Urban Species creates a sound that feels like a living, breathing city. It is rooted in the 90s London acid jazz scene, but it avoids the genre's occasional fluff by grounding itself in heavy dub basslines and sharp, socially conscious lyricism. The music is a warm tapestry of live instrumentation and crate-dug samples, creating a texture that is both sophisticated and gritty.
What truly sets them apart is their collaborative spirit and their refusal to stay in one lane. You will hear the ghost of Terry Callier's folk-soul, the sharp edge of French rap via MC Solaar, and the ethereal pop sensibilities of a young Imogen Heap. It is hip-hop that respects the blues and reggae sound system culture equally, resulting in a rhythmic complexity that feels human rather than programmed.
Start with the album 'Blanket' to hear their peak atmospheric period. The title track is a masterclass in mood-setting, blending trip-hop's melancholy with a soulful warmth that makes it the perfect soundtrack for moments of quiet reflection or urban exploration.
Urban Species is a British hip-hop band, best known for several hit singles during the 1990s. The band's music draws on a diverse range of influences (including reggae, blues, funk, dub, jazz, ragga and acoustic folk) and combines live playing with samples and programming, resulting in an organic sound that has sometimes been compared to a British version of Arrested Development. The band's music is frequently associated with the acid jazz movement of the mid-1990s. Urban Species' consistent core figure and effective leader has been Peter "Mintos" Akinrinlola, but the band's line-up has at various times included other producers and rappers plus many of the best musicians from the London funk and jazz-funk scenes. The band is also known for collaborations, most notably with MC Solaar, Terry Callier and Imogen Heap.
Shares analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, conscious hip-hop (subgenres); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, dub (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo (subgenres); analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style)
Shares urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere); sample based, analog warmth, lo fi (production style)
Shares trip-hop, downtempo, dub (subgenres); contemplative, soulful, bittersweet (moods)
Shares analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares contemplative, soulful, bittersweet (moods); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares analog warmth, sample based, live recording (production style); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares analog warmth, sample based, layered dense (production style); urban night, rainy day, late night (atmosphere)
Shares vinyl crackle percussion, dub, trip-hop, saxophone (detail)
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