The Soul Rebels

Biography

The Soul Rebels, a pioneering New Orleans brass band, formed in 1991 when drummers Lumar LeBlanc and Derrick 'Oops' Moss, along with other young musicians from the Harold Dejan’s Young Olympia Brass Band, sought to break from traditional brass band conventions. Under the tutelage of Milton Batiste, co-director of Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band, they learned classic repertoire but were inspired by contemporary funk, hip-hop, rap, and pop influences like Parliament-Funkadelic, Public Enemy, and N.W.A. Their big break came opening for Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers at Tipitina’s, where he named them 'The Soul Rebels' after Bob Marley's song, recognizing their funky, soulful twist on brass traditions.[1][2][3][4][5]

The band quickly developed a signature style fusing New Orleans brass band sounds with hip-hop beats, raps over instrumentals, jazz, reggae, funk, and more, releasing their debut album Let Your Mind Be Free in 1994 on Mardi Gras Records, followed by No More Parades in 1998 on Tuff City, which marked their embrace of original hip-hop-infused brass music. Despite lineup changes—including Marcus 'Red' Hubbard joining in 1999, Erion Williams in 2005, and others in 2010—and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which scattered members, they persisted, averaging 250 shows yearly and releasing albums like Rebelution (2005), Urban Legend (2006), and later works blending their sound with major artists. Today, the eight-piece ensemble, featuring LeBlanc and Moss on percussion, trumpeters Julian Gosin and Marcus Hubbard, trombonists Corey Peyton and Paul Robertson, saxophonist Erion Williams, and sousaphonist Manuel Perkins Jr., remains a global force in redefining brass music.[1][2][3][4][6]

Their legacy lies in elevating non-traditional brass band music to mainstream stages, backing hip-hop icons like Nas, GZA, Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan, and others while producing original material, thus bridging New Orleans street parades with arena-level hip-hop energy and preserving brass heritage through innovation.[2][6]

Fun Facts

• The band's name originates from Bob Marley's 'Soul Rebel,' suggested by Cyril Neville after their 1991 Tipitina’s gig opening for the Neville Brothers.
• They claim to be the first brass band to feature rap on a brass record, emerging during the height of N.W.A.'s influence.
• Despite Hurricane Katrina scattering members in 2005, they released Urban Legend in 2006 and maintained nearly 250 shows per year.
• Founders Lumar LeBlanc and Derrick Moss drew from university marching bands at Southern, Grambling, and Texas Southern before forming the group.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Milton Batiste - Tutelage in traditional brass band repertoire and style as co-director of Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band (Young Olympia Brass Band training) [Late 1980s-1991]
• Cyril Neville - Gave the band their name after a performance and provided early career boost (Opening show at Tipitina’s) [1991-1993]

Key Collaborators

• Lumar LeBlanc - Founding member and snare drummer, co-leader (All albums and tours since 1991) [1991-present]
• Derrick Moss - Founding member and bass drummer, co-leader (All albums and tours since 1991) [1991-present]
• Marcus Hubbard - Trumpeter, long-term member (Albums since late 1990s) [1999-present]
• Nas - Live performances and recordings (Tours, NPR Tiny Desk with GZA, “Godfather 4”) [2000s-present]
• Rakim - Frequent stage sharing and collaborations (Live shows and shared storytelling projects) [2010s-present]
• Wu-Tang Clan - Live backing and performances (Tours and stage shares) [2000s-present]

Artists Influenced

• Brass-A-Holics - Formed by former members Winston Turner and Tannon Williams (N/A) [2010]

External Links

• Spotify