The Dynospectrum: A Remarkable Confluence of Rap Talents (1998)
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In 1998, The Dynospectrum made its indelible mark on the musical landscape. A collaborative endeavor featuring the lyrical prowess of Slug, I Self Devine, Sab the Artist, and Swift, it quickly established itself as a distinctive force in the hip hop scene. The artists had each made a singular impression on the Twin Cities’ music scene, their individual brilliance combining to create this exceptional supergroup. What was referred to as a plunge into the creative wilderness led to an album that artfully captures the cohesion of their talents.
Upon its release, The Dynospectrum was well-received, transcending local fame and escalating the artists onto a grand stage. Each artist dove into this project adopting unique pseudonyms – Slug as Sep Se7en, I Self Devine as Pat Juba, Sab the Artist as General Woundwart, and Swift as Mr. Gene Poole. Adding to their creative genius, Ant helmed the production front under the moniker Solomon Grundy, signifying his adventurous journey into a world of unique soundscapes. He played his hand in painting a musical storyboard with an innovative mix of dark, dramatic strokes.
The album cover, an iconic work of art itself, rendered by Aaron “Abuse” Horkey, further contributed to the album’s standout appeal. Horkey’s art, a blend of sophisticated graffiti and comic book-esque illustrations, has always added a unique appeal to the Rhymesayers catalogue. The elegant yet daring artwork for The Dynospectrum perpetuated this trend, creating an intriguing allure before the first note even hits.
Commenting on these poignant experiences of creating The Dynospectrum, Slug expressed a sense of awe at the collaborative endeavor in an interview. He humorously remembered being on such a creative high that he felt as if they were ‘a legion of superheroes’. Acknowledging its underappreciated genius, Slug later picked it as one of the most underrated albums from Rhymesayers Entertainment.
Not only did The Dynospectrum have significant contributions from the artists themselves but it also required the expert handling of label CEO Siddiq Sayers. As the primary sound engineer for Rhymesayers studio, Sayers deftly shaped their innovative efforts into something audibly tangible. He played a pivotal role in distribution and management for the project, guiding it from the creative minds of the artists onto the spinning vinyls of listeners across the world.
Through the years, The Dynospectrum has held its place as a cult classic amongst fans and critics alike. In fact, it was listed as one of the ‘Top Local Records of 1998’ by Peter S. Scholtes from City Pages magazine. And to look beyond its local acclaim, Potholes in My Blog ranked it as number 7 on the ‘12 Best Rhymesayers Albums’ list in 2013. With its recent remix and remastering, the album is ready for a new era, poised to impress a fresh audience with its timeless allure and rhyme sterling craft. Packed with previously unheard material, this remastered vinyl edition of The Dynospectrum ensures a significant resurgence of a masterpiece, a brisk reminder of the day four MCs came together to change the landscape of hip hop forever.
Learn more about The Dynospectrum