Many artists talk about going to the proverbial "next level." Om'Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn simply exist there.

The Los Angeles/New York-based collective known as Sa-Ra, meaning "offspring of the most powerful energy in the universe" and "children of the cosmos," came together formally in 2001 and have done production work with and for the likes of Dr. Dre, Kanye West, John Legend, Jurassic 5, Ice-T and Lord Finesse. Since stepping out from behind the boards and carving a serious name for themselves as a group in 2004/05 with lauded singles "Glorious" b/w "Rosebuds" and "Double Dutch (CO CO POPS)," their sporadic singles and continued promises of a proper LP couln't fully quench the thirst of their rabid fan base.

After a 2+ year set up with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music imprint, a Sa-Ra full-length finally sees the light of day with The Hollywood Recordings, on renowned indie Babygrande Records. The album features a slew of esteemed guests: Erykah Badu, J Dilla, Pharaohe Monch, Bilal, Kurupt, and Capone –N- Noreaga among others. A prequel to their forthcoming major label album debut, the collection is full of surprises and should put to rest the rumors circulating that the trio is disbanding. Indeed, contrary to popular speculation, Sa-Ra is very much united, having emerged unscathed from the perilous depths of an ever shifting major label landscape.