Soul Fresh
{{short description|Liberian hip-hop duo}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Soul Fresh
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| origin = Liberia
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| current_members = JB, Shining Man
}}
Soul Fresh is a Liberian hip hop duo. The Hipco group consists of JB and Shining Man.{{cite web | url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/business/soul-fresh-no-longer-with-champion-designs/ |title=Soul Fresh No Longer with Champion Designs |last=Dopoe |first=Robin |date= |website=www.liberianobserver.com |publisher=Liberian Daily Observer |access-date=March 16, 2019}}
History
The group collaborated with F.A. on the track "Ebola is Real", which became popular in 2014 on Liberian radio, Sky FM.{{cite web | url=https://www.kunr.org/post/liberian-singers-use-power-music-raise-ebola-awareness#stream/0 |title=Liberian Singers Use The Power Of Music To Raise Ebola Awareness |last=Beaubien |first=Jason |date=October 12, 2014 |website=www.kunr.org |publisher=KUNR |access-date=March 16, 2019}} The track is done in the HipCo style, and also featured DenG. It became popular on Hott FM and other media outlets throughout Liberia.{{cite web |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-09-01/liberias-hottest-hip-hop-station-has-all-latest-ebols-music-and-news |title=Liberia's hottest hip-hop station has all the latest Ebola music and news |last=Blair |first=Susie |date=September 2, 2014 |website=www.pri.org |publisher=PRI |access-date=March 16, 2019}} In August 2014, The Atlantic called the song "...now one of the most popular tracks in Liberia."{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/how-to-make-a-hit-ebola-song/378980/ |title=How to Make a Hit Song About Ebola |last=Friedman |first=Uri |date=August 25, 2014 |website=www.theatlantic.com|publisher=The Atlantic |access-date=March 16, 2019}} Soul Fresh was a past member of the Hip Hop Accountability Network (an organization that strengthens copyright laws and establishes minimum play laws in Liberia).{{cite web| last1=Glencorse| first1=Blair| title=Hip Co Festival: How Liberia's music industry is building accountability| url=http://www.one.org/us/2014/01/09/hip-co-festival-how-liberias-music-industry-is-building-accountability/| publisher=One| accessdate=26 August 2014| date=9 January 2014| archive-date=27 August 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827165338/http://www.one.org/us/2014/01/09/hip-co-festival-how-liberias-music-industry-is-building-accountability/| url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/8-musicians-youve-never-heard-of-who-are-changing/ |title=8 musicians you've never heard of who are changing lives all over the world |last= |first= |date=September 3, 2014 |website=www.globalcitizen.org |publisher=Global Citizen |access-date=March 16, 2019}}
In December 2016, Soul Fresh held their Million Fan Festival on Bernard Beach, bringing in several thousand fans.{{cite web | url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/lib-life/international-artist-black-diamond-attacked-during-soul-fresh-festival/ |title=International Artist Black Diamond Attacked During Soul Fresh Festival |last=Bropleh |first=Tete |date=December 15, 2016 |website=www.liberianobserver.com |publisher=Liberian Daily Observer |access-date=March 16, 2019}}
China incident
In July 2016, during Soul Fresh's tour of China, it was reported that JB and Shinning Man were imprisoned.[https://allafrica.com/stories/201607141126.html info needed] The duo were reportedly jailed after accessing their Facebook accounts. However, JB refuted reports and described them as false and misleading.{{cite web |author1=Peter King |title=Developing News: SoulFresh allegedly arrested in China for FACEBOOK ? |url=http://www.liberiaentertainment.com/2016/06/26/developing-news-soulfresh-alledgedly-arrested-in-china-for-facebook/ |accessdate=17 February 2019 |date=26 June 2016}} They said they had been detained along with other foreign musicians for ten days after a permit issue.{{cite web | url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201607141126.html |title=Liberia: Music Group Soul Fresh Denies Being Jailed |last=Dopoe Jr. |first=Robin |date=July 14, 2016 |website=www.allafrica.com |publisher=Daily Observer |access-date=March 16, 2019}}
Awards and nominations
The duo was named Best Group at the Liberian Music Awards in 2014.
In December 2018, Soul Fresh was nominated for Best Hipco Artist at the 2019 Liberian Entertainment Awards.{{cite web |url=https://musicliberia.com/liberian-entertainment-awards-2019-full-list-of-nominees/ |title=Liberian Entertainment Awards 2019: Full list of nominees |last=Momo |first=James |date=December 27, 2018 |website=www.musicliberia.com |publisher=Music Liberia |access-date=March 16, 2019}}