Spooks

Originally formed in 1994 as a five piece, with MC's Booka T, Hypno, Water Water and J.D. aka Vengeance from Philadelphia and female singer Ming Xia from NYC. Released a gold album in 2001: 'SIOSOS' on Artemis/Epic, featuring the huge radio single 'Things I've Seen' which was in the UK top ten for five weeks. Water Water recently left, and they are now a four piece, in a state of flux with respect to their record companies. Musically they mix it up,lilting melody interplaying with quick fire rapping, but respect each others space a lot more than the band they are often compared to, The Fugees. (Specifically Ming Xia doesn't have a bunch of bozos loudly crowing 'Yeah... One Time' in the background of her singing.... ). All the same... one of the very few successful recent hip hop acts that don't conform to the US music industry promoted racial typecast that says that black people must either be Six-Pack Studs,Sassy Sistas or Baaaadass Gangstas.

If only there were more like them...