Artist History Social Deviantz fromed in 1992 around the shared intention of creating the hip hop that their ears seemed to be missing. Based on that principle of 'speak what you would like to hear' (an artistic take on the Golden Rule), the Deviantz have spent the last eight years exploring the various twistings and and branchings of hip-hop and laying down some roadwork of their own. The group is a trio, composed of Fatbone, A-Train and Junya; and of Jamaican, Egyptian and Caucasian descent respectively. This triple-take is what drives the Deviantz' music. Approaching the slate with the casual demeanour of video-game champs, Social Deviantz apply their tried-and-true crative method, a simple alternation of attention from outwards to inwards and back out again. Lyrically, the group goes from the personal to the universal, the comic to the incomprehensible. Junya's musical constructions make use of everything that is best about new musical technologies. Approaching old records more as raw sonic materials than as groovy treasures to be plundered, Junya reshapes, retexturizes and finally recontextualizes the sounds before him into something uniquely Deviant. The old Deviantz album is Essential Mental Nutrients released in limited edition in 1996. The new Deviantz album is tentatively titled Bleaky Deky, due out in the fall. The first single, Minimal is now in widespread distribution across the Internet and beyond.

Group Members A-Train - emcee Fatbone - emcee Junya - DJ/producer

Press Reviews Canadian crew delivers sophisticated tracks merging next-level lyricism with excellent production. Fatbone and A-Train come with intricate verses and smooth delivery, lacing exceptionally funky beats and deep, sample manipulations courtesy of Junya. Instead of just riding a loop for three minutes, their tunes constantly evolve with new, emergent sounds and tones when you least expect it. Guests include Shorty Reck and Canadian DMC champ Wax on the tables. Decidedly fluid, innovative, and original, Social Deviantz are a refreshing taste of futuristic hip-hop. - Brolin W., Listen.com Social Deviantz is a Vancouver-based hip hop trio that first formed in 1992, right around the time Sugarshack became an offical label, essentially to create a hip hop sound they felt was missing somehow. The artists have spent the last several years exploring the various branches of hip hop, following a guiding principle best summed up as "speak what you would like to hear!" Social Deviantz is composed of Fatbone, A-Train, and Junya, who are of Jamaican, Egyptian, and Caucasian descent respectively. Their multicultural foundation gives Social Deviantz a unique perspective that informs their music, giving it depth, meaning, and a wellspring of creativity. This crew works with other talented people to great effect. On Minimal, the Social Deviantz team up with Canadian DMC champ DJ Wax for the smokin' track "Lucky 5." Listen to the way the tight cuts and scratches play against lyrics as Wax and the Deviantz provide a duet that is almost a duel. Guest rapper Shorty Reck drops in fluidly and smoothly with great, lively lyrical delivery for the title track, "Minimal," bringing in a nice collaborative edge that meshes well with the Social Deviantz sound. Junya's musical constructions are a truly remarkable component of the music: he uses records as raw sonic materials, then reshapes and recontextualizes them into something new. The beats have a somewhat raw nature, while other elements like guitar licks, basslines, and keys smooth things out while the lyrics take on issues both personal and universal. Overall the sound is vibrant and buzzing with true hip hop energy. The old Deviantz album is Essential Mental Nutrients, released in limited edition back in 1996. The new Deviantz album is called bleaky deky. - Epitonic.com

Location Vancouver, B.C. - Canada

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