Sound Unlimited
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 in Sydney, Australia |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Hip hop music |
Sound Unlimited, initially known as Sound Unlimited Posse and before that as Westside Posse, was a pioneering Australian hip hop ensemble from Sydney. They hold the distinction of being the first Australian hip hop group to secure a contract with a major record company (Sony BMG) during the 1990s. The lineup featured siblings Rosano (El Assassin) and Tina Martinez, alongside MC Kode Blue and Vlad DJ BTL.
History
The group Westside Posse was formed in 1983 in Sydney's western suburbs. Their debut track, "Pull the Trigger," was included on the 1988 compilation album Down Under by Law released by Virgin Records. By 1989, the collective had transformed into Sound Unlimited Posse, comprising Rosano "El Assassin" Martinez (rapper), Vladimir "DJ B.L.T." Cherapanoff (previously of Digits), and Alan "Kode Blue." Members hailed from Russian and mixed Spanish-Filipino backgrounds and tackled issues such as racism and optimism in their 1990 single "Peace by Piece (By Piece Mix)." That same year, they toured Australia supporting acts like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and New Kids on the Block. Following Tina Martinez's addition to the group, they abbreviated their name to Sound Unlimited.
From their debut album A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside (1992), they released three singles: "Kickin' to the Undersound," "Saturday Night," and "One More from the City." This album—its title inspired by the 1990 film Postcards from the Edge—was unique as the only Australian rap album issued by a major label (Columbia Sony) throughout the 1990s, a milestone made possible through connections with Public Enemy. The record reflected their working-class roots in western Sydney and influences from immigrant communities, aligning them with underground hip hop culture.
Despite support from a major label, Sound Unlimited encountered criticism within Australia's hip hop community for their slick production style featuring dense instrumentation and for asserting representation of Sydney’s hip hop scene. They opened for various other artists and appeared at the 1992 Big Day Out festival.
The band dissolved in 1994; subsequently, Rosano and Tina formed Renegade Funktrain, a UK-based acid jazz outfit that also included Tina’s husband Derek Antunes, who had formerly been a drummer for New Kids on the Block’s touring ensemble.
In 2004, their song "One More from the City" (A.S.K. Mix) was included on the compilation 15.Oz Vinyl: 15 Years of Australian Hip Hop on Vinyl, which showcased prominent Australian hip hop acts such as AKA Brothers, Koolism, Def Wish Cast, and Hilltop Hoods.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUS | |||
| "Peace by Piece" | 1990 | 97 | A Postcard from the Edge of the Underside |
| "Unity" | 1991 | 40 | |
| "Kickin' to the Undersound" | 1992 | 20 | |
| "Saturday Night" | 1992 | 59 | |
| "One More from the City" | 1993 | 56 |
ARIA Music Awards
Since 1987, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has hosted the ARIA Music Awards annually to honor outstanding achievement and creativity within the Australian music scene.
| Year | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "One More from the City" | Best Pop Release | Nominated |