Biography
The Soul Rebels, an eight-piece New Orleans brass ensemble, originated from the collaboration of percussionists Derrick Moss and Lumar LeBlanc, who met while playing in Harold Dejan's Young Olympia Brass Band. Inspired by the pop music they heard on the radio, they sought to integrate those sounds into the rich tradition of New Orleans brass and marching bands they knew. Initially performing around New Orleans without a formal name, Cyril Neville christened them "The Soul Rebels" after a performance at Tipitina's. They established a strong local following through a Thursday night residency at Le Bon Temps Roule, a venue they still play when not touring.
Their career quickly expanded beyond New Orleans. Since 2009, they've been managed by Ted Kurland Associates, Hep Cat Entertainment, and Blue Note Entertainment Group. The Soul Rebels' eclectic live shows, blending soul, jazz, funk, hip-hop, rock, and pop, led to collaborations with a diverse range of artists, including Katy Perry, Nas, Metallica, Green Day, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and many others. Significant performances include appearances on various television networks (CBS, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, HBO, TBS, NBC, NPR, ESPN, BBC Two, The CW), major film appearances, and performances at numerous music festivals worldwide. They've also shared stages with Lauryn Hill, Kanye West, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, and numerous others. The band's high-energy performances, averaging over 250 shows annually, have solidified their reputation. In 2011, they played to 50,000 people at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Notable collaborations include a performance with Metallica at their 30th-anniversary concerts and appearances at Stella McCartney's fashion presentation and Brad Pitt's charity event. They also released a mixtape, Power = Power, in 2013, which received critical acclaim and won an Offbeat's Best Of The Beat Award. Their album Unlock Your Mind (2012) reached No. 5 on the iTunes Jazz charts and was the No. 1 most added album on CMJ magazine's Hip-Hop playlists.
The Soul Rebels' musical style is a unique fusion of genres, described by the Village Voice as "the missing link between Public Enemy and Louis Armstrong." Their innovative approach to incorporating elements of hip-hop and pop into a traditional New Orleans brass band framework has garnered them significant recognition and awards, including multiple Best Of The Beat Awards and New Orleans' Big Easy awards. Their extensive touring across the US, Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Brazil, along with their consistent presence at major festivals, has cemented their legacy as a dynamic and influential force in contemporary music. Their performances on television shows like Conan, The Andrew Marr Show, and Later with Jools Holland, as well as their appearances in films like The Hungry Rabbit Jumps and Treme, further showcase their broad appeal and impact. In 2023, they contributed to the soundtrack of the film Haunted Mansion.
Fun Facts
- The band's name, "The Soul Rebels," was given to them by Cyril Neville.
- They've performed at Brad Pitt's charity event benefiting Hurricane Katrina victims.
- They've played at Stella McCartney's fashion presentation alongside celebrities like Anne Hathaway and Jim Carrey.
- The Soul Rebels are the only band to have played both nights of Metallica's first Orion Music + More Festival.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Harold Dejan - Their teacher in the Young Olympia Brass Band.
Key Collaborators
- Metallica - Performed with them at their 30th-anniversary concerts and Orion Music + More Festival.
- Green Day - Collaborated on multiple occasions.
- Trombone Shorty - Featured on their album Unlock Your Mind.
- Cyril Neville - Gave them their name.
- Big_Freedia - Collaborated live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and on the Power = Power mixtape.
- The String Cheese Incident - Collaborated live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
- Joey Badass - Collaborated live and on Badass's album B4.DA.$$.
- Prodigy (rapper) - Collaborated live at Brooklyn Bowl.
- Rakim - Frequent collaborator in New York City.
- Talib Kweli - Frequent collaborator with Rakim and the band.
- GZA - Collaborated at Electric Forest Festival.
- Nas - Collaborated at the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival.
- Marilyn Manson - Collaborated live at Summer Sonic Tokyo Festival.
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Collaborated live at Summer Sonic Tokyo Festival.
- Galactic_-_Irma_Thomas - Toured with them and appeared with them on Conan and Treme.
- Corey Glover (Living Colour) - Toured with them and appeared with them on Conan and Treme.
- Slick Rick - Collaborated during a Chuck Brown tribute.
Artists Influenced
- The Wikipedia source does not list any artists explicitly influenced by The Soul Rebels.
Enhanced with AI analysis
Source: Wikipedia
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| These Things Happen Too | 2021-09-24 | Album |
| Euphonyus | 2022-11-17 | Album |
| Unlock Your Mind | 2012-01-01 | Album |
| Poetry in Motion | 2019-10-25 | Album |
| Unlock Your Mind | 2011-01-01 | Album |
| The Other Side Of Midnight: Live In New Orleans | 2011-05-03 | Album |
| Survival | 2019-11-08 | Album |
| No Place Like Home: Live in New Orleans | 2010-01-04 | Album |
| Let Your Mind Be Free | 2008-01-08 | Album |
| Poetry in Motion | 2019-10-25 | Album |
| HaitiaNola | 2019-10-25 | Album |
Top Tracks
- to get home. (feat. Leon Thomas & The Soul Rebels) (Euphonyus)
- When You're Gone (feat. Lil Wayne) (These Things Happen Too)
- Godfather 4 (Survival)
- Halftime: Stand Up & Get Up
- Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This (Unlock Your Mind)
- to get home. (feat. Leon Thomas & The Soul Rebels) (Euphonyus)
- Drinka Little Poison (4 U Die) (Treme: Music From The HBO Original Series, Season 1)
- Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This (Unlock Your Mind)
- When You're Gone (feat. Lil Wayne) (These Things Happen Too (Deluxe))
- Let Your Mind Be Free (New Orleans: Rebuild, Restore, Rejoice)
External Links
Tags: #jazz, #new-orleans
Heard on WWOZ
The Soul Rebels has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 4, 2025 | 19:39 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of Thisfrom Unlock Your Mind | Block Partyw/ Brice Nice | |
| Sep 24, 2025 | 11:58 | 504from Unlock Your Mind | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen | |
| Sep 17, 2025 | 12:43 | Sweet Dreams (Are Made of Thisfrom Unlock Your Mind | New Orleans Music Showw/ Missy Bowen |