Stereo MCs
Without doubt the biggest selling hip hop outfit the UK has ever produced, before Roots Manuva, before Dizzy Rascal, before Lethal Bizzle there was Stereo MCs.
Formed in mid 80's Nottingham before relocating to the bright lights of London town, MC Rob Birch and DJ/Producer Nick Hallam released 2 albums to widespread critical if not commercial success before they dropped a bomb on early nineties dance culture.
The album was 'Connected' and the rest was history. Overnight they became a international success story, producing an album as much influenced by the then burgeoning acid house scene as anything coming out of America, hip hop wise and they did it live. No samples, no loops, just live instrumentation, a lot of heart and a lot of soul. The singles 'Connected', 'Ground Level' and 'Step It Up' were worldwide smashes and the band toured tirelessly as they cemented themselves as the dance phenomenon of the nineties.
Two further albums have followed in the form of 2001's eagerly anticipated and far from disappointing 'Deep Down and Dirty' and 2005's impressive call to arms that was 'Paradise'.
Along the way Birch and Hallam have also built unbelievably respected reputations as DJs and producers, remixing everybody from Madonna to the Jungle Brothers, but it's as a live act that they remain in our hearts as one of the most exciting musical experiences on the planet.
www.stereomcs.co.uk