Dream Warriors
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dream Warriors | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Canadian hip hop, jazz rap |
| Years active | 1988–2002 |
| Labels | 4th & Broadway, Island, PolyGram, EMI |
| Associated acts | Gang Starr, Digable Planets, The Herbaliser |
| Members | |
| King Lou Capital Q |
|
| Former members | |
| Spek DJ Luv |
|
The Dream Warriors were a Canadian alternative hip hop duo from Toronto, Ontario, comprising King Lou and Capital Q. They were emcees of Caribbean heritage. In 1993, the duo expanded to include a third emcee named Spek, and the official membership of its longtime DJ, DJ Luv (formerly L.A. Luv).
Contents |
[edit] Career
King Lou (Louie Robinson) and Capital Q (Frank Allert)[1] formed the Dream Warriors in 1988, hailing from the Jane and Finch and Willowdale neighbourhoods of Toronto. They released the jazz-influenced hip-hop album And Now the Legacy Begins in 1991, which was critically acclaimed and sold well in Canada, the United Kingdom, and across Europe — before becoming an underground hit in the United States.[2]
The album spawned the hit singles "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style", "Wash Your Face in My Sink", and "Ludi". The song "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" featured a sample of "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones, which originally appeared on his 1962 LP Big Band Bossa Nova, and was also the theme music to the Canadian game show Definition. "Soul Bossa Nova" also went on to become the Austin Powers movie series theme and is now widely associated with those movies. In 1992, they recorded "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" for the Buffy The Vampire Slayer soundtrack. Both singles hit the Top 20 in the UK, while in their own country the LP went gold and collected a Juno Award.[2]
The 1994 follow-up, Subliminal Simulation, received mixed reviews. It featured guest vocals by Ishmael Butler AKA Butterfly of Digable Planets (on the track "Tricycles and Kittens"), and Gang Starr (Guru and DJ Premier) contributed to two different versions of the song "I've Lost My Ignorance (and Don't Know Where to Find It)", originally released in 1991. The first single, "Day In Day Out" was well received by the hip hop community and largely showcased new member Spek.
The group released The Master Plan in 1996 but it was not released in America. Spek officially left the group in 1997, before relocating to the UK, and DJ Luv also left the group the same year. In 1998, a greatest hits compilation was released, and featured two new tracks from the remaining duo.
In 2002, they featured The Herbaliser on the track "Road of Many Signs", on the final album The Legacy Continues.[2]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- And Now the Legacy Begins (1991) - UK[3] #18
- Subliminal Stimulation (1994)
- The Master Plan (1996)
- Anthology: A Decade of Hits (1998)
- The Legacy Continues (2002)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Modern Rock | UK Singles Chart[3] | |||
| 1990 | "Wash Your Face in My Sink" | – | 16 | And Now the Legacy Begins |
| "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" | 24 (1991 release) | 13 | ||
| 1991 | "Ludi" | – | 39 | |
| "Follow Me Not" | – | – | ||
| 1994 | "Day in Day Out" | – | – | Subliminal Stimulation |
| 1995 | "California Dreamin'" | – | – | |
| 1996 | "Float On" | – | – | The Master Plan |
| "What Do You Want 'Ladies'?" | – | – | ||
| "Sound Clash" | – | – | ||
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Dreams Warriors Discography at Discogs
- ^ a b c "Biography by John Bush". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=DREAM. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 168. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
