| Stereo MCs | |
|---|---|
Stereo MCs in concert, August 2006 |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Clapham, London, England |
| Genres | Hip hop Electronica House |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | 4th & Broadway Gee Street Records Island Records Graffiti Records |
| Website | Official website |
Stereo MCs are an English electronic dance group, which formed in Clapham, London in 1985.[1] They are best known worldwide for their 1992 transatlantic Top 20 hit single, "Connected". The book Guinness Rockopedia described them as "the big boys of British rap".[2]
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Vocalist Rob Birch, and DJ/producer Nick Hallam, founded their Gee Street recording studio and record label, with money they were given to leave their London flat[1] and dispensing with using a backing band, travelled to early gigs on public transport.[2]
When Gee Street attracted the attention of 4th & Broadway, they recorded the debut Stereo MCs' album 33-45-78 (1989) on a shoestring budget with DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If and backing vocalist and Cath Coffey.[1] In 1990, "Elevate My Mind" by the Stereos was the first British hip hop single to reach the US R&B chart.[2] Having supported the Happy Mondays on a US tour, in the emerging UK indie dance scene, it took an alliance with the Jungle Brothers, to ensure chart success for Supernatural (1990).[1] Remix work for U2, PM Dawn, Queen Latifah, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Monie Love and Electronic all followed.[2]
They are still sought after producers, with most of their remixes being done under the name Ultimatum.
Their live band included singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis,[1] and they were one of the few hip hop outfits to play rock music festivals at the time.[2] 1992's mainstream breakthrough Connected, a UK Albums Chart # 2, contained the hit singles "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level" and won them BRIT Awards for Best Group and Best Album.[1] Hallam and Birch then created the music publishing firm, Spirit Songs, which signed Finley Quaye.[2]
However the follow-up to Connected did not appear for almost a decade. Further remix duties for Madonna ("Frozen"), and the Jungle Brothers ("Jungle Brother") in 1998, kept the Stereo MCs name in the limelight.[2]
In 2000, they released a DJ mix for Studio !K7's DJ-Kicks series and remixed another song for Madonna, ("Music"). The following year saw the release of Deep Down & Dirty, followed by a tour, including slots opening for the recently re-united Jane's Addiction.
Their most recent album, Double Bubble, was released in July 2008. In December 2008, they supported Madness at the O2 Arena in London.
† This EP was written, produced and composed by the Stereo MCs and released on Island Records. The songs would later appear on their first album. The tracklisting was as follows: