Born 2 B – Blue Notes, Beats & Rhymes | Former Us3 Collaborator & UK Jazz-Hop Pioneer
From shaping the sound of NW1 and inspiring the birth of Us3 in the early ‘90s, to redefining jazz-hop for a new generation, Born 2 B has always been at the cutting edge of UK Hip-Hop. His latest release, Blue Notes, Beats & Rhymes, is a bold return – blending boom bap beats, soulful Blue Note-inspired horns, and hard-hitting lyricism that speaks truth to power.
🎧 Listen Now on Bandcamp → https://ukhiphopborn2b.bandcamp.com/album/blue-notes-beats-rhymes
The Us3 Story: From NW1 to Blue Note
In 1991, before Us3 became a global name, producers Geoff Wilkinson and Mel Simpson were working under the name NW1. That year, they released “The Band Played The Boogie” on Ninja Tune – credited as NW1 featuring Born 2 B.
The track’s fusion of jazz loops, funk basslines, and Born 2 B’s confident, storytelling flow captured the energy of London’s underground scene. Its success caught the attention of Blue Note Records, who offered a major deal.
What’s less known is that Geoff and Mel invited Born 2 B to join them in a new act called Us3 – the name originally intended to represent all three of them, as well as acting as a double-entendre for “Us Three”, a Horace Parlan album produced in 1960 by Alfred Lion, the founder of Blue Note Records. But when it came time to formalise the arrangement, Born 2 B declined.
“Geoff hadn’t signed the contract with me to ensure my royalties from Ninja Tune,” Born 2 B recalls. “And while I was out there performing the shows to promote the record, Geoff took the lead in all the press interviews and didn’t allow much room for other members to speak. That created mistrust.”
Ultimately, Geoff Wilkinson and Mel Simpson signed with Blue Note Records as Us3 without Born 2 B, who pursued his own path.
Conversations with Mel Simpson
Years later, shortly before Mel Simpson’s passing in 2004, Born 2 B met with him to discuss working together again. By that time, Mel had left Us3 and had also experienced similar tensions.
“He told me he’d had enough of working with Geoff by then,” Born 2 B says. “We were ready to reconnect creatively, but sadly, we never got the chance.”
Blue Notes, Beats & Rhymes – A Jazz-Hop Manifesto
This isn’t just another hip-hop record – it’s a carefully crafted manifesto.
Sound:
- Boom bap drums inspired by the golden era of hip-hop.
- Live and sampled jazz horns reminiscent of Blue Note classics.
- Lyrics that cut through political corruption, social injustice, and the need for awakening.
Influences: Gil Scott-Heron, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, DJ Krush, The Roots.
Tracklist:
- Born 2 B’s Riddim
- Gettin’ Blue
- Can We Start Over (R&B Version)
- Heading For The Hills
- Juicin’
- I’d Like To!
- Smooth It Over
- U Don’t Know
- A Story To Tell
- Can We Start Over (Radio Version)
- Who Am I?
Listen & Watch
🎧 Stream the album in full via Bandcamp:
📽 Watch the official music video for “U Don’t Know”:
https://youtu.be/3DP0pkUaZ48?si=pJ71O538WuGGFndD
Carrying the Us3 & Ninja Tune Spirit into 2025
Though now signed to Hustlerz, Inc. Records, Born 2 B’s approach is still rooted in the innovation of his early career. Just as Us3 brought jazz-rap to the world stage, Blue Notes, Beats & Rhymes pushes the fusion forward – connecting the energy of 90s UK jazz-hop with the urgency of today’s political climate.
Press & Reviews
“London-based Born 2 B have released the must hear hip-hop album, ‘BLUE NOTES, BEATS & RHYMES‘. It is complete with intelligent arrangements, thought-provoking lyrics and compelling beats. ‘BLUE NOTES, BEATS & RHYMES‘ is an album that will stand the test of time.” (FV Music Blog)
“A reimagining of his nineties Jazz-Rap classic, this fresh club-ready track infuses nostalgic jazz breaks with contemporary beats and Born 2 B’s unmistakable flow. It’s a bold statement of his enduring influence and evolution as an artist.” (BritishHipHop.com)
Experience the Next Chapter
The UK jazz-hop legacy continues. Whether you discovered Born 2 B through The Band Played The Boogie or are hearing his name for the first time, Blue Notes, Beats & Rhymes is essential listening.
🎧 Listen Now on Bandcamp → https://ukhiphopborn2b.bandcamp.com/album/blue-notes-beats-rhymes
Streaming Platforms: https://hypeddit.com/born2b
Bio: Born 2 B is a South-East London-based hip-hop artist whose roots in jazz-rap and storytelling stretch back to the early 1990s. As part of NW1, he featured on The Band Played The Boogie, one of Ninja Tune’s formative releases and the spark that led to the creation of Us3. Though invited to join Us3, Born 2 B chose his own path, later signing to Century Vista Records in the U.S. Now with Hustlerz, Inc. Recordings, he continues to create music with depth, groove, and purpose.
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