Stereo MC's

Mixing hip hop, electronica and funk influences together into one swaggering, baggy groove, Stereo MC's (or Stereo MCs) caught the dwindling spirit of the Madchester rave scene while casting an early template for British rap in the early 1990s. Moving to South London from Nottingham in the early 1980s, the group made a name for themselves by self-releasing early tracks, setting up their own label and remixing for other artists, before being signed by Island Records, who released debut album 33-45-78 (1989). A successful US tour with Happy Mondays led to their single Elevate My Mind becoming the first rap record by a British artist to enter the US Billboard charts and they followed it with acclaimed album Supernatural (1990). But they will forever be synonymous with the hit singles Connected and Step It Up, still instantly recognisable party anthems which were later used as soundtracks in adverts for Carphone Warehouse and Halifax. They sent the album Connected (1992) to Number 2 in the UK charts and helped earn the band a fine reputation as a live act and as DJs and re-mixers. Though later albums Paradise (2005) and Double Bubble (2008) failed to make the same impact, the band remain active, touring with Jane's Addiction and Madness.