Biography
Formed during the late 1980s in Tottenham, London, England, Urban Species quickly earned a reputation as the act most likely to elevate UK hip-hop to a wider audience. The original lineup featured lead rapper Mint, born Peter Akinrinola, alongside DJ Renegade, born Winston Small; their initial work together consisted of casual experiments conducted in bedrooms across north London. Toaster Slim, born Rodney Green, later joined the group. The trio pressed limited quantities of white-label records credited to either Mint or Renegade alone, which circulated among pirate radio outlets and club DJs who began booking them for appearances. One track, “It’s My Thing,” even reached the playlists of influential New York stations Kiss and WBLS, yet insufficient funds prevented any further momentum. Their follow-up recording, “Got To Have It,” finally caught the ear of Gilles Peterson, founder of Talkin’ Loud Records, who secured their signatures by 1991.
An eclectic mix of ragga, dub, and occasional acoustic folk textures placed the group across multiple genres, from soul and rap to jazz fusion, prompting frequent comparisons with Arrested Development. Their second single, “Listen,” shared its title with their debut album and introduced “fourth” member Lynette Bracewaite together with live contributors including Galliano and Incognito. Additional vocal support came from fellow Talkin’ Loud artist MC Solaar, Imogen Heap, and Maysa Leak. Strong stage performances proved as central to their growing profile as their recorded output. The album Blanket surfaced in early 1999 and included guest vocals from American funk and soul performer Terry Callier.
An eclectic mix of ragga, dub, and occasional acoustic folk textures placed the group across multiple genres, from soul and rap to jazz fusion, prompting frequent comparisons with Arrested Development. Their second single, “Listen,” shared its title with their debut album and introduced “fourth” member Lynette Bracewaite together with live contributors including Galliano and Incognito. Additional vocal support came from fellow Talkin’ Loud artist MC Solaar, Imogen Heap, and Maysa Leak. Strong stage performances proved as central to their growing profile as their recorded output. The album Blanket surfaced in early 1999 and included guest vocals from American funk and soul performer Terry Callier.
Albums
