Source of Labor

Last updated

Source of Labor
Origin Atlanta, Georgia
Genres hip hop, rap
Years active1990–2004
Labels
Past members
  • Wordsayer 1990-2004
  • Upendo Tookas (a.k.a. Negus I) 1990-2004
  • Joel Lozano (a.k.a. DJ Kamikaze) 1990-1997
  • Igbnifa Fadoyamin (a.k.a. Blahzey Blah) 1993-1996

Source of Labor was a rap band formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia, and included Wordsayer, Negus I, Blahzey Blah, and DJ Kamikaze. [1]

Contents

History

Upendo "Negus I" Tookas went to high school in Seattle, and graduated in 1988. He was accepted to Morehouse College in Atlanta, and entered as a Freshman in the fall of 1988. Jonathan "Wordsayer" Moore became friends with Negus I in Seattle in the summer of 1989, then Negus I returned to Morehouse for his Sophomore year. Near the end of 1989, Wordsayer moved to Atlanta. Beginning in 1990, Wordsayer attended Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Wordsayer and Negus I met Joel "DJ Kamikaze" Lozano in Atlanta and, as Wordsayer told writer Ifé Thomas for Urban Agenda newspaper, "We got together in 1990 in Atlanta." [2] Wordsayer was accepted to Morehouse in January 1992 and attended one semester there as a Sophomore.

The three members of Source Of Labor moved from Atlanta to Seattle in late 1992. According to Wordsayer in Urban Agenda, "We really decided in the summer of '92 to head back to Seattle, and we all got back that fall in October." [3] . They soon began performing at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle's Central District. [4] Source of Labor began a collective that evolved into a record label called Jasiri Media Group. Igbnifa "Blahzey Blah" Fadoyamin joined Source Of Labor during this time. Their first show in downtown Seattle was in 1993 at the Crocodile Cafe. [5]

Source of Labor was loosely associated with the female rap act Beyond Reality, whose lead, MC Kylea, was Wordsayer's partner and mother of his first child. [6] Both performed at the all-day Rap Festival (featuring 30 or more of the top regional rap/hip-hop acts of that time). The event, much like Lollapolooza, was strictly Rap and was called "Phunky Phat 95." It took place at the Evergreen State College during the summer of 1995. Source of Labor performed at Seattle's arts festival, Bumbershoot, and inspired Macklemore to become a rapper. [7] Wordsayer later gave Macklemore his first show at age 15. [5] Source of Labor has been an inspiration to many other artists like Nardwuar the Human Serviette, Ryan Lewis, Strath Shepard, and Thee Satisfaction. [8] [7] [9] [10]

Source of Labor's contributions to Northwest hip hop were extremely influential in shaping post-Nastmix hip-hop. They were part of Seattle's second hip hop movement, the first wave centering around Nastymix recording artist Sir-Mix-a-Lot. Some credit the group's front man, Wordsayer, with personally moving hip-hop out of Seattle's Central District and into the rest of the city.

In 1996, Blahzey Blah left Source Of Labor and joined Jungle Creations. [11] In 1997 DJ Kamikaze also left the group. [1] DJ Vitamin D from Tribal Music Inc. often DJed for the group's live performances, and also produced some beats for the group, but never became a member of Source Of Labor. In a 2020 interview on YouTube titled "Cake Talk Ep. 3 Ft. Vitamin D", he categorically stated that he was never a member of Source Of Labor. [12]

Source of Labor disbanded in 2004 and the artists went on to focus on their individual projects. Wordsayer continued producing and taught poetry at Franklin High School. Vitamin D continued his rapping and production career. [1] [13] DJ Kamikaze changed his name to Jahnya after leaving the group.

Wordsayer, born Johnny Lee Moore II, died of kidney failure in March 2017. [5]

Discography

Albums, EPs, and Singles

YearAlbumLabel
2001Stolen Lives Subversemusic
YearEPLabel
2001Full Circle EP Subversemusic
1995Sureshot Singles EPJasiri Media Group
1995Source Of Labor (Cassette)Jasiri Media Group
YearSingleLabel
1999Wetlands 12"Jasiri Media Group
1997Overstandings 12"Jasiri Media Group
1996Balance CDJasiri Media Group

Guest Appearances, Compilations, and B-Sides

YearAlbumArtistLabelSong
1999Table Manners 2Vitamin DTribal Music Inc.(freestyle)
1998Classic ElementsVarious Artists K Records Aunt Anna
1997Word Sound PowerVarious ArtistsJasiri Media Group(8 tracks)
1996Do the MathVarious ArtistsTribal Music IncThe Shining
199614 Fathoms DeepVarious Artists Loosegroove Records Cornbread
Year12"ArtistLabelSong
1999I RealityBeyond RealityJasiri Media GroupRaindrops

References

  1. 1 2 3 Mudede, Charles. "A Source for Seattle Hiphop". The Stranger. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  2. "Straight From The Source", by Ifé Thomas, The Urban Agenda newspaper, Spring 1995, page 6
  3. "Straight From The Source", by Ifé Thomas, The Urban Agenda newspaper, Spring 1995, page 6
  4. "Let's Start the Show | Seattle Met". www.seattlemet.com. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "A Brief Hiphop History of The (Now) Late, Great Jonathan Moore". The Stranger. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  6. Charles, DioMari. "Making Seattle Beats Since He Was 8 Years Old" . Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  7. 1 2 "5 Classic Hip-Hop Albums… According to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis". Vibe. March 20, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  8. "Grind And Shine: Shabazz Palaces And THEESatisfaction". NPR.org. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  9. Erdman, Derek. "Nardwuar: Our Man in Canada". The Stranger. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  10. "Why Should I Give a Fuck About the Ghetto Chilldren?". The Stranger. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  11. "Stylin' Gets Serious" Cynthia Rose, The Seattle Times, Jan 29, 1997
  12. "Cake Talk Ep. 3 Ft. Vitamin D" YouTube, April 8, 2020, at approximately 43 minute 20 second mark, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9AYni9josk
  13. "Download this: Vitamin D's "Funk on Sight" mix". The Seattle Times. November 24, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2017.