Freestylers#Singles.2FEPs
{{Short description|British electronic music group}}
{{Other uses|Freestyle (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Freestylers
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alias = Raw as F**k
| origin = London, England
| genre = Electronic, breakbeat, trip hop, big beat, acid house, electro house
| years_active = 1996–present
| label =
| associated_acts = Blapps Posse
| website = [http://www.freestylersmusic.co.uk FreestylersMusic.co.uk]
| current_members = Matt Cantor
Aston Harvey
MC SirReal
}}
The Freestylers are a British electronic music group, consisting of producers Matt Cantor and Aston Harvey.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/freestylers-mn0000802929/biography|title=Freestylers {{!}} Biography & History|last=Bush|first=John|website=AllMusic|access-date=2016-06-17}} They have released five studio albums and a number of mix compilations for, among others, Fabric and BBC Radio.
The group took their name from their first sample "Don't Stop the Rock" by Freestyle, which they also sampled on Drop the Boom.
Career
=Formation–Raw as Fuck album (1996–2004)=
The Freestylers formed in 1996 when DJs and dance music producers Matt Cantor and Aston Harvey joined forces.{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/freestylers/biography|title=RA: Freestylers - Biography|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2016-06-17}} Both Cantor and Aston had been involved in the British dance music scene since the early 1990s. Cantor had recorded both as Cut & Paste and Strike with Andy Gardner (Plump DJs).{{Cite web|url=http://www.eurokdj.com/search/eurodb.php?name=Strike|title=Strike|website=The Eurodance Encyclopaedia|access-date=2016-06-17}}{{Cite web|url=http://rwffmusic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/rewind-strike-u-sure-do.html|title=RW/FF: REWIND: Strike - 'U Sure Do'|last=Scott|first=Ben|date=10 April 2015|website=rwffmusic.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=2016-06-17}} Aston Harvey recorded as Blapps! Posse, best known for their 1990 breakbeat dance hit "Don't Hold Back", before working with Definition of Sound, Rebel MC and DJ Rap (as DJ Rap and Aston).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/90575-DJ-Hastey|title=DJ Hastey|website=Discogs|access-date=2016-06-17}}
The trio's first single, "Drop the Boom (AK-48)", on their own Scratch City Records in 1996 became a dancefloor hit in the UK and Miami. The band released the Freestyle EP in 1996 on Freskanova (Freskanova's parent label, Fresh, had released Cantor and Harvey's previous works). When playing live, the group consisted of Cantor and Harvey on keyboards and programming, turntablist Jason Tunbridge (Mad Doctor X), guitarist (Tony Ayiotou), drummer Clive Jenner, bass guitarist Joe Henson, MC Navigator and Tenor Fly and three breakdancers (Coza, Marat, Lil'Tim).{{cite book|title=We Rock Hard (sleeve notes)}}
The band released their first album, We Rock Hard, in 1998.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20000308125556/http://www.chartattack.com/features/99/freestylers/index.html "FREESTYLERS: RETURN OF THE OLD-SCHOOL BEATS"]}}. Chart Attack, 1999, Interview by Debbie Bento The single "B-Boy Stance" became a hit in the UK in 1998, featuring the contributions of rapper Tenor Fly. In 1999, the Freestylers enjoyed success in the U.S. with the track "Don't Stop", which reached number 8 in the Billboard dance charts, and the video for "Here We Go" becoming a hit on a MTV. We Rock Hard sold well in the US, selling over 150,000 copies and reaching the top 30 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/302484/freestylers/chart?f=359|title=Freestylers - Chart history {{!}} Billboard|website=www.billboard.com|access-date=2016-06-17}}
Following the success of B-Boy Stance, the band were asked to remix tracks by Audioweb, Afrika Bambaataa and the Jungle Brothers as well as a big beat compilation album FSUK 2 and a Radio 1 Essential Mix featuring Beenie Man, Public Enemy, Whodini and The Fall.{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/3163-Freestylers?type=Credits&subtype=Remix|title=Freestylers|website=Discogs|access-date=2016-06-17}}
The Freestylers released a mix album, Electro Science, in 2000. Their second album, Pressure Point, was released in 2001 with the track "Get Down Massive (featuring Navigator)" reaching number 16 on the Billboard dance charts in 2002.
During 2002 and 2003, the group began releasing singles under the alias Raw As Fuck, which later became the title of their third studio album. Released in 2004, it featured the single "Push Up", which reached the top 30 in the UK and the top 3 in Australia. The song "Get A Life", which was released as the album's first single, was re-released and reached the top 20 in Australia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ministryofsound.com.au/artist/freestylers/|title=Freestylers|last=Sound|first=Ministry of|website=Ministry of Sound|access-date=2016-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811212028/http://www.ministryofsound.com.au/artist/freestylers/|archive-date=11 August 2016|url-status=dead}}
=Adventures in Freestyle (2006) and current activity=
Released in 2006 album Adventures in Freestyle experimented with a variety of styles, and saw the Freestylers working with assorted underground vocalists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Freestylers-Adventures-In-Freestyle/release/809408|title=Freestylers - Adventures In Freestyle|website=Discogs|date=October 2006 |access-date=2016-06-17}}
In 2008, the song "Jump 'n' Twist" from their fourth studio album "Adventures in Freestyle" was featured in the soundtrack for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2008.
In 2010 the remixes of "Cracks" (originally from the Past, Present and Future E.P.) was released through Never Say Die Records.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thelondonword.com/2010/02/freestyler-aston-harvey/|title=Freestyler Aston Harvey -|date=2010-02-01|website=The London Word|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-17}} The Flux Pavilion remix received 25 million hits on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://ukf.com/words/ukfis5-04-flux-pavilion|title=UKFis5 #04: Flux Pavilion|date=2014-05-29|website=UKF|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-17}}
CTRL-Z, hailing from Hammersmith and individually known as DJ Dash (Tom Petais) & DJ Inch (Nicky D’Silva), have been very involved with The Freestylers' music. In 2009, their remake of "Ruffneck" (renamed "Ruffneck '09") became the first ever release of the Never Say Die Records label. They also remixed "Security" in 2007 and "Cracks" in 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Freestylers-Security/release/1031744|title=Freestylers - Security|website=Discogs |date=2007 }}{{cite web|title=Freestylers - Cracks Ft Belle Humble (Ctrl Z Remix)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2A52bLGgqQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/f2A52bLGgqQ |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|work=YouTube|publisher=Never Say Die Records (wewillneversaydie)|date=23 Feb 2012}}{{cbignore}} CTRL-Z has also co-produced songs with The Freestylers, such as "Turn to Dust" from the Adventures in Freestyle album.{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Freestylers-Adventures-In-Freestyle/release/809408|title=Freestylers - Adventures In Freestyle|website=Discogs |date=October 2006 }}
In 2012, Freestylers signed with Black Hole Recordings subsidiary Rub-A-Duck Records. Through the label, they have released singles such as "Frozen" and "Over You", as well as their last album The Coming Storm in 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.themrbenagency.co.uk/artists/freestylers/|title=Freestylers DJ London {{!}} Popular Artists Aston and Matt|website=The Mr Ben Agency|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-17}} 2012 also saw new member Chris Bishop (Screwface from Stereo:Type) joining the production team.{{Cite web|url=http://www.skiddle.com/news/all/The-Freestylers-Interview-Weve-survived-this-long-through-counselling/17032/|title=The Freestylers Interview: We've survived this long through counselling!|website=Skiddle.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2016-06-17}} It is their first full-length release through the Black Hole Recordings subsidiary Rub-A-Duck.{{cite web|last=Kechagias|first=Dimitri|title=Interview with Freestylers about their brand new album 'The Coming Storm'|url=http://www.1mix.co.uk/news/780-interview-with-freestylers-about-their-brand-new-album-the-coming-storm.html|work=1Mix Radio}} Throughout the album, the Freestylers showcase their ever-eclectic style and renegade approach to production focusing on everything in the bass music spectrum, including drum and bass, dubstep, speed garage and acid house, while also not shying away from their well-known hip hop/breakbeat style. The album features collaborations with various artists such as Stereo:Type, Wizard (a frequent collaborator with DJ Deekline), SirReal, Laura Steel, Irwin Sparkes, Takura Tendayi, Synikall and hiphouse legend Fast Eddie.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} Through their SoundCloud page, the track "Calling Me Home" (featuring D.V.) was released as a free download to promote the release of the album and its title single.{{cite web|title=Freestylers Feat DV - Calling Me Home|url=https://soundcloud.com/freestylers/calling-me-home|work=SoundCloud|publisher=Freestylers|date=21 March 2013}} Later, a remix competition for "The Coming Storm" was held to celebrate the launch of the new album at Subsound, Liverpool.{{cite web|title=Freestylers 'The Coming Storm' Subsound Remix Competition|url=https://soundcloud.com/freestylers/sets/freestylers-the-coming-storm|work=SoundCloud|publisher=Freestylers|date=6 May 2013}} They have also released their own VIP mix of the track.{{cite web|title=The Coming Storm VIP Mix|url=https://soundcloud.com/freestylers/the-coming-storm-vip-mix|work=SoundCloud|publisher=Freestylers|date=26 July 2013}}
Since the release of their album "The Coming Storm" the band have been releasing their new material on Instant Vibes partially owned by Krafty Kuts. The single "Rude Bwoy" features Jamaican dancehall artist RDX.
Discography
=Albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="5"| Peak chart positions |
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|UK Peaks in the UK:
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|AUS
!style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|BEL !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|FRA !style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"|NLD |
|---|
| scope="row"| We Rock Hard
|
| 33 | — | — | — | 73 |
| scope="row"| Pressure Point
|
| — | — | — | 115 | — |
| scope="row"| Raw as F**k
|
| 130 | 66 | 66 | 180 | 44 |
| scope="row"| Adventures in Freestyle
|
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row"| The Coming Storm
|
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row"| Other Worlds
|
| — | — | — | — | — |
=DJ mixes/compilations=
- Essential Mix (BBC Radio 1) (1998)
- FSUK2 (1998)
- Rough Technique Vol. 1 (1998)
- Electro Science (2000)
- FabricLive.19 (2004)
- A Different Story Vol. 1 (2007)
=Singles/EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |
| scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year ! scope="col" colspan="5"|Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUS ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NLD ! style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| NZL |
| scope="row" | "B-Boy Stance" (featuring Tenor Fly) |rowspan="3"|1998 | 23 | — | — | — | — |rowspan="5"|We Rock Hard |
| scope="row" | "Ruffneck" (featuring Navigator) | — | — | — | 23 | — |
| scope="row" | "Warning" (featuring Navigator) | 68 | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Here We Go" (featuring Definition of Sound) |1999 | 45 | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Don't Stop"
|2000 | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Told You So" (featuring Petra) |rowspan="2"|2001 | — | 100 | — | — | — |rowspan="4"|Pressure Point |
| scope="row" | "Get Down Massive" (featuring Navigator) | 172 | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Weekend Song" (featuring Tenor Fly) |rowspan="2"|2002 | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Now Is the Time" / "Blowin Ya Brainz"
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Get a Life"
|rowspan="2"|2004 | 66 | 15 | 60 | 82 | — |rowspan="3"|Raw as F**k |
| scope="row" | "Push Up"
| 22 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| scope="row" | "Boom Blast" (featuring Million Dan) |2005 | 75 | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Painkiller" (featuring Pendulum and Sirreal) |rowspan="2"|2006 | 117 | — | — | — | — |rowspan="4"|Adventures in Freestyle |
| scope="row" | "In Love with You"
| — | 40 | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Electrified" (featuring Bad Manner, Sirreal, Ragman and Ayak) |rowspan="2"|2007 | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Security"
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Dynamite Love" (with Krafty Kuts and Dynamite MC) |rowspan="2"|2008 | — | — | — | — | — |rowspan="4"|Non-album singles |
| scope="row" | "Push Up Word Up"
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Cracks" (featuring Belle Humble) |2010 | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Over You" (featuring Ami Carmine) |2011 | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "The Coming Storm" (with Stereo:Type featuring Takura) |rowspan="2"|2013 | — | — | — | — | — |rowspan="4"|The Coming Storm |
| scope="row" | "You and What Army"
| — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Falling" (featuring Laura Steel) |rowspan="2"|2014 | — | — | 105 | — | — |
| scope="row" | "The Sound" (featuring Fast Eddie) | — | — | — | — | — |
| scope="row" | "Fall Down"
|rowspan="2"|2015 | — | — | — | — | — |rowspan="2"|Non-album singles |
| scope="row" | "Rude Bwoy" (featuring RDX) | — | — | — | — | — |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.freestylersmusic.co.uk Official Freestylers website]
- {{Discogs artist}}
{{Freestylers}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Breakbeat music groups
Category:English electronic music groups