Souleye (hip-hop artist) facts for kids

Souleye, whose real name is Mario John Treadway, is an American hip hop artist. He was born on May 3, 1980. Souleye has released many albums, with his most recent one, Disguised As Tomorrow, coming out in March 2023. He has worked with other artists like BLVD and his wife, Alanis Morissette.

Souleye also collaborates with musicians such as Esjay Jones and Lila Rose. He has also worked with fellow rappers like Big Samir, Main Flow, and Chachillie. Souleye believes in using his music to share important messages. He writes about finding yourself, mental well-being, and personal growth.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Souleye was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. He started rapping when he was in high school. After graduating in 1999, he went to Western New England College. He played basketball there for one year.

After college, Souleye traveled across the country. He lived in different places like Florida, California, Colorado, and Los Angeles. He was following his passion for music.

Souleye's Music Journey

Starting Out in Hip Hop

In 2001, Souleye began writing and performing with a group called the Transcendental Alliance. This group focused on positive and meaningful hip hop music. In 2003, he released an album called Soul Sessions with another artist named Campaign.

After a difficult time in his life, Souleye went to Mount Greylock in Massachusetts. There, he wrote the album Flexible Morality. He later adopted "Music Matters" as his main message. He released another album, UniverSoul Alchemy, that same year.

In 2006, Souleye teamed up with producer Samuel "Sleepyhead" Pohner. They formed Souleye & Sleepyhead and released Intergalactic Vibes. This album won a music contest. As winners, they performed on a cruise called Jamcruise 4. During the cruise, Souleye performed with Michael Franti and was invited to play with Bassnectar. He later toured a lot with Bassnectar. Souleye also wrote the song "Amorphous Form" for Bassnectar's album Underground Communication.

In 2007, Souleye joined the band BLVD in San Francisco. He recorded the album Music for People with them. He toured with BLVD until 2009. After that, he started performing as Souleye again.

He met his wife, Alanis Morissette, in 2009. They got married in 2010. Souleye opened for Morissette's "Guardian Angel" tour in 2012. They have worked together many times since then. He released the albums 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 European Independent Music Charts. The album's artwork was created by artist Rob Prior.

On November 11, 2016, Souleye released "Follow Your Heart." This was the first song from his upcoming 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 had other popular songs, including the title track with Lynx.

Soul School and Recent Works

In 2019, Souleye released Soul School. This album featured his first collaboration with South African singer Esjay Jones. It also included songs with artists like 2Mex, Sabi, Donny Arcade, and Chachillie. Some of these songs were "Sacred Design" and "Felicity."

He followed up with the album hunting teardrops in 2021. He worked with painter Rob Prior again for the album cover. This album had several popular songs and music videos. Some of these were "Ghost Steps," "Incredible Hulk," and "Doorway to the Future."

The next year, Souleye released the song "Emergency." This song featured Alanis Morissette on the chorus. Later, music producer ill.GATES created a remix of the song. "Emergency" became his most streamed song so far.

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

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. Critics have praised it, calling it a "whole-hearted masterpiece."

Family Life

Souleye and singer-actress Alanis Morissette got married on May 22, 2010. They have three children. Their son Ever was born on December 25, 2010. Their daughter Onyx was born on June 23, 2016. Their youngest son, Winter, was born on August 8, 2019.

Albums by Souleye

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