Stereo MC's facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stereo MC's
Stereo MCs in concert, August 2006
Background information
Origin	Nottingham, England
Genres	Hip hop, electronic, alternative hip hop, house, alternative dance, hip house
Years active	1985–present
Labels	4th & Broadway, Gee Street Records, Island Records, Graffiti Recording, Rhino
Members	The Head Rob Birch Cath Coffey Aina Roxx
Past members	Owen If

Stereo MC's is an English music group. They play hip hop and electronic dance styles. The group started in Nottingham, England, in 1985.

They became famous around the world with their song "Connected". This song was a big hit, reaching the top 20 in many countries. The band has released many albums over the years. They even started their own record label called Connected. This label helps them release their own music and music by other artists.

How Stereo MC's Started and Grew

Stereo MC's in Berlin, 2005

The main members of Stereo MC's are Rob Birch, who sings, and Nick Hallam, who is a DJ and producer. They started their own recording studio and record label, Gee Street Records. They used money they got from moving out of their London apartment to do this.

In the beginning, they didn't have a full band. They traveled to their early shows using public transport! Before Stereo MC's, Rob's brother Archer David Birch and Nick Hallam made two synth-pop songs in 1983.

Their record label, Gee Street, caught the eye of 4th & B'way Records. This led to Stereo MC's first album, 33-45-78, in 1989. They made this album with a small budget. DJ Cesare, drummer Owen If, and singer Cath Coffey joined them.

In 1990, their song "Elevate My Mind" was special. It was the first British hip hop song to reach the R&B music charts in the United States. They also went on tour with the band Happy Mondays. To get more success in the UK, they worked with the Jungle Brothers. This helped their album Supernatural (1990) become popular. After this, they even did remix work for famous artists like U2 and Queen Latifah.

Their live band grew to include singers Andrea Bedassie and Verona Davis. Stereo MC's were one of the few hip hop groups to play at rock music festivals back then.

Their Big Hit Album: Connected

Their album Connected came out in 1992. It was a huge success, reaching number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. This album had many hit songs like "Connected", "Step It Up", "Creation", and "Ground Level".

Because of this album's success, they won two BRIT Awards. They won for Best Group and Best Album! After this, Nick Hallam and Rob Birch started a music publishing company called Spirit Songs. This company helped other artists, like Finley Quaye.

Later Years and New Music

After Connected, it took almost ten years for their next album to come out. But they stayed busy! In 1998, they made popular remixes for Madonna ("Frozen") and the Jungle Brothers ("Jungle Brother"). Madonna even used their "Frozen" remix on her 2001 world tour.

In 2000, they released a DJ mix album for Studio !K7. They also remixed another song for Madonna called "Music". Their next studio album, Deep Down & Dirty, was released in 2001. They then went on tour, opening for the band Jane's Addiction.

Their sixth album, Double Bubble, came out in July 2008. Their seventh album, Emperor's Nightingale, followed in August 2011. In December 2008, they played a show supporting the band Madness at the O2 Arena in London.

Stereo MC's at the Orange Music Experience Festival in Haifa, 2005

Sadly, their drummer, Owen If, passed away on July 10, 2022. He was 63 years old.

Meet the Members

• The Head – His real name is Nick Hallam. He was born on June 11, 1960, in Nottingham, England.
• Rob B – His real name is Robert Charles Birch. He was born on June 11, 1961, in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, England.
• Owen If – His real name was Ian Frederick Rossiter. He was born on March 20, 1959, in Newport, Wales, and passed away on July 10, 2022.
• Aina Roxx
• Cath Coffey

Their Music Albums

Stereo MC's have released several types of music albums:

EPs (Extended Plays)

• The Stereo MCs (1990)

This EP was made by Stereo MC's. It included songs from their first three singles. These songs later appeared on their first full album.

Studio Albums

These are their main albums with new songs:

• 33-45-78 (1989)
• Supernatural (1990)
• Connected (1992) – This album reached number 2 in the UK.
• Deep Down & Dirty (2001) – This album reached number 17 in the UK.
• Paradise (2005)
• Double Bubble (2008)
• Emperor's Nightingale (2011)

Compilation Albums

These albums collect songs from their past releases:

• Retroactive (2002)
• Live at the BBC (2008)

Other Albums

• DJ-Kicks: Stereo MCs (2000) – This is a remix album where they mixed songs by other artists.

See also

In Spanish: Stereo MCs para niños

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart