Album Notes

Crooked Soul’s debut release, Break Bread & Nails, is a varied look into the electronic tinged hip-hop world that they create. From opener Drugs to the closing moments of A.I.M., Crooked Soul always engage and keep the listener second-guessing their next move.


Crooked Soul is MC’s Zilla and Johnny Darko with the production expertise of producer, Starkey, and DJ/producer, Arkive. These four Philadelphia natives came together to inject the hip-hop scene with a new sound, a new swagger. More aggressive than trip-hop, more driving than glitch-hop, Crooked Soul’s music can only be defined by its genre-defying energy. Known for their dynamic live performances, Crooked Soul are eager to invade the stage in cities everywhere.


Break Bread & Nails moves from dancefloor action to “heady listen music” without missing a beat. Clocking in at just over a half hour, these nine tracks show the breadth of the Crooked Soul library and their original approach to songwriting. MC’s Zilla and Johnny Darko deliver well-devised lyrics throughout: at times political, at times witty, but always introspective. From the epic dancefloor anthem, In a World, to the guitar driven intensity of Felon in the Middle, Crooked Soul remain focused and are eager to adventure into new sonic territories. Interestingly, their sound remains coherent and original. Break Bread & Nails is the sound of the Philadelphia underground pumped through a loudspeaker four inches from your face.