From the seminal "Killer Instinct" to the smash "Back It Up" to their most recent adrenaline rush, "Subculture", Southern Cali's Styles Of Beyond have formulated a sound honed in old-school tactics, one boasting in millennial sonic booms and impenetrably rapid BMP's.
Fans know the group for the precise wordsmenship of emcees Ryu and Tak, their quick back and forth verve compliments one another like the refined 2001 version of EPMD. Equally as complementary is the rich musical backdrop of DJ Cheapshot (along with close crew affiliates Vin Skully and Divine Styler), one of intense rhythm and structure. Having met through a mutual friend in college, Tak and Cheapshot were like minded Hip-Hop heads that quickly became friends. But it wasn't until a few years later when Ryu and Vin Skully stepped into the fold that the SOB would begin to truly formulate. Tak, having grown-up around the presence of longtime Rap-vet, Divine Styler (via brother Bilal) was more than happy to receive the offered services of the formerSyndicate/Scheme Team member. And with that, their commencing 12" was born, "Killer Instinct"/"Survival Tactics", a daringly fast effort that would set the pace for their upcoming industry takeover.
With a vastly distributed and largely successful debut album, <2000 Fold>, music video rotation on MTV and large-scale tours all down the hatch, Styles Of Beyond, one time underground darlings managed to be embraced by the masses while maintaining the head-noddin' integrity that earned them fanfare in the first place. While the label housing their revered debut fettered away, the Styles have remained busy appearing on 12's on both Ra Ra and Rocketship Records. But it's the commanding resurgence of their latest release, "Subculture"/"Windows" (found on DJ Cheapshot's newly founded Spy Tech Records) that undoubtedly marks the Styles Of Beyond crew as masters of their craft,without missing a step the crew run with the ball like they've never done before, leaving heads wondering where that damn follow-up album is at?
