Soul Inscribed

Soul Inscribed is a "new rare groove" project fusing poetic Hip Hop lyrics and soulful vocals with jazz, funk and dub influenced multi-instrumentalist production. The quartet is composed of Baba Israel (emcee/production/didge), Duv (vocalist), Sean Nowell (saxophone/ multi- instrumentation) and Yako 440 (multi-instrumentation/ production).

The group’s poetic voice, Baba Israel, was raised in New York City by parents who were core members of the Living Theatre. He developed as a young artist exploring spoken word, Hip Hop, and experimental theatre. He lived in Australia in the ‘90s working on major community theatre projects and Hip Hop festivals, and also co-founded the group Meta Bass 'n Breath.

In 2000, he connected with musician and visual artist Yako 440. Forming a close friendship and performance collaboration while on tour with DJ Logic, in support of Baba’s solo album Mind Music released on Velour Records. Baba Israel and Yako 440 went on to release three more albums independently (Force of Life, Beatbox Dub Poetics (licensed to Australia/New Zealand through labels Earshot and Invisible Forces), and Highest Degree EP). They also released the 12” vinyl Force of Life through the San Francisco based label Widehive, and have toured across North and South America, Europe (Lowlands Festival), Africa (U.S. State Dept. Tour), Australia (Big Day Out Festival), New Zealand (One Love Festival afterparty), and Asia (U.S. State Dept./ Jazz at Lincoln Center Rhythm Road Tour). Both artists are master level arts educators and have led workshops at home and abroad. They also collaborate on theatre projects and toured the production Boom Bap Meditations across the states and Europe. They are currently developing a new theatre piece called The Spinning Wheel in collaboration with London based director Leo Kay (Unfinished Business) which is set to tour the UK in 2014-2015.

One of Baba and Yako’s early experiences co-teaching was in 2001 at The Door, a community center in NYC. This was where they met then 17-year-old vocalist Duv. The three found an instant chemistry, and after featuring Duv on their albums Baba and Yako co-produced his solo debut, Urban Artistik. Duv went on to perform at venues such as the Blue Note, Highline Ballroom, and The Bowery Poetry Club, becoming a pillar of NYC’s downtown soul/R&B music scene. He is a teaching artist leading workshops in beatboxing and songwriting.

In 2009, Baba Israel moved to England to work as the Artistic Director and CEO of Contact, one of the world’s leading arts venues working with youth. Since returning to New York in 2013, he connected with electro/jazz/funk group The Kung-Fu Masters led by Saxophonist/ composer Sean Nowell. Baba invited Sean to play live shows and join in recording sessions at the Soul Inscribed studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn. He joined the group soon after, completing the quartet.

The group has found a symmetry with their live show consisting of two vocalists and two multi-instrumentalists, all four members being human beatboxers. Soul Inscribed flows seamlessly between highly crafted songs and improvisation grounded in the traditions of Hip Hop, Soul, Dub, and Jazz.