Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap, Pop/Rock, R&B/Urban
Members: Joshu'a Washington, Je'kob Washington, Rachael Washington
For fans of: Fugees, dc Talk, Michael Jackson, Kirk Franklin, De La Soul
Label: Warner Records

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Though young in years, siblings Joshua, Jekob, and Rachael Washington collectively known as Souljahz (sole-juz), have a dedication to their craft and mission that is rarely seen among their peers. Inspired by the genius of fellow performers like Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Kirk Franklin, and Tonéx early on, the Washingtons chose music as their life's passion, and quickly built a solid following and loyal fanbase in their San Diego hometown. They were soon wowing crowds both stateside and abroad with their thoughtprovoking lyrics, energetic melodies, and undeniable stage presence. Committed to their ability to witness through their music, the group has worked hard to record a collection of songs that touch the listener's heart, shake his/her soul, and often inspire him or her into action, which was a goal of the trio from the time they first started following their dream.

"We want to cross some boundaries with our music," explains Je'kob, "and with our shows, and to do something new that hasn't been done before." "And to give the world an alternative to what's already out there right now," adds Rachael.

The three young artists had several paths they could choose early on growing up around the San Diego area. Joshua and Je'kob, both gifted athletes, had their pick of basketball scholarships at reputable colleges, while Rachael was a dancer who had maintained the first place spot in her category (tap dancing) for six years in a row. All three chose to pursue their love of music over those other interests, and when their father sensed their commitment and dedication, he quickly sold his business and jumped on board to help. A chance meeting at church with a German student who was also pursuing music opened some doors for the trio, who were soon on a plane overseas and recording demos in his studio. Within a week of returning to the States with the new music, Souljahz was approached with label interest. They began seriously pursuing their career at this point, under the guidance and support of their dad, and were soon making appearances at major music conferences, booking their own shows, and wowing audiences nationwide with their stellar stage presence and call-and-answer crowd-pleasers. MTV selected them to appear on the network's pilot for "It's Your Show," and ASCAP quickly included them on its 2000 "The Ear" compilation, along with Sixpence None The Richer, Willie Mack, and Jeni Fujita. And even Microsoft became an early disciple, selecting two songs by Souljahz for its "Project Gotham Racing" CD, which accompanied the rollout of its heralded Xbox game console.

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