There is simply no denying that the years their band The Roots spent weathering the storm for live instrumentation in hip-hop has given birth to a distinct sound and spirit that is causing one hell of a gravitational pull here for artists from everywhere. Even French duo Les Nubians got their band members from Philly. And it seems everyone wants to be in on the Soulquarian sound. To get in on the vibe, the best place to go is Larry Gold's The Studio on the 400 block of N. Seventh St., where much of the action takes place. The Studio building also serves as home to Axis Music, Motive Records and The Roots' Web and publicity arm Okayplayer, making for a rich collaborative environment.
People come here for a lot of different reasons.
I think without The Roots, you wouldn't have any of this at all. In other words, without these forefront people, the people coming out now wouldn't even exist. I had the privilege of hanging out and eavesdropping on the goings on of a couple typically hectic days. It's A Lazy Afternoon. Axis Music isn't easy to find.