Genres Hip hop Labels CBS Records Genre Hip hop music Record label Columbia Records | Years active 1990–1994 Active until 1994 Origin Sydney, Australia (1983) | |
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Also known as Westside Posse
Sound Unlimited Posse Associated acts Renegade Funktrain
Def Wish Cast Members Rosano (El Assassin) Martinez
Tina (T-Na) Martinez
MC Kode Blue
Vlad DJ BTL Similar Def Wish Cast, Koolism, 1200 Techniques, Falling Joys, Peewee Ferris | ||
Sound Unlimited, formerly known as Sound Unlimited Posse and Westside Posse, was an Australian hip hop group from Sydney, New South Wales and the first Australian hip hop act signed to a major label (Sony BMG) during the 1990s. The band's members were: Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez (who were brother and sister), MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.
Contents
History
Westside Posse originated from the western suburbs of Sydney in the Burwood subdivision in 1983. Their first appearance on an album was a compilation called Down Under by Law, released by Virgin Records in 1988. Later in 1989 the group would become the Sound Unlimited Posse.
The group had members of Russian and mixed Spanish and Filipino origin and rapped about "the evils of racism and the power of positivity" in their Peace by piece (by piece mix) song. They released several singles from their 1992 album A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside, among them were "Kickin' to the Undersound", "One More From The City" and "Saturday". Members Def Wish and Sereck of Def Wish Cast appear b-boying in the film clip for "Saturday". The album title was inspired by the 1990 film, Postcards From The Edge, which is about a recovering drug addict. A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside was the only Australian rap album to be released by a major label (Columbia Sony) in the 1990s. This "breakthrough recording deal" was negotiated with the help of Public Enemy.
The group's origins in Sydney's western suburbs impacted the music they produced. The western suburbs of Sydney are "traditionally regarded as real people, working-class, underprivileged and crime-ridden," and have substantial immigrant communities. These suburbs have significantly less access to the cultural and social capital of those in more affluent, serviced suburbs, creating space for a different cultural form, that of underground hip-hop. Sound Unlimited publicly declares their underground status in their album title, "A Postcard from the Edge of the Under-side."
Despite major label support, the group initially received some criticism from the Australian hip hop community as their music was said to be "slick and heavily instrumental" and also because of claims by the band to represent Sydney Hip Hop. They have contributed to the Australian Hip Hop scene due to supporting several other bands. The group supported acts such as Public Enemy, New Kids on the Block and De La Soul during their Australian tours, including opening for Public Enemy during their 1992 Australian tour. They also performed at the Big Day Out Music Festival.
The group split up in 1994, with Rosano and Tina forming the UK-based acid jazz band Renegade Funktrain with Tina's husband, Derek Antunes (a former drummer for New Kids on the Block's touring band).
In 2004, the A.S.K. Mix of "One More From The City" featured on the compilation album 15.Oz Vinyl: 15 Years Of Australian Hip Hop On Vinyl. The album showcased early and important tracks in Australian hip hop. For the first time Sound Unlimited appeared with other key artists of the genre such as the AKA Brothers, Koolism, Def Wish Cast and the Hilltop Hoods.
Songs
Kickin' to the Undersound1992
One More From the City1993
Unity1991