Sound Unlimited

Sound Unlimited
Also known asWestside Posse
Sound Unlimited Posse
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresHip hop
Years active1990–1994
LabelCBS Records
MembersRosano (El Assassin) Martinez
Tina (T-Na) Martinez
MC Kode Blue
Vlad DJ BTL

Sound Unlimited, formerly known as Sound Unlimited Posse and Westside Posse,[1] was an Australian hip hop group from Sydney and the first Australian hip hop act signed to a major label (Sony BMG) during the 1990s.[2][3][4][5] The band's members were: Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez (who were brother and sister), MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.[6]

History

Westside Posse originated from the western suburbs of Sydney in the Burwood subdivision in 1983. Their first recording, "Pull the Trigger", was a track on a compilation album, Down Under by Law, released by Virgin Records in 1988.

Later in 1989, members of Westside Posse formed Sound Unlimited Posse, comprising rappers Rosano "El Assassin" Martinez and Alan "Kode Blue", vocalist Tina Martinez and DJ Vladimir "DJ B.L.T." Cherapanoff.[7]

In 1990, Sound Unlimited Posse signed with CBS Records and released their debut single, "Peace by Piece". The recording was produced and arranged by Sydney production team Cat & Moose Productions, comprising Troy Duncombe and Micky Mahoney.[8][9] Following the release of Peace by Piece, the group supported the Australian tours of Public Enemy, De La Soul and New Kids on the Block.[10]

Sound Unlimited Posse followed Peace by Piece with "Unity" in 1991, again produced and arranged by Cat & Moose Productions.[11] The Drum Media reported in July 1991 that "Unity" was receiving airplay and that the group was performing in Sydney with Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors.[12]

In 1992, the group released "Kickin' to the Undersound", the third consecutive Sound Unlimited Posse single produced by Cat & Moose Productions.[13] It was the first single released from the group's debut album, A Postcard from the Edge of the Under-Side, and became the first Australian hip hop song to reach the national Top 20.[14]

The album was released later in 1992, followed by the singles "Saturday Night" and "One More from the City". Members Def Wish and Sereck of Def Wish Cast appeared b-boying in the video for "Saturday Night". The album title was inspired by the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge.

A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside was the only Australian rap album to be released by a major label (Columbia Sony) in the 1990s.[15]

The group's origins in Sydney's western suburbs impacted the music they created.[16][17] Those suburbs have residents, who are "traditionally regarded as real people, working-class, underprivileged and crime-ridden," and have substantial immigrant communities. They have significantly less access to the cultural and social capital of residents in more affluent, serviced suburbs, creating space for a different cultural form, that of underground hip-hop. Sound Unlimited publicly declared their underground status in that album title.[18]

Despite major label support, the group received criticism from some in the Australian hip hop community[5] as their music was, "slick and heavily instrumental" and also because of claims by the band to represent Sydney Hip Hop.[19]

Contemporary reviews, however, were also strongly positive about the group's production. One review of Peace by Piece described it as "at last a credible home grown dance cut", and stated that the track was "at the forefront of Australian dance music". Another stated the track was “a valiant and extremely encouraging debut”[20]

A review of Unity described Cat & Moose Productions as "one of Australia's hottest production teams".[21] Another review described the single as "sharply produced by local heroes, Cat and Moose" and identified the Martinez–Mahoney–Duncombe songwriting partnership.[22]

The group also contributed to the Australian Hip Hop scene by supporting local and international artists. They performed at the Big Day Out Music Festival in 1992.[23]

The group split up in 1994, with Rosano and Tina forming the UK-based acid jazz band Renegade Funktrain with Tina's husband, Derek Antunes (a former drummer for New Kids on the Block's touring band).[24]

In 2004, the A.S.K. Mix of "One More from the City" featured on the various artists compilation album. 15.Oz Vinyl: 15 Years of Australian Hip Hop on Vinyl. It showcased early and important tracks in Australian hip hop. For the first time Sound Unlimited appeared with other key artists of the genre such as the AKA Brothers, Koolism, Def Wish Cast and Hilltop Hoods.

In 2024, "Kickin' to the Undersound" was selected for the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's Sounds of Australia registry.[25]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details
A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: CBS Records Australia
  • Format: Vinyl, LP

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[26]
"Peace by Piece" 1990 97 A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside
"Unity" 1991 40
"Kickin' to the Undersound" 1992 20
"Saturday Night" 59
"One More from the City" 1993 56

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are a set of annual ceremonies presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
1994 "One More from the City" Best Pop Release Nominated [27][28]

References

  1. ↑ Mitchell, Tony. "Indigensing hip-hop: an Australian migrant youth culture". Local Noise. Retrieved 13 March 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. ↑ Pollard, Mark (10 May 2003). "Australian Hip Hop – Ministry Magazine article". Stealth magazine. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  3. ↑ "15 MOMENTS IN SYDNEY HIP HOP by Mark Pollard". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Australian Ministry magazine, "Australian hip hop", Issue 04, April 2003
  5. 1 2 Colman, Tim (8 April 2005). "The Great hip hopes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "Sound Unlimited (2)". discogs. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  7. ↑ "Kickin' to the Undersound: Sound Unlimited". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Sound Unlimited Possé – Peace By Piece". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Hawser, Anita (22 April 1994). "Venom and blues with Hoopsnake". The Manly Daily: Page 10.
  10. ↑ "Kickin' to the Undersound: Sound Unlimited". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Sound Unlimited Possé – Unity". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Sound Unlimited", The Drum Media, 2 July 1991, p. 63.
  13. ↑ "Sound Unlimited Possé – Kickin' To The Undersound". Discogs. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Kickin' to the Undersound: Sound Unlimited". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Australian hip hop as a 'glocal' subculture" (PDF). The Ultimo Series Seminar. 18 March 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Bennett, Andy (2001). "Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture". Cultures of Popular Music. UK: Open University Press. p. 101. ISBN 0-335-20250-0.
  17. ↑ Mitchell, Tony (1996). Popular Music and Local Identity: Pop, Rock and Rap in Europe and Oceania. London: University of Leicester Press. p. 8.
  18. ↑ Mitchell, Tony. "Australian hip hop as a 'glocal' subculture." Presented at The Ultimo Series Seminar. 18 March 1998: 5. <http://www.snarl.org/youth/>
  19. ↑ Phat Beats, Dope Rhymes: Hip Hop Down Under Comin' Upper – Page 49, By Ian Maxwell (Google Books)
  20. ↑ "Sound Unlimited - Piece by Piece". The Drum Media (2): 32.
  21. ↑ Scott Pullen, review of Sound Unlimited Posse, "Unity", On Disc, 1991.
  22. ↑ PSJ, review of Sound Unlimited Posse, "Unity", unidentified Australian music publication, 1991.
  23. ↑ Big Day Out – Past Lineups, 1992 Archived 30 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ↑ Mitchell, Tony: Indigensing hip-hop: an Australian migrant youth culture Deprecated link archived 7 September 2012 at archive.today, Local Noise (Australian Research Council).
  25. ↑ "Sounds of Australia 2024". National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  26. ↑ Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
    • Top 50 peaks: "Discography Sound Unlimited Possé". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
    • Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 261.
  27. ↑ "Winners by Year 1994". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 9 January 2012.
  28. ↑ "Australia 1994 ARIA Awards". ALLdownunder.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2009.
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