Lifesavas Announce National Tour In Support Of New Album

“If rope chains, Jordan Vs, and 8-ball jackets canmake a come-back, why can’t conscious rap? To that end, Portland, Ore.’s Lifesavas impressively go radical on their 70s blaxploitation-themed sophomore album Gutterfly. By the De La Soul-esque finale, “Celebrate,” their experiment in throwback-ism is a success; they’ve managed to make “positive” rap without the negative connotations.” VIBE, May 2007

“After inhaling a steady dose of ’70s blaxploitation flicks and live-action/animation hybrids, the group came up with Gutterfly, an homage that delivers what the hip-hop world hasn’t seen in a minute: a strong concept record filled with blasting horns, piano stabs, and orchestral strings reminiscent of classic soundtracks like “Shaft” and “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.”” –WAX POETICS, Apr/May 2007

(BROOKLYN, NY MAY 2, 2007) Portland-based hip-hop group Lifesavas are hitting the road for a seven-week headlining run, “The Gutterfly: Urban Legend Tour,” in support of their newly released album GUTTERFLY: The Original Soundtrack (April 24/ Quannum Projects). Along for the ride are Strange Fruit Project and DJ Marc Sense.

The dynamic duo that is Lifesavas consists of MC/producer JUMBO the Garbageman and MC VURSATYL, along with partner DJ Rev Shines, who holds down the decks on the road. GUTTERFLY is their substantive, groove-rich sophomore album, with tons of soul, intelligent rhymes, raw delivery, and impeccable production. The guest list includes Camp Lo, Fishbone, George Clinton, Digable Planets and dead prez, among others.

The album follows up Lifesavas’ debut Spirit in Stone, long considered an underground classic. As said in Rolling Stone’s 10 Artists to Watch in 2007 feature, “it’s their follow-up GUTTERFLY, that should put them over the top. JUMBO produces most of the tracks, using a dense stew of samples from Seventies soul, while VURSATYL inhabits a wide range of characters with a limber flow.”

Inspired heavily by 70s Blaxploitation films, Gutterfly is a movie concept Lifesavas created and brought to life via poetic songwriting and powerhouse beats. During the upcoming tour, fans will be introduced to the world that is Razorblade City. Bumpy Johnson (VURS), Sleepy Floyd (JUMBO) and Jimmy Slimwater (SHINES) will entertain with explosive stage presence, and fans can expect to hear the new bangers mixed in with old favorites. Said Vurs, “It’ll be a melting pot of our two albums a roller coaster of emotions. We party and we also raise our collective voice about what we’re about.” That’s Gutterfly!