Stereo MC's

Formed in Clapham, south London, in 1985, Stereo MC's were built around Rob Birch and Nick Hallam, with an approach that blends British hip‑hop, house, funk grooves, soul and dance electronics. Initially associated with the rise of the UK alternative dance scene in the late 1980s, Stereo MC's were also involved in the Gee Street label venture founded by Birch and Hallam, before releasing 33-45-78 in 1989 and Supernatural in 1990, where the band honed a looser, more melodic sound. The album Connected, released in 1992, marked a turning point with tracks like "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation" and "Ground Level", in a register that crosses rap, sung choruses and club rhythms without being confined to a pop format. Over the years Stereo MC's also worked on remixes for U2, Queen Latifah, Madonna and Tricky, released the DJ‑Kicks mix in 2000, and subsequently the albums Deep Down & Dirty (2001), Paradise (2005), Double Bubble (2008) and Emperor’s Nightingale (2011). On stage and in the studio, the band's story was also written alongside Cath Coffey and drummer Owen If, who died in 2022.