Sons of SIlverton

On May 5, dynamic Hip Hop duo Sons of Silverton released its first full-length album, the extraordinary Or Forever Hold Your Peace, which is as good of a debut album as you will ever hear. Sons of Silverton had a little head start though — the project consists of two experienced MCs with a long history in the Cincinnati Hip Hop community and beyond, so they each came into the project with their skills as rappers and lyricists honed to an extremely sharpened point. And, yes, both are from the Cincinnati neighborhood of Silverton.

SoS’s CITOAK came up in the ’90s with the consistently strong Cincinnati collective Watusi Tribe and has maintained a steady solo career, most recently releasing his album Delayed Arrival in 2014. The other half of Sons of Silverton is KyleDavid, a key member of Cincinnati group Five Deez, which formed in the ’90s and built a global following with its releases in the ’00s and its infusion of various genres like EDM and Jazz into its sound. KyleDavid has also kept busy beyond his work with the group that first brought him to public attention. In 2013, he collaborated with producer CJ the Cynic on the album The Field Work.

As a tag-team, KyleDavid and CITOAK are perfectly matched — both are smart, imaginative writers who stand well above most of their peers in the lyrics department, so the fluid effusiveness of their deliveries blends together seamlessly. Speaking of deliveries, another thing each artist has in common is a tough, tight cadence in their flows; these are skilled craftsmen at the top of their game, and hearing them deftly weave bars around each other should be a highly satisfying experience for any true student of the art of Rap.

Both SoS MCs also appear to share a passion and respect for Hip Hop history. Or Forever Hold Your Peace isn’t an “old-school” record (it definitely has a modern verve), but you hear (subtly or perhaps unintentionally) the influence of and reverence for the groundbreakers of several eras of the genre all over it.

The production and resultant musical landscapes that hover behind the rhymes and provide fierce, diverse beats also contribute to the music’s uniqueness and cross-era vibe (which in many ways makes it a rare timeless Hip Hop album). KyleDavid and CITOAK were introduced by a mutual friend to widely respected and innovative New Orleans-based producer prospek, who consistently takes the sonics of Or Forever Hold Your Peace in compelling directions, from the grinding-beat-meets-Jazz-horns atmospherics of “You Don’t Want It” to the live-sounding guitar/synth/drum-kit groove of “You Know Them As” to the bubbling electronics and strong vocal melody hook (provided by guest Diamond Star Russell) on “Great Escape.” Prospek was initially just going to do a few songs with Sons of Silverton for a potential EP, but it’s a testament to the three artists’ chemistry that it turned into an 11-track album that is engrossing from the first notes until the last.



Listening to Or Forever Hold Your Peace reminded me of another recent listening experience. Not long ago, Chuck D of Public Enemy enthusiastically tweeted about a new Nas song with DJ Shadow. I immediately listened to it (that’s a heady recommender) and my enthusiasm instantly matched Chuck’s. The track, “Systematic,” is a soaring, exhilarating reminder of all of the best elements of Hip Hop music. I felt that same surging sense of optimism about the music’s current (and future) state while exploring Or Forever Hold Your Peace.



This Friday, Sons of Silverton joins DJ crew Selectas Choice for an album release celebration at Northside Yacht Club (4227 Spring Grove Ave., Northside, northsideyachtclub.com). Showtime is 10 p.m. and there is no cover charge.



Or Forever Hold Your Peace is available to purchase and/or stream on most major digital platforms, including the duo’s Bandcamp page (sonsofsilverton1.bandcamp.com). For more on Sons of Silverton, visit sonsofsilverton.com. - Citybeat Magazine

This song is dope in a big way! Sons Of Silverton are making a deep impact with this production and these dope rhymes. The two emcees, CITOAK and KyleDavid, have a great chemistry with each other and their voices, delivery, and content are on point. All of the aforementioned happens while the the snare drums from producer Prospek reverberate in your ear drums.

If you ain’t feeling this track…something is wrong with you. The Sons Of Silverton have an album out now, Or Forever Hold Your Peace, that is looking like a must cop after we have featured them twice on this site. It could be the sleeper project of the year.

Don’t sleep on new artists… - Hip Hop Dependency

Since I'm rocking my Sons Of Silverton t-shirt today, I think it's time to acknoweldge these brillant vets of true hip hop.

I had the privledge of seeing Citoak and KyleDavid unleash a volcano of vicous lyrics, breakbeat, and everything one loves about hip hop at a showcase a few months ago, and my respect and admiration has been latched to the back of my brain since.

Here's a little more about them before you come and enjoy them on Friday!

**How long have you been making your music for?

**Both of us started writing when we were young. Around 9-11 yrs old. We’ve been doing music professionally since our late teens early 20’s.

**What is your vision for how you would like your music to impact your listeners?

**A couple of different things, one would be to feel refreshed because its not what you hear on the norm. Second a little thought provoking, some head nodding and road trips.

**Check out avoicefortheinnocent.org and just get a gist for what the mission is for our organization. What does it mean to you?

**I like the fact that its not just a page of preaching, it truly seems to be about awareness and victim support. I have a mother, sisters, a wife and two daughters all of whom I worry about when they're in certain situations. My wife has actually pointed out some areas of concern when were out that I as a sizable guy was oblivious to. There are far more victims of rape living their lives than many people care to realize.

Check out www.sonsofsilverton.com to listen to their music, get your own shirt (don't steal my boy sized smedium) and see some videos!

For more information on A Voice For The Innocent, check out avoicefortheinnocent.org and take some time to learn more about what we do, what you can do to help, or if you need anything from us at all. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AVFTI and make sure to "like" our Facebook page! - A Voice For the Innocent

Tonight at Headliners RMLLW2LLZ is having his record release show also featuring Otis Junior and Sons of Silverton out of Cincinnati. I happen to know the guys in Sons of Silverton really well, and I hear secrets don't make friends so I reached out to Kyle David of the SOS to give you the scoop on what they are all about. I know Louisville is a city that loves old school hip hop with fun vibes and that is what these dudes personify.

Check out our conversation and listen to the first single "Good to Go" from their forthcoming record, Or Forever Hold Your Peace below.



NN: You have an interesting history, can you give us the scoop on what you have done in the business?

Kyle David: I started rapping professionally in 1996 with a group called Five Deez. We were signed to a Berlin based labeled called K7! Records as well as BBE/Rapster. That lasted until about 2006 when everyone went their separate ways and began working on solo material. CITOAK and I had known each other since the late 90's and regrouped through a mutual friend, DJ Nate the Great. We decided it was time for us to collaborate and started recording together in 2012.


NN: As Cincinnati artist coming into Louisville's hip hop scene, what is your impression of it?

KD: I love the Louisville Hip Hop scene. It seems to be very established and uniform. I notice a lot of love for artists when we're in the Ville. Dope beats and rhymes.. You can't ask for much more! Shout out to all the dope independent artists out of the 502. RMLLW2LLZ, Dom B, WIP, Goodbar, 1200, Dr. Dundiff...the scene seems to be growing and has some strong talent on deck as well.

"I notice a lot of love for artists when we're in the Ville. Dope beats and rhymes.. You can't ask for much more!"

NN: What kind of vibe do you expect people to have when they listen to your music?

KD: I expect a mid 90's vibe, definitely Hip Hop but more mature. It's a throwback to an era of more substance, less trap.

SOS music will be available at iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, all the online digital retailers. Right now, you can check out our first single, Good To Go at www.sonsofsilverton.com. Our forthcoming album is titled Or Forever Hold Your Peace. Basically, it's shit or get off the pot! Citoak and I are getting old and ain't nobody got time for that...


NN: Who's your biggest influence in music?

KD: Bigger influences in my music would be Stevie Wonder, Chuck D, A Tribe Called Quest, Charlie Wilson, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, and the creators of Kidz Bop. Don't fuckin' judge me!


NN: What music is getting you excited recently?

KD: I get excited when I hear porn music... Other than that, Schoolboy Q, Quiet Hollers, Blink 182, This Drake/Joe Budden battle is pretty fucking enticing, and the lovely melody of my 7 year old daughter covering Sorry by Beyoncé.


NN: What's better, Cincinnati Chili or a Kentucky Hot Brown? Don't mess this one up!

KD: Cincinnati Chili is only better in Cincinnati, in front of a Cincinnati crowd. Other than that, Kentucky Hot Brown, hands down son! - Never Nervous

BANG! @southernvangard #radio presents the #SonsOfSilverton interview session! We are BIG fans of #Ohiohip-hop here at Southern Vangard Radio - and these two gentlemen are no exception. #Citoak and #KyleDavid both cut their teeth in the #Cincinnati hip-hop scene a number of years back as members of #WatusiTribe and #FiveDeez, respectively. In 2017 they’ve come together as the Sons Of Silverton and dropped their debut album a few months ago. We hear about hear how they came together, connecting with the producer for the entire album, #NewOrlean’s #Prospek and the organic nature of the record - which resulted in features from #Piakhan & #Deion to name a few. We also hop in the wayback machine to talk about Watusi’s deal with an ATL record label some years ago, get an update on Watusi & Five Deez as well as get into some old #Cincy talk. So without delay, hit play, pick up “Forever Hold Your Peace” now and never forget it’s ALWAYS that #smithsonian #grade #twiceaweek // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on #applepodcast #stitcherradio #soundcloud #mixcloud // #hiphop #rap #undergroundhiphop #DJ #mix #interview #podcasts #ATL #CINCINNATI #SILVERTON #WORLDWIDE - Southern Vangard Radio

Watch: Cincinnati Hip Hop duo unveils video for eponymous track “Sons of Silverton”


KyleDavid and Citoak recently premiered the visuals for the calling-card cut from their stellar 2017 album, ‘Or Forever Hold Your Peace’
Sons of Silverton, one of the best Hip Hop acts in Cincinnati right now, released its debut full-length, Or Forever Hold Your Peace, last spring. The lyrical brilliance and dexterous flows of veteran Cincinnati MCs KyleDavid (Five Deez) and Citoak (Watusi Tribe) work incredibly well together. Combined with New Orleans native Prospek’s imaginative production, which buoys and slinks around the rhymes masterfully, Hold Your Peace is a thoroughly engaging album that, at the time it was released, we called an “exhilarating reminder of all of the best elements of Hip Hop” that gives the listener a “surging sense of optimism about the music’s current (and future) state.” (Click here for the full review of the album, which also landed on CityBeat’s Best of 2017 music round-up).

One of Or Forever Hold Your Peace’s many great cuts is the opener, “Sons of Silverton,” which, fittingly, acts kind of like a musical business card in the way it spotlights the duo’s vibrant musicality and layered poetic prowess. A pulsating music video for the eponymous anthem premiered last night at midnight. It’s SoS’s second official video from the album; last June, the duo released the visuals for Hold Your Peace’s first single, “You Know Them As.”

Sons of Silverton has a consistent live presence in the clubs of Greater Cincinnati. You can next catch them May 5 at the release party for the new collaborative album from WeirDose and Juan Cosby at Northside Yacht Club. The duo is also slated to open for Arrested Development at Bogart’s on May 25. - City Beat/ Mike Breen