Magnetic Man

The year 2007 saw the formation of Magnetic Man at the hands of dubstep producer/DJs Artwork, Benga, and Skream. Their earliest visibility arrived through a pair of 2007 commercial mixes—Dubstep Allstars, Vol. 5, overseen by N-Type, and Rinse: 01, compiled by Geeneus. The track “Ligma VIP” surfaced the next year on Mary Anne Hobbs' Evangeline compilation. Their inaugural proper release took the form of the 2009 12-inch “The Cyberman,” whose A-side stood out for its remarkably stripped-down character. Columbia soon signed the trio to a major-label contract, resulting in the 2010 arrival of a self-titled album. The record blended dubstep with mainstream club music through sleek productions built around vocal turns by John Legend, Ms. Dynamite, and Katy B. To the dismay of some dubstep purists, the single “I Need Air” reached the U.K. Top Ten.