Brand New Heavies
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Brandnewheavies-brothersister.jpg
The Brand New Heavies are an acid jazz and alternative hip hop group formed in 1985 in Ealing, a suburb of London, England. Originally an instrumental rare groove group, the Brand New Heavies gained a cult following in the London club scene and soon signed to Cooltempo as acid house replaced rare groove in clubs.
Records
A single, "Got to Give", came out on Cooltempo before the Brand New Heavies signed to Acid Jazz Records and released Brand New Heavies to critical acclaim. American distribution was picked up by influential label Delicious Vinyl, and N'Dea Davenport joined the group. Singles like "Dream Come True" and "Never Stop" became hits on both sides of the Atlantic, and the group's appearance with MC Serch (formerly of 3rd Bass) and Q-Tip (then of A Tribe Called Quest) at a performance in New York City inspired the group to incorporate elements of hip hop music. Their next album was the critically acclaimed Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1, which included collaborations with Gang Starr and The Pharcyde, among others.
Brother Sister (1994, 1994 in music) was the last album with Davenport, and she was replaced by Siedah Garrett for Shelter (1997, 1997 in music).
In 2004, Allaboutthefunk was released.
Name
The group came up with the name after signing their first record contract, borrowing from a liner note on a James Brown single declaring the artist "Minister of New Super Heavy Funk".