Brad Knutson

Underground hip-hop supergroup Soul Position, the collaborative project of rapper Blueprint and DJ/producer RJD2, invades the Abbey Pub this week. They formed the group in Columbus, Ohio in the late nineties when the two were virtual unknowns. While both went on to achieve massive underground success as solo acts, they never quit their Soul Position alliance. Of course, it hasn't always been easy balancing their numerous solo and group projects, which even forced them to cancel a large part of their last tour in 2003. Luckily, Soul Position endured and the duo is back together and stronger than ever with a new record titled "Things Go Better With RJ and Al." "I think we're in a better place now," says Blueprint. "[The record has] a funny title but it has a hidden meaning. It's where we're at and what we've had to go through to get to this point." Their bumpy journey together is well documented in the album's title track and, overall, draws heavily from personal experiences and everyday life. "I try to make it something that anybody can get. I'm not on any mission to confuse or make people have to listen to it five times in order to understand what I'm talking about. I don't think that's what Soul Position is here for." As much as Blueprint wants his music to be meaningful, he wants it to be upbeat and enjoyable as well. Of course, it's not always easy to get people to dance when you're trying to convey a serious message, but luckily Blueprint's partner just happens to be one of the hottest DJs in the business. Once again, RJD2 has dropped another sick batch of dusty soul-fused beats, which he somehow always manages to make sound even better live. "You won't need to keep it real," says RJ about the live Soul Position experience. "Get drunk and have fun...pretend that you're going to see Ja Rule... only the music is better."

Soul Position plays with One.Be.Lo April 15 at the Abbey Pub, 3420 West Grace, (773)478-4408, at 11pm. $15.

(2006-04-11)

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