Rating:
  Review Date: April 27, 2007
  Website: Beyond Reality Website
  Label: Independent

Beyond Reality “A Souls Journey” Album Review
Yo! I’m gonna have to watch my language, because there are children present, but this album is off the MF-in’ hook! We’ve been talking about the Northwest Territory of the United States and it’s up-and-coming hip-hop scene for some time now. And if there’s one city that seems to stand out from the rest, it would have to be Seattle, Washington. I’ve personally come across a countless number of dope hip-hop groups from this city recently, so much that I’m considering spending my next vacation out there just going to local shows.

But if I had to pick out just one show to see in the Seattle scene, it would undoubtedly be a group called Beyond Reality. This crew consists of MC Kylea, her circa-4-year-old son and hype-man Upe, and her nephew AB on tables. The lyrics are positive and conscious, the beats fun, soulful and bumping, and the overall vibe simply feel-good. I can just imagine this family rocking it on stage in an old-school b-boy / b-girl street party-ish fashion, with break circles, nodding heads and satisfied smiles as far as the eye could see. Just another reason to check out Seattle and it’s impressive hip-hop scene.

Beyond Reality’s first full-length album “A Souls Journey” is a highly creative and passionate project that gave me a feeling of happiness and relaxation the entire way through. There’s something indescribably soothing about Kylea’s voice, annunciation and flow that just kept jumping out at me and making me rewind track after track to listen again. It’s that type of album you throw in on a warm summer day, open up the windows to let that cool breeze through, and bump out the top of the speakers for everyone walking by on the streets to hear. One of the more eye-opening underground releases of the year thus far.

From their own words, the point of this music is to “see beyond reality, something larger than you.” And that comes through loud and clear in “A Souls Journey” by creating a vibe that is simultaneously boisterous and humble; old-school and brand new; positive and conscious. This album is reminiscent of the true essence of hip-hop … that thing which made me fall in love with it in the first place. I highly recommend checking it out, and definitely recommend trying to get to a show if you’re ever in the Seattle area. I know I will. Peace.

Album Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Drumline
3. B Girls
4. Saunjay
5. Your Life
6. La Fronz
7. You
8. Reversal
9. Creation
10. The 1-2
11. The 2 Oh 6
12. Souls Journey
13. Clap Your Hands