Biography 

 

One of the most successful hip-hop acts to emerge from Great Britain, Stereo MC's formed in London in 1985, when rapper Rob B. (born Rob Birch) and DJ/producer the Head (Nick Hallam) formed the Gee Street label as a means of promoting their music. Gee Street soon signed a distribution deal with the New York-based 4th & Broadway label, and a series of singles followed before Stereo MC's' debut album, 33-45-78, surfaced in 1989.

After the departure of founding member Cesare, the group -- now consisting of Rob B., the Head, drummer Owen If (born Owen Rossiter), and vocalist Cath Coffey -- issued the 1990 single "Elevate My Mind," which became the first British rap single ever to reach the U.S. pop charts. Following the release of the album Supernatural, Stereo MC's toured with the Happy Mondays and EMF before returning to the studio to record their 1992 breakthrough Connected, a sample-free album recorded completely with live instruments which spawned major hits like "Step It Up," "Creation," "Ground Level," and the title track. Throughout several years of production and remix work, the group's long-awaited (and oft-delayed) follow-up remained unreleased, though in 1997, Coffey did at least issue her debut solo single, "Wild World." For their 2000 mix album DJ Kicks, Stereo MC's recorded three new tracks, "Rhino, Pts. 1-3," and finally in 2001 issued a new album, Deep Down & Dirty, after a long nine-year hiatus. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide

Written by Jason Ankeny

Connected  

	01 .	Connected
	02 .	Ground Level
	03 .	Everything
	04 .	Sketch
	05 .	Fade Away
	06 .	All Night Long
	07 .	Step It Up
	08 .	Playing With Fire
	09 .	Pressure
	10 .	Chicken Shake
	11 .	Creation
	12 .	Don't Let Up
	13 .	The End

 

Stereo MC's' American breakthrough is an energetic, club-oriented collection of colorful, funky dance tracks -- the raps almost seem like an afterthought, yet that doesn't distract from the sheer pleasure of their sound. ~ All Music Guide, All Music Guide

 

 

Eight years on from their last LP, Stereo MC's returned not with a studio work but a mix album that shows their long career in a new light, as not just one-hit wonders but breakbeat renegades who've been searching for the perfect beat -- both as recording artists and as label heads -- for over 15 years. DJ Kicks trips back and forth between beat-heavy cinematic music from the '70s, rap from the old-school to the new-skool, and trip-hop from producers who, just like Stereo MC's themselves, take the template of breakbeat music down new paths. Truth to tell, though, there'd been so many similar mix albums released in the previous few years that it wasn't difficult to believe the bottomless well of obscure, funky music was just about tapped. Fortunately, Rob H. and Nick come through with a lineup of widely varied artists and crucial tracks. Most of the instrumental highlights are obscurities like "Back to the Hip Hop" by the Troubleneck Brothers, "Do It Do It" by the Disco Four, "Moon Trek" by the Mike Theodore Orchestra, and a surprisingly chilling track by 101 Strings titled "Flameout." The rap tracks are solid too, including old-school heroes like Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo ("Road to the Riches") and Ultramagnetic MC's ("Poppa Large"), as well as more recent artists from the growing hip-hop underground like the 57th Dynasty ("Pharoah Intellect") and Divine Styler ("Tongue of Labyrinth"). Another highlight is the new, three-part track "Rhino" produced by Stereo MC's. Fitting in well with the album itself, "Rhino" is an old-school groove number with heavy drums and Hammond keys. It's easy to wonder if Stereo MC's even have any fans left from the days of Connected, but this mix album might gain them a few. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

 

In the early '90s, while Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers were still figuring how to operate their turntables, Stereo MCs were making innovative and raucous U.K. hip-hop. But with the ensuing success of albums Connected and Supernatural came rumors of massive drug abuse, mental madness, and crumbling egos. The MC's disappeared for eight long years while the new DJs on the block downed ecstasy, invented drum-n-bass, trip hop, and big beat--and reaped the cult success and cash. Deep Down And Dirty marks the MC's' glorious return to style. Old-school to the core, Deep Down And Dirty is like a blast from the past, a rumbling collage of hip-hop attitude and riotous sonic delirium.

Retroactive 

 

	01 .	Creation
	02 .	We Belong in This World Together
	03 .	Step It Up
	04 .	On 33
	05 .	Running [Radio Mix]
	06 .	Ground Level
	07 .	Lost in Music [Ultimatum Remix]
	08 .	Bring It On
	09 .	Chicken Shake
	10 .	Sofisticated
	11 .	Deep Down & Dirty
	12 .	Two Horse Town
	13 .	Connected
	14 .	Elevate My Mind
	15 .	What Is Soul?
	16 .	Traffic
	17 .	Move It
	18 .	Sweetest Truth (Show No Fear)