Album Notes

Kool Sphere continues to bring respect to the modern marketplace as a solo artist. He is currently in the studio finishing his new project, tentatively titled "Integritty". The new release features collaborations with hip-hop legends AZ, Kool G Rap, Smoothe Da Hustler, Lil Dap from Group Home, Smiley The Ghetto Child and Wu-Tang Clan's Bronze Nazareth.

Kool Sphere came up on the streets of Queens, New York birthplace of Run DMC, Nas, and one of his most important influences, Kool G Rap. With his other main influences Gangstarr representing Brooklyn and Sadat X holding down the Bronx, Kool was exposed to hip-hops cream of the crop from his earliest days.

Eventually, Kool Sphere struck out west to Los Angeles and co-founded the group Verbal Threat. Their first album, The Golden Era, featured guest appearances by Kool G Rap, Dj Premier, and Sadat X. Not every young rapper gets to work with all of his main influences on his debut release and Kool negotiated each guest appearance deal himself. The Golden Era also boasted producers Da Beatminerz (Black Moon), Mathematics and Bronze Nazareth (Wu-Tang Clan), and Dj Babu (Dilated Peoples).

With hip-hop legend Dj Premier producing and scratching on the hook, Verbal Threat knew The Golden Eras first single would be a hit and they would need a video to take it to the next level. G-Units Dan The Man agreed to shoot and direct Reality Check. The video was played on MTV U, Vh1, has more than 630,000 views on YouTube, and was nominated for an MTV VMA Award in 2008.

In addition to its commercial success, Reality Check garnered impressive critical praise as well. Elemental Magazine wrote "Every once and while you come across a single that makes it all worthwhile. [This] is that shit." Verbal Threat was featured in the Los Angeles Times after it was the first independent hip-hop group to sell out the House of Blues. The single also received positive reviews from XXL, hiphopgame, and allhiphop.

Keeping the momentum going, Verbal Threat took to the road with their Join the Movement national tour. The year-long tour featured guest appearances by Guru and Kool Keith. Ultimately, VT joined forces with Blackalicious and KRS-1 for the second-half of their concert dates.