Souleye (hip-hop artist) facts for kids

Mario John Treadway (born May 3, 1980), known as Souleye, is an American hip hop artist. He has released many albums, including his most recent one, Disguised As Tomorrow, which came out in March 2023. Souleye has worked with other artists like BLVD and his wife, Alanis Morissette.

He has also teamed up with musicians such as Esjay Jones, Lynx, Lila Rose, and fellow rappers Big Samir, Main Flow, and Chachillie. Souleye uses his music to share important messages. He writes about finding yourself, taking care of your mind, and growing as a person.

Souleye's Early Life and Start in Music

Souleye was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. He started rapping when he was in high school and finished school in 1999. After high school, Souleye went to Western New England College and played basketball for a year. He then traveled across the country, living in different places like Florida, California, Colorado, and Los Angeles. He was following his dream to make music.

Souleye's Music Journey

Starting Out in Hip Hop

In 2001, Souleye began writing and performing with a group of hip hop artists called the Transcendental Alliance. In 2003, he released an album called Soul Sessions with another artist named Campaign.

Later that year, Souleye's best friend passed away. After this sad event, Souleye went to Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. There, he wrote the album Flexible Morality. In 2004, his brother also passed away. While cleaning his brother's apartment, Souleye found a sticker that said "Music Matters." Souleye had received the same sticker from his brother years before. This message became very important to him, and he released the album UniverSoul Alchemy that same year.

In 2006, Souleye worked with producer Samuel "Sleepyhead" Pohner. They formed Souleye & Sleepyhead and released Intergalactic Vibes. This album won a music contest, and they got to perform on a music cruise called Jamcruise 4. On the cruise, Souleye performed with Michael Franti and was invited to play with Bassnectar. After the cruise, he performed a lot with Bassnectar. Souleye also wrote a song called "Amorphous Form" for Bassnectar's album Underground Communication.

In 2007, Souleye joined an electronic band from San Francisco called BLVD. They recorded the album Music for People. He toured with BLVD until 2009, and then he started performing as Souleye again.

Meeting Alanis Morissette and New Albums

Souleye met his wife, Alanis Morissette, at a meditation gathering in Los Angeles in 2009. They got married in 2010. Souleye opened for Morissette's "Guardian Angel" tour in 2012. Since then, they have often worked together on music. He released the album Iron Horse Running in 2013 and Identified Time in 2014.

Shapeshifting and WILDMAN Albums

In 2015, Souleye released his album Shapeshifting. This album included popular songs like "The Victim" and "Labeled." The music video for "The Victim" was shown on Yahoo Music. "Labeled" even reached the Top 20 on the Official European Independent Music Charts. The album's cover art was created by artist Rob Prior.

On November 11, 2016, Souleye released "Follow Your Heart," the first song from his album WILDMAN. In January 2017, he released "Snow Angel," which featured Alanis Morissette. The music video for "Snow Angel" was shown on Fuse TV. The album WILDMAN was produced by Crush Effect and came out in September 2017. It also had other hit songs, including the title track with Lynx.

Soul School and Recent Works

In 2019, Souleye released Soul School. This album was his first time working with South African singer Esjay Jones. It also featured collaborations with artists like 2Mex, Sabi, Donny Arcade, and Chachillie on songs such as "Sacred Design" and "Felicity."

He followed up Soul School with the album hunting teardrops in 2021. For this album, he again worked with painter Rob Prior on the cover. hunting teardrops had several popular songs and music videos, including "Ghost Steps," "Incredible Hulk," and "Time's Game."

In 2022, Souleye released the song "Emergency," which featured Alanis Morissette on the chorus. Later, music producer ill.GATES made a remix of the song. "Emergency" became Souleye's most streamed song at that time.

On March 3, 2023, Souleye released his 12th full-length album, Disguised As Tomorrow. This album has some of his most exciting and challenging songs. It includes collaborations with Esjay Jones, rappers Big Samir and Main Flow, and singer Lila Rose. The album has produced several singles, such as "Human Spirit," "Letter To The Old Me," and "Emergency."

Disguised As Tomorrow was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the idea that the future we expect might not always happen. The album has a darker and heavier sound compared to hunting teardrops, making it a more complex musical experience. Critics have praised it, with some calling it an "album of the year" and a "masterpiece."

Souleye's Family Life

Souleye and singer-actress Alanis Morissette got married on May 22, 2010. They have three children together.

Souleye's Albums

Studio Albums

• Soul Sessions (2002)
• Flexible Morality (2003)
• UniverSoul Alchemy (2004)
• Intergalactic Vibes (2005)
• Balance in Babylon (2007)
• Music For People (with BLVD) (2008)
• Iron Horse Running (2013)
• Identified Time (2014)
• Shapeshifting (2015)
• Wildman (2017)
• Soul School (2019)
• Hunting Teardrops (2021)
• Disguised As Tomorrow (2023)
• Floating in Plasma (2025)

Songs Featuring Souleye

• VokabKompany& Stephan Jacobs - "Me Against Me" single (2013)
• VokabKompany - "Let it Fly" single (2013)
• Apaulo 8 - "Youthful Inheritance" from Infinite Possibilities (2011)
• Lila Rose - "Magick" from Osmos Your Sonica (2009)
• MiMosa - "Delivery" from Hostilis (2009)
• Random Rab - "Clarification of Meaning From a Rose" (2009)
• STS9 - Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist from Peaceblaster The New Orleans Make it Right Remixes (2009)
• Seventhswami -"Escape Artist" from Here For Now (2009)
• On The One - "Love Addiction" (remix) from Love Addiction (2008)
• "Shine" from The New Kong (2008)
• Breakbeatbuddah - "Mind Check" from Mind Bombin (2007)
• Lynx - "Just One Step" from Grain Of Sand (2007)
• Bassnectar - Amorphous Form from Underground Communication (2005)