Members:
AJ Kwame -Turntables, production
Joe 2000 -Turntables, production
Iriscience - Guest vocals
Tye Phoenix - Guest vocals
J Zone - Guest vocals
Sylvia Powell - Guest vocals
Masta Ace - Guest vocals
Peter Mayer - Violin
AJ Kwame and Joseph 2 Grand are the Runaways UK, a duo who have spent their 17 year partnership on the run from musical mediocrity.
The pair met in Brighton in 1991, forming the visionary outfit RPM (or Revolution Per Minute) a year later. RPM released a string of singles on the fledgling Mo Wax imprint, and toured Europe alongside James Lavelle and DJ Shadow. AJ's wide-ranging musical abilities and Joe’s deck wrecking skills leant RPM a unique edge as a plethora of 'Trip hop' groups rose in their wake.
In 1995 AJ & Joe changed both name and label, becoming the Runaways UK and finding a new home in Ultimate Dilemma Recordings in the UK and Three Sixty Records in the USA. Highly acclaimed singles led the way to their debut LP Classic Tales, a musical tour de force that was the culmination of the Runaways UK quest to forge a truly British hip-hop sound. The album featured striking cover art in the form of a painting of a calming, typically English pastoral scene. This attention to presentation has been carried over to Progress, their 2nd album, where the duo have enlisted the help of the Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili in exclusively providing a unique cover artwork. This album also features a diverse collection of very special guests Masta Ace, Iriscience, J zone, Tiye Phoenix, Sylvia Powell and Matt Cooper(Outside).
The Runaways UK and their music have travelled worldwide and forged relationships with a host of like-minded artists. Their golden remix touch has graced tracks from DJ Zinc, Doctor L and Emiliana Torrini, Cyclops 4000 Sir Menelik / Scaramanga / Chewbacca Uncircumcised etc), Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Kid Loco, Killer Priest, Flash and the Pan, Belles of Monica, Pressure Drop. And exclusive tracks for labels Catskills, Blue Juice, Grand Central and Nuphonic and ThreeSixty Records.
The Runaways are the creators of the theme music for the award winning radio show ‘London Xpress’ on XFM 105,9 FM, which they often play.
They are Currently working on a new album City Stories, as well as a new side project called Channel Bazaar!
A.J.KWAME and JOE 2GRAND
Runaways UK featuring Cyclops 4000
Get this video and more at MySpace.com
Review from the All Music Guide by Adam Bregman
Two popular underground DJs from Brighton, England, AJ Kwame and Joseph 2 Grand call themselves Runaways UK, but the general vibe of their record Progress is more L.A. underground than it is British.
The guest rappers, which includes L.A.'s own Iriscience from Dilated Peoples, are all on the positive tip, while the Runaways borrow liberally from the lo-fi squeaks, bleeps, and simple drum-machine thumps of early old-school records, which are also favored by many of the current crop of L.A. underground acts.
To this, they've added some trip-hop and house-style grooves, which is about the only thing that's British-sounding about them. After a swing-inspired opening number called "Do What You Wanna Do," Progress kicks in with "Express Delivery," featuring Masta Ace.
Sounding like something straight off Jurassic 5's Quality Control, Ace raps, "These days rappers embarrass their DJs/when they step onstage and start spitting the clichés/damn shame/because they rap about champagne/when they stole they flow and they promotional campaign." Progress also boasts a trip-hoppy ballad called "Broken Love," featuring Sylvia Powell's mournful vocals, set to scratchy, old-record noises (adored by all vinyl-addicted DJs), some moody keyboards, and a not-too-shabby sax solo. Then there's the instrumentals (this being a DJ record and all), which vary greatly from your standard scratch-and-sample hip-hop soundscapes. "Momentum" is an unusual tune with a live violin, which sounds partly like the music to a Japanese Playstation video game. It's a little bit cheesy, but in a good way.
One of Progress' grooviest tracks is "Sanctuary Part II," an extremely bugged-out number with a slight trip-hop vibe, but the bumpin' drum-machine beat is strictly 1984. Though they borrow a bit from the past, Runaways UK are all about the new, forging the future sound of hip-hop with a down-to-earth, player-free groove.
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thx for the add guys. The music is truly amazing, we really have alot of respect and admiration for what you guys are doing, we really love your music!! Much love and respect - FOE
Aloha!
its generic spam o' clock again. :D
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Check out "Intro" on my page when you get the chance, its featuring your Prime Minister, Mr Anthony Blair and a few other tracks too, some feedback, again would be wicked
Thanks for being our friend! :D heres a lovely fat picture/advert for you.. sorry we made it big, but at least we made it pretty! much love from hicalorie. x
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