original beatmakers/producers.

From 1994 to 2001, Soul spent most of his school years honing his skill and craft through making pause/play mixtapes on his CD/Cassette deck to create loops of breaks, new instrumentals, and also basement recordings with his counterpart and best friend Unkle Sam. They later went on to form the duo Fresh Retaliation and trio Hi-Calibre with MK1. Soul released a solo experimental dub/hiphop LP in 1998, and two separate EPs with his crews EPs in 2000 and 2001 respectively. All LPs garnered underground fame and critical success.

In 2002; He gained an apprentice and production partner; Rochester native Q, aka Quentin Livingston. Together the created a project under the moniker OMGP (Oh My GAWD! Productions). It featured artists from around the US including Detroit's own D-Rick, diverse music from spoken word poetry, to reggae and R&B. With a mere 500 copies, the mixtape spread through the Orlando underground and was recieving college radio airplay with songs like "Closer" and "4 Desperados".

Currently residing in Toronto, Soul is working on his first solo release "S'Elemental" as well as assisting in the homebase of operations of his co-owned label, Ace Records. In 2005 Soul's crew Hi-Calibre was featured on the Universal Records release of "Homegrown 2: Coast 2 Coast" a 12" LP compilation of Canada's finest talent which included the Soul produced "Progression" featuring Arlo Maverick, Oozeela and Proveli Paragon.

2006 was a productive year with his mixing capability being showcased on the Mumbleshiphop.com compilation "Strictly Underground" on Fair One's song "Mother's Daughter" as well as another 12" from Fair One "Fame" featuring El Da Sensei. Edmonton's Politic Live also recently had Soul on the boards for a majority of the tracks featured on their sophomore release "Adaptation". On the production end, Soul is currently working with beatboxers Shamik and Unkle Sam on an LP constructed entirely out of vocal percussion and basic instruments.

RELEASES:


'98 - The Joys of Chemistry
'00 - Fresh Retalition - "Illizm" EP
'01 - Hi-Calibre - "Hi-Cal" EP
'03 - OMGP - "Outside The Box Vol. 1"
'05 - Hi-Cal f. Arlo Maverick, Oozeela & Proveli "Progression" 12"
'07 - Unkle Sam & Shamik - "Because The Biz Told Us To"
'07 - "Dopeness For Dummies" (Live DJ Mix)

THE FAIR ONE SINGLE "FAME" F. EL DA SENSEI IS BEING DISTRIBUTED BY FATBEATS!!!


CLICK ON EITHER PICTURE TO ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!!!


CLICK TO VISIT POLITIC LIVE'S WEBSITE!!

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 19/07/2005
Band Members:
Influences: Pete Rock, DJ Premier, J-Dilla, Large Professor, Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Alchemist, Beatminerz, and all the little people out there.
Sounds Like: nothing you've heard, plus one!
Record Label: Will take your soul.
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Reflecting on the life of Dilla...

Now I don't have anything poigniant to say about Dilla. I know that I loved his music from the first moment I heard it on Pharcyde's Labcabincalifornia. Keep in mind...I was 13 at the time and I could...
Posted by on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:10:00 GMT

PETE ROCK...EDMONTON...MARCH 10TH

S'cuse me as I kiss the sky..Urban DNA & DJ Twist presents... the legendary PETE ROCK Live @ The Starlite Room Saturday, March 10th With Special Guests: Dragon Fli Empire DJ Twist J Sou...
Posted by on Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:36:00 GMT

Afrika Bambaataa has words to say to you.

Afrika Bambaataa Issues A Statement To Rap Artists Of All Regions----------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------The legendary Afrika Bambaataa and his organization Th...
Posted by on Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:14:00 GMT

Words from Khalil Gibran.

**begin emo transmission**Shouts to Amy for this one...good stuff. When love beckons to you follow him, Though his ways are hard & steep. Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And w...
Posted by on Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:59:00 GMT

The Catholic Church Is....

REDICULOUSLY SCARY.and by that, I mean....REDICULOUSLY SCARY.It's just something about their belief in one human's "infalibility" that creeps me out. Like...the pope says "it is as it was" and BLAM......
Posted by on Mon, 03 Jul 2006 09:57:00 GMT

J. Soul mixing tracks for who???

Hey kiddos...stay on the lookout...mixtape is going for duplication soon....beatbox LP is ALMOST done.I currently have mixes out on the new mumbleshiphop.com compilation "Strictly Underground"...which...
Posted by on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 14:20:00 GMT

Unkle Sam & Shamik -- "The Biz Told Us To" -- Beatbox LP!!

OK...so this shit has been in the works for a minute now...and it's almost done. Unkle Sam & Shamik have collabed to put out this full length beatbox LP called "Because The Biz Told Us To", due ou...
Posted by on Tue, 13 Dec 2005 10:42:00 GMT

The whole girls being whores = sexy thing...

So...there's a thousand different things out there that are essentially telling women "be a whore, it's what the boys want!" Everything from movies to music to commercials to fucking billboards.....
Posted by on Mon, 24 Oct 2005 19:56:00 GMT