Not sure when I picked these up, but was likely in a box of records that I bought in the Chicago area 4-6 years ago. I can’t find any information about this group online: “Citizens of Soul.” There were 3 items together and appear to be from the same artist(s):

• (1) untested 10” x 1” Master Tape

• (1) untested 10” x 1/2” Tape

• (1) 7” tape w/ 10 tracks on it totaling around 30 minutes. I’ve listened to all of this tape and it seems that there are 3 distinct sets of music. First 4 songs sound like underground hip-hop rapper ala Native Tongues, where songs 5-7 are jazz-funk beats w/ guitar playing over a funky bass line. Tracks 8-9 are more of a hip-hop beat. 8 seems like a final version of a R&B track (really a nice song, maybe a vox sample that I don’t recognize?) and track 9 is just a long loop that doesn’t have much variation. Likely the start of something to be used later. All tracks seem to use a looping drum machine and were probably made by the same producer. My guess is this was made in the late 90’s, based on the style, but that is just a guess. Inside the 7” box is a floppy disk which I assume is for a sampler, drum machine or maybe a mixing board for presets…? Neither the 10” tapes have been tested or transferred.

I included some samples of the tracks in the video. Maybe this was just a bedroom project, but then again—master tapes usually come from a studio...? It looks like someone started writing down tracks on the back of the 7”, but there were more tracks recorded than listed. The 7” is in mono, but not sure if the tape is supposed to play on a specific deck (I used a TEAC x-10R and is super bass-y and needs servicing). On the spine of the Master box, it says Citizens of Soul over Inner Rhythm written in red. Not sure if the full name of the Master recording is Citizens of Soul – Inner Rhythm or…? The back of the ½” tape has a list of 4 tracks in the same handwriting as the back of the 7”, so assume also from a group tied to Citizens of Soul.

Can anyone shed some light on this group / these artists or the recordings?

7” Track Listing

1. Citizens of Soul (1:09 Intro - jazz bass + spoken word
2.  Black Brain Cells (2:50) Bass, flute, rap > transitions to #3
3. The Urge to Freak Beats (2:10) TRACK 1 in VIDEO Piano Loop (break), beat + rap
4. Inner City Spirit (3:35) Beat + rap + flute > beat + flute solo
5. Ghetto Sketches (4:30) Jazz-Funk Beat + Bass + flute > + guitar (instrumental)
6. Now That You’ve Freed Me Up (3:10) TRACK 2 in VIDEO Guitar Intro > Upbeat Jazz-Funk / Disco Beat + Bass + guitar (instrumental)
7. You Didn’t Have to Go (4:32) Jazz Funk Beat + Bass + guitar (instrumental)
8. Unnamed (3:00) TRACK 3 in VIDEO Hip-Hop Beat + Bass + Female R&B vox + guitar
9. Unnamed (3:00) Hip-Hop Beat (drum machine) + Guitar Loop (most of track)

10” Track Listing (on Back)

• 1. If I’m Not the One

• 2. Stay Strong

• 3. Butterfly

• 4. Malik’s Rap