Soulo.
Born, Basil Simpson
May 6, 1975
St. Elizabeth JamaicaBasil grew up in the district of Slipe St. Elizabeth. Slipe is one of those quaint communities that you would have a hard time finding on any map, and where everyone knew everyone else. His grandparents who were very religious and devoted Seventh day Adventists raised him. The church was where he first got exposed to performers, but the thought of being a performer did not appeal to him at that time.
In September of 1990 he migrated to the New York. In early 1991 he enrolled in Erasmus High School. That was very fortunate because that school had one of the best performing arts program in the City. "After my first solo performance, I was hooked", he states. He and three other performing arts students formed a quartet called (Second to None) or as they were popularly called "220". The group performed regularly throughout the New York tri State area for several years, but failed to secure a record deal. In late 1997 the group broke up and that same year he enlisted in the United Stated Army. It was during his time in the Army that he got the name Soulo. When asked about his time in the Army in a recent radio interview he stated, "My time in the army gave me a new found respect for ones personal freedom, and the importance of self-expression. To me, one of the ultimate forms of self-expression can be made through music. I see the Army as a model version of the world, where the oppression and abuse of the less fortunate by those in power are standard. When you enter the world, you enter at a certain rank. The rank you get is not necessarily brought on by your works. It is assigned to you at the convenience of the oppressors. Individuality, the awareness of self and opposing the status quo are strongly discouraged". These issues are strongly reflected throughout Soulo's lyrics. Although he continued to be involved in music during his time in the Army, he was primarily a writer working with other unsigned artists, primarily the Masha Works Crew based in Texas.
In the summer of 2004 while visiting a childhood friend in New York, Soulo had the opportunity to hear the "Livity Riddim" to which he wrote and recorded the song "Revolution". In early 2005, revolution was independently released as a single. Revolution has been creating a buzz wherever it is played or performed. Soulo's style is full of variety, on one hand it has been dubbed as cool and reflective and compared to the styles of Sanchez and Beres Hammond. On the other hand, his style has been described as controversial and rebellious, and compared to Chapleton and Sizzla. His unique harmony-rich delivery is the perfect compliment to the well thought out lyrics and signature vocal styling. Soulo is currently working on his LP entitled Situational Awareness due in Spring 2007.
