Love and Understanding

If you lived in California in the 90s, chances are you've sung Joyo's refrain in the shower. After the Manila-born NorCal transplant finished studying opera in Rome, she returned to the Bay Area, where she and future husband Lyrics Born recorded what would go on to be Solesides' greatest hit, a little number called "Balcony Beach" (from 1997's Latyrx). As part of the seminal indie hip-hop label Quannum Projects - a group whose founders included Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truthspeaker, Blackalicious, DJ Shadow, Jeff Chang (Can't Stop Won't Stop/VIBE Magazine,) and Joseph Patel (MTV) - Joyo quickly found her place as "The Quannum Songstress." In 2000 her first official solo offering - the jazzy and soulful "People Like Me" - was released on the label compilation Quannum Spectrum.

Love and Understanding is a refreshing perspective on traditional soul music handcrafted by Joyo and Lyrics Born with the help of fellow producers Jake One (Aftermath Records), Asa Taccone, RJD2, Tommy Guerrero, Headnodic (Crown City Rockers), and the Lifesavas' Jumbo the Garbageman. A glimpse into Joyo's positive, self-affirming outlook, not to mention her impressive talent, it's already caught the attention of award-winning writer/actor/director Danny Hoch, founder of the Hip-Hop Theater Festival, who used her new song "Feels Right" in his latest play, Taking Over.