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Featuring (from left to right): Steve V. aka Sensei. Trife, Ako Mack, Fraze, Aztek, Yella Bastard, and Emerg McVay, with Delano aka XP-G, Habitat, and Pooh Baby (not pictured). Production credits include the Arsonist, Rick Rock, Sensei, Ako Mack, Delano, and Fraze.
SouthWest Division was started in the early '90s by Steve Valenzuela, Delano Clark and Ako Mack. Steve grew up in Maryvale listening to old school R&B and Funk (Parliament / Funkadelic / Cameo / Barkays / Confunkshun/etc.) before rap music existed. "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugar Hill Gang soon changed his life. Steve's parents were divorced when he was in 4th grade, and he ended up moving to north Phx around 7th grade to get out of a very rough neighborhood, his father getting robbed at gunpoint at their own house.
Since Steve was now the minority in a mostly white neighborhood, popular musical influences there were the likes of Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, AC-DC, etc. and he became a skilled guitar player. Upon turning 21, graduating ASU, and starting a supervisor position at Motorola, Steve began going to nightclubs, which eventually led him to his old musical tastes and the $2200 purchase of an ASR-10 sampling keyboard.
Originally, music would just be his hobby, but DJ ALIII introduced him to an old roommate Sam, the Freestyle Fanatic, who introduced him to his new roommate, Delano Clark (XP-G), who introduced him to his best man, Ako Mack aka Goliath Monsignor aka Mr. Bionic Jive. The rest would be history. Music was now taken seriously because these three musketeers had talent. Delano ended up moving to L.A., so Ako and Steve, with the help of Ako's manager Eric Dixon, started recording Ako's first solo record AKMONIC at Smokehouse studios, where they met Emerg McVay and Fraze (KingDavid). and Gensu the Blade. Styles (Smokehouse owner, producer, engineer) liked the direction so much, he didn't charge studio time, but instead, threw a lame contract in their face they smartly refused to sign.
Shortly afterwards, we started recording Ako's record with Larry Eleya at Mind's Eye Digital, thus, BIONIC JIVE was born. They eventually landed a spot on Farmclub after performing in L.A., and Jimmy Iovine signed them to Interscope records, where they toured with Eminem, Ludacris, D12, Papa Roach on the Anger Managment tour, performed at the America West Arena, received publishing deals on the Transporter soundtrack, Sony Playstation 2 games, Arena football theme songs, etc. They also opened for Nas in Las Vegas. Bionic Jive in no longer with Interscope, but working on their new project with the orginal members, guitar player and drummer from the old Bionic Jive.
During this time, Steve hooked up with Aztek in music business class, and TheSickYellaBastard at a house party. Steve was producing all of Yella's solo tracks, and Yella soon talked Steve into rapping and forming the dynamic duo: YBS. Yella Bastard.Sensei. Why Bullshit?
While doing hip hop karayoke at a Mesa nightclub, Steve met Habitat, aka Skatabrain, and later re-united with Delano Clark who moved back from L.A. Having recording tons of songs by all of the above solo artists, Steve decided to finance a compilation project, the best of SouthWest Division, album due out summer time 2006.
It's been a long time coming, but guarenteed to be worth the wait. It's about to get HOT in AZ !!!
