Clear Soul Forces

Clear Soul Forces

Clear Soul Forces is a hip-hop group from Detroit, United States, active since 2009. The group consists of four members: E-Fav, L.A.Z., Noveliss and Ilajide, who is described as a producer and emcee. Their music is rooted in underground hip hop and draws on golden era rap, 21st century rap, backpack rap and bass-heavy styles, with an emphasis on beat selection and socially conscious lyricism.

Formation and early work

The group forms after a 2009 late-night studio session in Detroit, when the four emcees are working separately in the same studio and begin trading verses. Royce da 5'9" is in the neighbouring room and suggests that they form a group, bringing together their different personalities and styles. By early 2010, Clear Soul Forces begins performing on the Detroit underground scene and releases its debut mixtape, Clear Soul Radio, which is recorded in a single day.

Later in 2010, the group forms its home studio, known as The Complex, and releases The Departure EP. That project arrives in time for the group’s appearance at the A3C festival. In 2011, Clear Soul Forces releases its first music video, for “Gon Get Em”, from The Departure EP.

Live appearances and releases

In 2011, the group travels to Brooklyn and Denton, Texas, for the 35 Conferette festival, and appears at SXSW in Austin through the Rappers I Know showcase alongside artists including Tanya Morgan, H.I.S.D., Just Blaze, The Alchemist, Talib Kweli and Freeway. Later that year, it releases videos for “The Greatest” and “Strangers in the Night”.

By the end of 2011, the group begins work on its debut album, Detroit Revolution(s), inspired by a painting on the side of an apartment building and shaped by heavy listening to J Dilla and Slum Village. The album is completed in about a month. Clear Soul Forces is also selected by Red Bull for its Soundstage programme, and a documentary about the group is filmed in Detroit.

Detroit Revolution(s) and wider attention

The lead single “Get No Better” appears in January 2012 ahead of the debut album, and the album is released in March 2012 while the group is performing at SXSW for a second time. Clear Soul Forces continues to build an audience through live shows and recordings, and its debut album is described as a classic by supporters of the group. By this point, the group has completed six SXSW performances and attracted attention from hip-hop listeners internationally.