UNLTD stands for “you never lose the dream.” This name aptly describes the motivation and drive possessed by all three members and was chosen specifically for its high degree of relevance to the attitude continually perpetuated throughout this hip-hop group. Each individual brings a unique perspective to every project maintaining diversity and allowing the group as a whole to be greater than the sum of its parts. Dustin Wolf (aka State of Mind) and Pablo Santander (aka Amorphati) began writing music together in 2004 under the moniker “Tha 306 Dynasty.” Shortly thereafter they recruited Curtis Shuba (aka Synapse) and simultaneously began taking the music writing more seriously.

The early years consisted largely of the trio developing the sound which continues to characterize them to this day. Catchy hooks, clever verses, continual wordplay, and storytelling have been the primary focus of these MC’s who seek to convey their ideas and experiences while remaining rooted in their true identities and individuality. Their first track together - “Bottle Poppin” was written and roughly recorded in 2005. Although this track is noticeably amateur today, it nonetheless provided the group with a rudimentary blueprint with which to work and further develop their sound as a group and as individuals; furthermore it also displayed raw talent and chemistry which, properly nurtured, could develop into something greater.

Between 2005 and 2007 the group wrote and roughly recorded another 11 tracks together along with numerous individual projects. Their first live performance came in the spring of 2007 outside of a local club promoting a weekend car show. While the venue was small and the crowd was largely composed of supportive friends and family members, the show went exceptionally well and left the group wanting more. They continued to write, and perform when the opportunity arose.

By the end of 2008, the group had long surpassed fifty tracks written and was beginning to seriously consider the prospect of pursuing a career in music. Acting on this inclination they upgraded their recording equipment and techniques and began investing even more time into writing and recording tracks. 

With close to one-hundred tracks written by 2011 and no official project completed, the group realized the need for a professionally recorded and engineered album/mixtape. Dustin Wolf (aka State of Mind) took the initiative and began working on “Deep Impact” – a mixtape turned album which went through a complete revision halfway through and, in the process, cultivated unprecedented artistic development. The album’s lead single “Lighters Up” was a joint effort between State of Mind and Kyle Jordan which went on to win a spot on Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes Volume 174 (released September 2011) where it played alongside such big name hip-hop artists as Fabolous and Meek Mill, as well as winning second place in Hip Hop in 2012’s International Songwriting Competition. The song remains a fan favorite and (at time of writing) holds 1,078 Youtube views.

Deep Impact allowed fans and casual observers to see what the UNLTD was capable of given a high degree of focus and access to a professional recording environment. The project itself consists of ten tracks highlighting State of Mind’s comprehensive range, writing skill set, and distinctive ability to connect with his listening audience. Staying true to its title, the album primarily maintains a deep introspective look into both State of Mind the artist, and Dustin Wolf the person dealing with life’s highs and lows. The remaining UNLTD artists were all featured on various tracks throughout the album, each providing it with their own unique approach, increasing its diversity and furthering its scope and range.

To date the group has roughly recorded and released nearly 100 tracks which include both original music and remixes of popular songs. They have performed 12 shows ranging from charity events (such as animal shelter fundraisers and the ‘Relay For Life’) to opening for hard core hip hop acts (Waka Flaka Flame). They are simultaneously dedicated, experienced, and talented.

Currently the UNLTD are 50% through their first full length professionally recorded project as a group. They have joined creative forces with local singer/songwriter Kyle Jordan for the album “Throne Together” which is slated for release in late 2011/early 2012. Concurrently they are working on a promotional EP (When it Reigns it Pours) for the album likely to be released late summer to early fall 2011.

Attempting to describe, label, or compare UNLTD’s music is an arduous task likely to remain incomplete.  It’s their diversity within the group that sets them apart from the rest. Almost adverse to the notable distinction as individuals is an innate chemistry between the members which allows them to maintain completely separate approaches while still managing to bring a coherent intelligible message as a whole on every track. Their individual influences range as widely as their styles and include the likes of – Tupac Shakur, Tech N9ne, Eminem, Lupe Fiasco, Immortal Technique, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Saukrates, Linkin Park, Apathy, Crooked I, Notorious BIG, Royce Da 5’9, Drake, Dr. Dre, and Kendric Lamar among many others.

UNLTD’s range for storytelling has always been deep. They thrive on pushing boundaries and have covered such topics in their music as religion, war, cultural disparity, freedom and hope, disease and deceit, as well as the usual – love, loss, perseverance, victory and defeat. They do not merely aim to make a career out of their art, they intend to make a significant impact to their genre as a whole and leave their mark on hip-hop and popular culture.

Kyle Jordan was born on January 17th, 1989 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He started playing piano at the age of 3, and by the age of 6 he was competing in music festivals and was winning in categories that were much beyond his age level. By age 15, Kyle had received his Grade 9 Royal Conservatory Certificate in piano performance and his Grade 2 Theory Certificate. He has won numerous awards and scholarships for piano and at the age of 16 won the Most Outstanding Performer in Saskatchewan at the Provincial level of competition for competitors 16 and under.

After high school, Kyle felt that playing classical piano wasn’t challenging him enough so he began writing and composing his own songs. With his vast technical training he fused a classical piano feel with R&B vocals and slowly started developing his own personal style. Never having sung before, Kyle taught himself to sing at 19 by drawing inspiration and direction from artists like Usher, Brian Mcknight, Stevie Wonder, R. Kelly and many more. After a couple months, he recorded 3 original tracks at a friend’s studio, and fell in love with music once again. The thrill of creating a song sparked the enthusiasm he once had for piano and his mind was made up, he was going to do music for a living. After deciding he was going to pursue music, Kyle sought out one of the most well known vocal coaches, Brett Manning of Singing Success. He booked 3 voice lessons at Brett’s studio in Nashville and headed out for his first vocal lessons. Brett was impressed with the natural tone and quality of Kyle’s voice and had faith that with time and practice, Kyle could unlock the full potential of his voice. By summer of 2009, Kyle had gained interest from a large indie label named Urban Heat, out of Toronto. Feeling the deal wasn’t right for him, Kyle decided to keep working on his skills as an artist, songwriter, producer and performer so that he could launch his own career utilizing the digital resources of the internet. From 2009 to 2011 Kyle wrote and recorded over 20 tracks, teaching himself to produce and mix with the help of his close friend, and talented musician, Cuthbert Mwale (Breeze.e).

In November of 2010, Kyle started performing at local bars and cabarets, gaining the attention of local artists, and fans, quickly making a name for himself as a talented and promising singer/performer. He has had the opportunity to open for Bun B, claiming “It was a great experience and he had some great advice about entering the music industry”. Kyle is now working on creating his first studio produced album on his own while simultaneously working with UNLTD on a second project which are both aimed for release in fall of 2012. With his talent, enthusiasm, love for music, and willingness to learn, Kyle Jordan is sure to make a name for himself in the R&B world.