SoulKlap

SoulKlap of SoulEssential Recordings is a young and gifted producer/MC from Cleveland, OH who had an affinity for music at an early age. “My mother told me I used to dance to music while I was still in her womb, so I guess music has always been a part of me,” says SoulKlap. SoulKlap started rhyming when he was thirteen. Finding inspiration from the likes of Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, he originally rapped about what he heard his idols talking about: guns, bitche...

SoulKlap of SoulEssential Recordings is a young and gifted producer/MC from Cleveland, OH who had an affinity for music at an early age. “My mother told me I used to dance to music while I was still in her womb, so I guess music has always been a part of me,” says SoulKlap. SoulKlap started rhyming when he was thirteen. Finding inspiration from the likes of Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco, he originally rapped about what he heard his idols talking about: guns, bitches and money. “I was basically doing whatever was hot at the time. I look back now and laugh about it, but it was serious back then.” Eventually, SoulKlap stopped rapping and started being a true MC. He decided that no matter what, he would rhyme from his soul. “I just realized that guns, hoes and drugs is not who I am, or who I wanted to be.” In 2008, he was the main producer on an underground classic, Divine Minds and SoulKlap present The Quan. He also released his debut EP, Soul-Xploitation, which garnered attention on sites such as HipHopDX and KevinNottingham.com. He also placed second in HipHopDx’s American Gangster Remix competition. In 2010, he collaborated with Divine Minds for an unique video game themed project, Give Up the Sticks in which he lent his vocals and production skills. He also released two mixtapes: Prelude to a Parallax and #imfromcleveland to warm support from his loyal fanbase. Most impressively, however, was the placement of his standout record ‘iOweYou’ on Talib Kweli’s Year of the Blacksmith Community Mixtape hosted by Talib Kweli and mixed by heavyweight DJ Mick Boogie. The tape is featured on his sophomore LP, Klapisms Vol. 1: A Parallax which was released February 22, 2011. The LP featured 14 tracks originally produced by SoulKlap with appearences by KeilyN, Lew and Chris Margolin. Currently, he is working on several projects that are due out in 2011: Beautiful Losers EP with Youngstown native KeilyN as well as Divine Minds and SoulKlap present The Quan 2: In Search of Odell Jones. On these projects, you can expect to hear his signature soul sample infused beats and honest lyrics. As SoulKlap continues to build his resume, he has collaborated with the likes of Stalley, L.e For The Uncool, James John of Divine Minds, KeiylN, Simo-B of Bulletproof and Lew amongst other talented unsigned acts. 2010 was also a successful year on the road, as he opened for B.o.B. and Wiz Khalifa while playing colleges and venues such as The Grog Shop in Cleveland.