Universal Soul

Universal Soul is a Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada) based hip hop ensemble who have been a part of the Halifax scene since 1985. Its members have inspired and mentored other hip hop artists Such as Classified, Buck 65, Sixtoo and Trobiz, and they have had numerous collaborations with artists as diverse as Gordi Johnson The Jimmy Swift Band, Symphony Nova Scotia and Anne Murray. Although they have avoided media limelight, they have been nominated and won several awards at the regional and national levels.

The group consists of three MCs; F.I.Z. (Finley Tolliver), Tacktishion (Tracey Williams), and one DJ; IV (pronounced eye-vee, Brian Pellerine). IV is the newest member of the group, has been spinning since 1999, is a defender of the DJ Olympics Championship and was mentored by Jorun, former member of Universal Soul (now heading First Words).

This group's origin can be traced back to 1987 when they went by the name Down by Law. Back then their membership consisted of Jorun, as DJ, MCs F.I.Z. and Tacktishion, and Voodoo as dancer. Jorun still collaborates with Universal Soul and has been a driving force behind the Halifax hip hop scene.[1] Universal Soul along with Jorun were responsible for revitalizing this city's scene in the 1990's after Cool G and MCJ left town. Jorun produced The Haltown Projex, and it was through this production that artists such as Buck 65 and Sixtoo obtained media attention and subsequently made their careers.