Raw Deluxe
San Francisco’s Raw Deluxe is ready to challenge any band claiming to be heir apparent to the title of America’s premier live hip-hop act. Since the Roots made their move to “Late Night,” the throne has been vacated, and the Bay Area seven-piece is determined to claim their rightful place in the music kingdom. Boasting one of hip-hop’s tightest rhythm sections, Raw Deluxe makes the rhymes of their three fearsome MCs come alive through the sounds of funky, organic instrumentation. Keyboards, drums, bass, and saxophone coalesce to provide a head-bobbing musical backdrop for Lexxx Luthor, Mic Blake, and Soulati to impart their wisdom in the form of smooth flows. The soulful bounce of “Everyday” showcases the band’s world-class musicianship, uplifting lyricism, and talent for crafting tuneful jams.

- URB Magazine

Take it from the band itself: We got rhythm, we got soul, we got class, we got something to build upon, goes the chorus to the second track. Blending live hip-hop (drums, bass, keys, and sax) with Jurassic 5-style group raps (Lexx Luthor, MicBlake, and Soulati trade freely), Raw Deluxe delivers an exuberant hybrid of jazz, funk, and hip-hop.

-East Bay Express

 

"Snap back like a bungee chord — Lord!" Watch yourself, Raw Deluxe. The Bay Area group's flow is as satisfyingly smooth and substantive as classic Del tha Funkee Homosapien times three on "Can You Spend It," off its new Raw Communication (Reel Deal). MCs Lexxx Luthor and Mic Blake of Alphabet Soup and Soulati of Felonious are unstoppable and at the top of a mix that showcases the sheer delight of word-slingers riding the exact same wavelength. There's nothing particularly uncooked about the smokily intoxicating old-school jazz-funk gumbo on Raw Deluxe's third long-player: keyboardist Matt Fleming, saxophonist Tony Jurado, bassist Chris Arenas, and drummer Chris Spano are on point on "Something to Build Upon" — a celebration of the band's actual music-making process — which would chart in a better world and provide the foundation for a more maximalist hip-hop.

-San Francisco Bay Guardian