Philadelphia's Soul Glo fuse pointed lyrics with explosive sonics in their post-hardcore sound. Pierce Jordan's vocals rage against cultural inequities while revealing his own internal struggles, matching the political and personal intensity. The group channels punk's rebellious energy alongside extreme metal's weight, weaving funk and hip-hop accents through crushing guitars and relentless drumming. Their name stems from the made-up hair product featured in Eddie Murphy's 1988 comedy Coming to America, yet the members also view it as emblematic of music's ability to reach listeners. Their rawest, most unfiltered aggression surfaced on the untitled 2014 debut album, while the 2021 EPs DisNigga, Vol. 1 and DisNigga, Vol. 2 displayed greater refinement and stylistic breadth, and 2022's Diaspora Problems brought an expanded palette of instrumental textures and outside contributors.
Soul Glo took form in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after guitarist Ruben Polo, previously of Facts and Secret Ploy to Destroy the Entire Universe, recruited vocalist Pierce Jordan, formerly of Teens and Trucks, to pursue heavy music together. Bassist Ethan Brennan and drummer Justin Sokol rounded out the lineup, allowing the band to issue an untitled EP-length tape in December 2014 within six months of starting. The cassette EP Soul Glow II appeared in 2016, and Untitled LP later compiled both recordings on vinyl. When they tracked the material that became Tour Tape 2k18 in 2017, the rhythm section had changed to bassist Gianmarco "GG" Guerra and drummer Jamie. The Case Closed by Migos EP surfaced in 2018 and was later paired with Tour Tape 2k18 for a 2019 cassette. Over the following two years the band maintained a steady output of short releases, including The Nigga in Me Is Me, Songs to Yeet at the Sun, and the Epitaph label debuts DisNigga, Vol. 1 and DisNigga, Vol. 2, all of which integrated gripping noise rap cuts on equal footing with their punk-driven material. TJ Stevenson joined on drums during this stretch. March 2022 marked the arrival of their first full-length for Epitaph, the eclectic Diaspora Problems, produced by Guerra and featuring guest appearances from rappers Mother Maryrose, McKinley Dixon, and lojii.
