Tributes paid after death of drum’n’bass pioneer, MC Conrad

30 April, 2024

NME News

The acclaimed drum ‘n’ bass artist MC Conrad has died at the age of 52.

The news was confirmed by his agency Clinic Talent, who paid tribute saying: “One of the most recognisable and best-loved voices in D&B, he leaves behind him an unmatched legacy.” No cause of death was given.

The artist, born Conrad Thompson, is credited for helping to widen and deepen the scope for jungle and drum’n’bass during the 1990s. He was also celebrated for his skill as both a rapper and singer, as well as his taste for the jazzier end of the genre.

Thompson began his career as a hip-hop MC but later said he struggled until “the smiley face rave crew were like, ‘Hey come with us’. So I became a raver.” He later collaborated extensively with the producer LTJ Bukem, who was pushing the boundaries of the genre by fusing jazz with bass music.

Thompson went on to become a particularly prominent presence at Bukem’s label Good Looking Records, and at their club residency Speed at London’s Mars Bar. They teamed up for the album ‘Progression Sessions 1’ in 1998, which put them on the map as one of the quintessential DJ-MC pairs in British dance music.

He then began touring internationally and also turned to producing under the name Con+Natural., later founding the label Resonance. He championed digital distribution and became an early advocate of DJ podcasting in 2013, later making hits in the drum’n’bass scene with producers such as Makoto and Total Science.

The drum’n’bass scene has paid tribute. London record label Hospital Records said: “We are devastated to hear of the passing of MC Conrad. A truly iconic and unique artist, he helped define and build the world of jungle & drum and bass music. All our love and thoughts are with his family and friends.”

“He set the blueprint for generations of MCs with his signature style and brought so much soul to this music,” added promoters Drum&BassArena.

Meanwhile, Technique Recordings praised him as “one of the originators and a level-setting master of the craft of lyrical DnB emceeing.”

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