S.O.U.L. & TOP CHOICE CLIQUE: THROWING UP THE PEACE SIGN


S.O.U.L.: Peace of Mind
From Can You Feel It (Musicor, 1972)

Top Choice Clique: Peace of Mind
From 12″ (Sample, 198?)

Cleveland’s finest funk group turned out a pair of classics, beginning with What Is It and continuing on with Can You Feel It. This is far from a one-tracker album but “Peace of Mind” is the thunderclap that drowns out all else. It is such a monster song: so thick with force and rhythm while the singing is on point too and a chorus that anyone can hook onto.

Not surprisingly, it’s been looped by a few hip hop producers, including DJ Premier for M.O.P but to me, you can’t touch how Boston’s Top Choice Clique puts their song together. This is one of the hot random rap singles that people have only rediscovered in the last two years or so but unlike the hype, I think this single deserves every bit of respect paid to it. Keep your Pelons, I’m rolling with the Clique.