Freestylers

Freestylers are a London-based breakbeat and electronic group active since 1996. The act centres on Matt Cantor and Aston Harvey, with Andrew Galea involved at the start. Their sound sits across breakbeat, drum and bass, electronic and electronica.

Formation and early work

The group forms in 1996 when DJs and producers Matt Cantor, Aston Harvey and Andrew Galea join forces. Cantor has previously recorded as Cut n' Paste and Strike with Andy Gardner of Plump DJs. Harvey has recorded as Blapps! Posse, best known for the 1990 breakbeat track Don't Hold Back, and later works with Definition of Sound, Rebel MC and DJ Rap, including releases as DJ Rap and Aston. Harvey and Galea also work together as Sol Brothers before Cantor joins the project.

The name Freestylers comes from the first sample used by the group, Don't Stop The Rock by Freestyle. Their first single, Drop The Boom (AK-48), appears on their own Scratch City Records in 1996 and becomes a dancefloor hit in the UK and Miami. They also release the Freestyle EP in 1996 on Freskanova. Galea leaves shortly after that release.

Albums, singles and live line-up

After Galea’s departure, Cantor and Harvey form an 11-piece live band, originally suggested by their label Freskanova. The line-up includes the two producers, scratch DJ Mad Doctor X, guitarist Tony Ayiotou, drummer Clive Jenner, bass guitarist Joe Henson, MCs MC Navigator and Tenor Fly, and breakdancers Coza, Marat and Tim.

Their debut album, We Rock Hard, appears in 1998. The single B-Boy Stance, featuring Tenor Fly, becomes a UK singles hit that year. In 1999, Don't Stop reaches the US Billboard dance chart top 10 and Here We Go is named as an MTV Buzzworthy clip. We Rock Hard sells more than 150,000 copies in the US and reaches the Billboard Heatseeker top 30.

Following B-Boy Stance, the group remixes tracks by Audioweb, Afrika Bambaataa and the Jungle Brothers, as well as the big beat compilation FSUK 2, and records a Radio 1 Essential Mix featuring Beenie Man, Public Enemy, Whodini and The Fall. They release the mix album Electro Science in 2000.

Later releases

The second album Pressure Point comes out in 2001. Its track Get Down Massive, featuring Navigator, reaches the US Billboard dance chart top 20 in 2002. During 2002 and 2003 the group releases singles under the name Raw As F**k, which becomes the title of their third album. That album appears in 2004 and includes Push Up, which reaches the UK top 30 and the Australian top 3. Another track, Get A Life, is reissued and reaches the Australian top 20.