Trip

Trip is a UK group associated with hip-hop, alternative music, indie, indie rock and drum and bass, and is linked in particular with UK garage, grime, electronic music and UK hip-hop. The act is based in the United Kingdom and records for Autonomy Music Group. It is also compared with The Streets.

Background

Trip is the name used by Alex Child, who grows up in Hammersmith, West London, after being born in Wimbledon in 1984. He develops as a live vocalist and MC through college, pirate radio stations, open mic nights and recording in friends’ studios around London. He later wins a number of Jump-off MC battles and hosts the DMC world championships.

Touring and collaborations

A meeting with the Scratch Perverts leads to contact with Killa Kela, after which Trip tours internationally with both acts. He also supports NERD, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Redman and Outkast.

Releases

Trip releases the limited 7-inch single “Whos That” in early 2008. The track receives specialist radio play and is voted Tune of the Week in DJ Magazine. Music Week also names Trip as one to watch. He later records a debut solo album, ShortCuts, with James Rushent of Does It Offend You, Yeah? and producer Lance Thomas, who has worked with Ladytron.

ShortCuts and DayTrip

ShortCuts is described as a collection of lyrical scenes based around Holloway Road in North London, where Trip lives after moving to Holloway Boulevard. He makes a full film to accompany the album rather than separate videos for individual singles. The film, DayTrip, is shot over 24 hours by 11 directors, with each director making a section for a different song in album order. Each segment begins where the previous one ends, and each includes a clock showing real time as Trip moves through the day.

Later single

The single “River Phoenix” is issued on Autonomy Recordings.