LIQDZUNSHINE

Liqdzunshine (www.liqdzunshine.com)

It’s just straight hip-hop but without the rules,” explains Liqd’s vocalist, keyboardist and producer, Kahlid Woods. “We’re into doing our own thing; creating our own language.”

The Liqdzunshine language is a universal one. Founders Kahlid and Carlos Young (primary rhyme sayer) speak about spirituality, love, politics, race, and the state of hip-hop in the articulate way only true MCs can. Perhaps most importantly, they reject the materialistic focus of contemporary rap and hip-hop, by singing and rhyming about real life experiences.

Kahlid and Carlos first introduced the L.A. hip-hop scene to Liqdzunshine’s return to roots rhymes in 1998. But Liqdzunshine’s hip-hop language does not rely on rhymes alone. It relies on The Groove: Markus Gerzi (guitar), The Funk: Dave Staples (bass), The Rhythm: Dave “P-45” Sussman (drums), and The Soul: Denean Dyson (backing vocals).

Now, with the rock solid core of musicians speaking in tune with Kahlid and Carlos, they’re ready to drop Liqdzunshine upon the world, starting with the release of their second album, Audiopleasure (April, 2005).

“We’re trying to push music into its next phase,” says Kahlid. “We’ve studied a lot of the pioneers who have come before us. But our main concern is rewriting the rules, not following them.”

With influences ranging as far as Stevie Wonder to Primus to Tricky, Liqdzunshine can’t help but create music that moves people, internally and externally.

Their 2001 self-titled release, rejected hood life for the “Goodlyfe,” reminded listeners they were “God Given,” and embraced the “S.O.U.L.” of hip-hop.

Their latest album holds true to the lofty lyrical precedents set by Liqdzunshine, but explodes into a wider pastiche of sound brought together by exploratory and innovative Rhymes, Grooeves, Funk, Fhythms, and Soul.