Mass Influence
In the world of entertainment, the collaborative forces of lyrical, rhythmical, and visual stimulation exert such an influence on the human mind, body, and spirit that its far–reaching effects on the masses have yet to be discovered. Fortunately, hip–hop´s underground has produced a teamthat has these forces down to a science.
This four–man unit, appropriately named Mass Influence, converged in early 1994 by the laws of fate. Mass Influence is comprised of Cognito, Audissey, H2O, and Spearhead X. Each of these members has separately experienced a history in hip–hop that could drive the most determined to surrender. It was at that point that true determination began for this crew. Their everlasting will to succeed has led them from pressing their own material to creating platforms for others to do the same. In doing so, they´ve exposed the global underground music scene to such influences as Bobbito the Barber, DJ Premier, and the legendary Lyricist Lounge.
Cognito runs Nonstop Music Works, an independent record label/promotion team whose accounts range from Triple 5 Soul to Rawkus Records. He also runs Fat Beats record store in downtown Atlanta, world–renowned as a cornerstone of the Atlanta underground music scene. Spearhead X, the group´s DJ, has produced for groups such as TLC, De La Soul, Kizzy Rock, and Too Short. Being extremely diverse has always been his motto, and that he is. Audissey, adequately named the sound scientist, exists within an ongoing quest for the planet´s most distinct sounds, which he incorporates into his rhymes. "When I´m layin´ music," he explains, "I´m looking for the unknown–so I could make it known." H20 is the group´s other MC. Also skilled in production, "H" comes to the table with the element of visual arts, namely, graphic design, which further defines the group´s diversity. Having worked on projects for LaFace Records, House of Blues, The Black Crows, and a slew of nightclubs and independent labels, his illustrative expressions are icons in the music world.
The MassInfluence rap sheet includes "The Boulevard Connection Tour", a 9–city excursion throughout Northern Europe with High & Mighty, the Arsonists, DJ Noize, Bobbito, and Pharoahe Monch; "The Deeper Concentration Tour"; "The Wake Up Tour";"Rock Steady Anniversary ´98"; "Rocky & Bobbito´s All That Tour"; and the Lyricist Lounge (Latin Quarters). They´ve alsoperformed with the Hieroglyphics, The Alkaholiks, M.O.P., Big Pun, Company Flow, LootPack, Gangstarr, Eminem, Weldon Irvine, The Beatnuts, and Black Star
