Thirteen years on from Cantaloop and Geoff Wilkinson is still a master in the art of producing jazz-centred hip hop that combines a heavy emphasis on musicality with an energetic danceable funk.
Notion
Album number five and the originality isn't wearing off anytime soon, making the listeners the main beneficiaries. From jazz to hip hop via the influences of a world of music, Us3 are still as on-the-button as they ever were.
DJ magazine
It is very often the case that sensationalist bands will outsell more talented and groundbreaking ones by many times, and that is certainly the case here. In terms of the music alone, Us3 are certainly musically far superior to the likes of Fiddy or Eminem, but they don't talk shit about guns and they don't have fake prison tattoos. Don't believe the hype, Schizophonic is right up there with the best of em.
www.subbacultcha.com
How can a band that has an ex-Scratch Pervert and a 60-year old jazz guitarist playing alongside each other be anything but great? Schizophonic is a demonstration of blistering instrumentalism, toe-tapping beats, razor-sharp rapping and world class arrangement.
www.myvillage.com
Us3 continue to meld the best elements of hip-hop and jazz better than the majority of their contemporaries. A great album.
www.thebeatsurrender.com
Both rappers blend seamlessly with Us3's jazz and samba influenced beats and weave expertly amongst the horns and turn in first class performances.
Clash magazine
From upbeat hip hop to laidback jazz grooves, Brazilian samba rhythms to smoky, downstairs jazz club tempos, this is done really well.
www.ukhh.com
Us3 continue to push the boundaries, mixing poetic rap with jazz, nu-soul and Brazilian samba.
What’s On
The intelligent, laid-back rhymes from the rappers combine perfectly with the jazzy chops from the band.
Blues & Soul
Witty, caustic, deft rapping over live jazz instrumentations with touches of genius.
Stuff
The mixture of live jazz instruments under intelligent lyrics is one that astounds.
One Week To Live
Us3 have delivered a great variant on a globally dominant theme. Love it!
www.new-noise.net
An innovative hip-hop jazz record.
Shadowplay
Terrific rhythms, beats and horns.
www.lifeandsoul.com
If you like tunes with a difference go and get this.
www.caughtinthecrossfire.com
Give it a listen, you'll be hooked.
www.basic-soul.co.uk
Refreshingly positive.
Grindmode.com
