Ragga Twins

Crucial cogs in the development of U.K. dance music, the Destouche brothers became known as MCs as part of North London's Unity sound system and began operating as the Ragga Twins in 1989. Through 1992, they issued 12" singles through the self-named label run by Shut Up & Dance (who also did the production work), along with the album Reggae Owes Me Money (1991); these releases were fiercely energetic mutations of dancehall, hip-hop, and jungle. Resurfacing in 1995 with relatively conservative Us3-produced releases, they also put together a second album, Rinsin' Lyrics (1995). Scattered singles appeared during the early 2000s, and in 2008, the Soul Jazz label compiled Ragga Twins Step Out, which focused on the Shut Up & Dance era. ~ Andy Kellman