Subliminal Simulation is the second studio album by Canadian hip hop group Dream Warriors, released in 1994 in Canada and worldwide in 1995, on EMI/Pendulum Records. The original duo, King Lou and Capital Q, expanded to include Spek and DJ Luv (Michie Mee's former DJ).
Background
Following their well-received debut album, And Now the Legacy Begins, Dream Warriors' second effort featured appearances by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr and Butterfly of Digable Planets. The collaboration "I've Lost My Ignorance" was originally released as a 12" single in 1991, though the album version has a different beat. Continuing the jazz rap trend, spoken word is performed during the interludes.[1] The first single, "Day In Day Out", showcased the newest MC, Spek. The second single was "California Dreamin'".
The album received generally mixed reviews from music critics. Nin Chan of RapReviews wrote: "Dream Warriors successfully recreate the night-at-the-jazz-club feel championed by The Roots and classic Tribe". He also called the album a "landmark in Canadian hip-hop and hell, hip-hop in general."[1]The Source's Nicholas Poluhoff called it "a positive and ambitious LP" that "may not have enough to truly stand out", highlighting two spoken word interludes, which he called "true gems".[4] John Bush of AllMusic thought that "Dream Warriors' jazz-rap formula has run out of steam".[2] The album was nominated for Best Rap Recording at the 1995 Juno Awards.[5]
