- Credit to the Nation
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Credit to the Nation are an English hip hop outfit, who had chart success in the 1990s.
Contents
Career
Formed by Matthew (Matty) David Hanson aka MC Fusion (b. Wednesbury, West Midlands, England), with his dancers, Tyrone (T-Swing) and Kelvin (Mista-G), Credit to the Nation released their first single through Chumbawamba's label Agit Pop in September 1991 entitled "Pay the Price". The following year they recorded "Call It What You Want" through Rugabugger (a local independent label). "Call It What You Want", sampled the guitar riff used by Nirvana on "Smells Like Teen Spirit".[1] They initially printed 1000 7" singles, BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel played it on his John Peel Session on Radio 1. One Little Indian, the label of Bjork and The Shamen, heard the radio show, bought the rights from Ruggabugger and signed them to a three album deal within a week. "Call It What You Want" also appeared on the soundtrack to the Jude Law movie, Shopping.
The band became noted in 1993 when they recorded the joint single, "Enough Is Enough" with Chumbawamba. They went on to tour with Manic Street Preachers, The Levellers, Therapy, Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy and Chumbawamba.
Their subsequent singles "Teenage Sensation" (which made it to #23 on the UK Singles Chart in March 1994,[2] becoming their only Top 40 hit) and "Hear No Bullshit, See No Bullshit, Say No Bullshit" were followed by the release of their debut album, Take Dis.
Their career stalled as a second album, Daddy Always Wanted Me To Grow A Pair of Wings (1996) was delayed by external pressures, but following its release Hanson left One Little Indian Records.[citation needed] Hanson then signed to the German independent Laughing Horse record label in 1997, recording an album in Hamburg from which a new single, "Tacky Love Song", was released. Sampling Radiohead's "High and Dry", it received some positive reviews but failed to make an impression on the charts.[1] The third album, 'Keep Your Mouth Shut', was never released.
The band are currently in the studio with Producer Crossflow, a recent addition to the group, working on a new album due for release in 2011. The album is expected to feature collaborations with Benji Webbe of Skindred, and Chuck D of Public Enemy.
Live
Credit To The Nation have played live at The Glastonbury NME stage in 1994, Phoenix Festival in 1994 and 1995, and the Reading Festival Melody Maker Stage in 1994. They reformed in 2011 to play Endorse It In Dorset.
Selected discography
Singles
- "Call It What You Want" (1993) UK #57
- "Enough Is Enough" (1993) UK #56
- "Teenage Sensation" (1994) UK #23
- "Sowing the Seeds of Hatred" (1994) UK #72
- "Liar Liar" (1995) UK #60
- "Mad Dog" (1995)
- "Tacky Love Song" (1998) UK #60[2]
Albums
- Take Dis (1993) UK #20
- Daddy Always Wanted Me to Grow a Pair of Wings (1996)
- 'Keep Your Mouth Shut' (1998) - Unreleased[2]
References
- ^ a b "Biography by John Bush". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p203455. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
- ^ a b c Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 126. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
External links
Categories:- English hip hop musicians
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