HIP HOP RELEASE: Opio - Vulture's Wisdom, Volume 1

Opio, co-founder of the revered Hip Hop crew Souls of Mischief, will be releasing an ambitious trilogy of albums, beginning this August with the release of Vulture's Wisdom, Volume 1.

The album will include a bonus DVD with music videos, as well as animated shorts and featured artwork by renowned pop artist David Flores (Stussy, XLARGE, Deluxe, Shorty's).

Vulture's Wisdom, Volume 1 is a challenge to bloated Hip Hop. With production solely from Oakland-based The Architect, whose production credits include collaborations with Coolio, Planet Asia and Encore, as well as work on early releases from Stones Throw Records.

The album has a deliberate focus on Opio's rhyming and artistry. With fourteen songs and clocking in under 39 minutes, the album is a short and sweet collaboration of golden-era rap polished to 2008 sheen.

While current artists such as Lupe Fiasco and Kanye West have been appropriating the classic mid 90's sound, Opio says, "People are trying to tap into that energy, whereas I am that energy." This is no braggadocio. In fact, it is an honest self- assessment of what Opio represents in the world of Hip Hop, a veteran who has been recording and touring consistently for more than fifteen years.

The idea for Vulture's Wisdom came about in conversations between The Architect and Opio after they met while sharing neighborhood studio spaces. The conversations sparked a flood of creativity from Opio, and as fast as The Architect could supply beats, Opio was penning lyrics. "We embody the energy that people are trying so desperately to recapture or reconnect with. We never fell prey to all the trappings of materialism. Our music has stayed true to the art form and this album is a tribute to that."

As a teen, Opio hooked up with local rappers Tajai and A-Plus, whom he met through fellow Casual, another emcee who was Opio's classmate and neighbor. The three instantly clicked and began recording together, soon adding fourth emcee Phesto Dee, to form the group Souls of Mischief.

Together with Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Domino, and Pep Love, the legendary crew Hieroglyphics was born. Opio has always done double duty for Hiero as both an emcee and producer. Opio's recent production credits include the track Naked Fonk from Del's recent 11th Hour. Opio's first solo effort, Triangulation Station (2005), moved over 20,000 units.

Vulture's Wisdom, Volume 1 will be released on July 15 through Hiero Imperium Records.