CLEAR SOUL FORCES
The legend of Clear Soul Forces can be traced back to 2008. The lyrical Voltron consisting of Detroit Emcees; Emile Vincent, Ilajide, L.A.Z. and Noveliss formed one fateful night in a chance-encounter studio session with fellow Detroit Emcee Royce Da 5’9. On that night, the four emcees (CSF) marveled at the chance to throw rhymes at Royce all night and he was impressed. Royce’s simple words “Man…ya’ll should be a group. The four of ya’ll, as different as ya’ll are, rapping like that? Yeah,” changed the future of the 4, then solo emcees forever. Royce was right about them being different indeed.
First, there’s Emile Vincent; formally E-Fav, coming up through the Detroit Public System all his life, he discovered his passion for music and writing rhymes at age 13. He gives nods to Pac, Bob Marley, Jay-Z, Dilla and Mos Def as his influences in his journey on the mic. Emile met “soon to be” fellow group member L.A.Z. in college as the two became frat brothers. L.A.Z.; formally Wimpy, was a seasoned child of hip-hop by the time he blew into Detroit by way of Colorado Springs. His stepdad was a DJ and his Mother a hip-hop fan, he discovered his passion in Colorado and applied it in the Motor City. L.A.Z. gives nods to Big Boi, Ghostface, Pusha T, Andre 3000 and Camron as his most influential.
The CSF web began to weave itself through a series of fortunate relationships and encounters. Ilajide, cousin of Emile Vincent and Producer/Emcee of the group decided to give up on being a DJ and become a producer, he was shortly after introduced to Emile’s now Frat Brother, L.A.Z. Ilajide, the youngest member of the group began his odyssey as a producer and everything was falling into place. Ilajide is like a double-edged sword, he bounces back and forth from producer to emcee, as do his influences. One week, it’s Redman, Eminem, Snoop, Dilla and Busta Rhymes. The next, it’s Rick James, James Brown, Roy Ayers, Parliament, and Cameo.
Shortly after 3 pieces were locked in, Noveliss finished the jigsaw. Emile, L.A.Z. and Ilajide had traveled to a bar for an open mic and that’s where they met Noveliss. Noveliss; formally J-Roc, was at the time a full-time student-athlete who was rocking open mics in his spare time. Coming from a life full of sports and anime, Noveliss attributes winning a pep rally freestyle contest in 7th grade to him discovering his love for Hip Hop. Noveliss gives nods to Black Thought, MF DOOM, Eminem, Redman, and Nas as his top influences.
After the collective became a group in 2008 they recorded their first mixtape; Clear Soul Radio. After that the Departure EP. The Forces began to make a name for themselves in Detroit, performing all over the city, winning a battle of the bands at a legendary monthly hip-hop show called “The Air Up There.” By 2012 the group had not just dominated Detroit’s underground but also the festival circuit. These guys were going to college and becoming traveling underground rap legends simultaneously. They rocked A3C in Atlanta, SXSW in Austin and the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival. 2013 bought the groups first LP “Detroit Revolution(s)” which featured the absolute monstrous single “Get No Better.” The video currently sits at around 13 Million views and it catapulted Clear Soul Forces to national status as the group landed a deal with storied underground distro label Fat Beats.
The Detroit Rap Voltron saw their dreams come true as they headlined their own tours across the seas while dropping albums. After the debut classic “Detroit Revolution(s)” we got Gold PP7’s and then Fab 5ive. The Detroit Emcees traveled the globe. The CSF Euro Tour, The Gold Plated Raps Tour where they sold out their first venue in Paris and The Fab 5ive Tour. After the success early on in their careers, the group took a questionable but perhaps a much-needed hiatus. Group members discovered themselves artistically via solo efforts and time passed by. L.A.Z. went on to form Da Illaz with close friend and DJ Illadope. He also dropped his first solo project “No Paperwork EP. Emile Vincent dropped his first solo project titled “All N My Head.” Ilajide dropped his first beat tape, Latex. He followed it up with other solo efforts such as Heet Tape, #0414917 and his latest beat tape titled “3.” Noveliss went on to drop solo projects such as Toonami Tsunamis, Mic Swordz, Kenjutsu Under The Moonlight and his debut album Cerebral Apex. Finding themselves as individuals and peaking outside of the group has made room for a legendary future. Stay tuned.
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