Us3

Us3 is a pivotal British jazz-rap project founded by producer Geoff Wilkinson in 1991. The group is historically significant for being the first act granted full access to the Blue Note Records archives for sampling, a deal struck after Wilkinson's independent release caught the ear of the legendary label.

Their sound identity is defined by the fusion of hard bop and soul-jazz samples with contemporary hip-hop beats and live instrumentation. Their debut album, Hand on the Torch (1993), became a global phenomenon, particularly through the success of the single Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia), which sampled Herbie Hancock. Throughout their career, Us3 evolved by incorporating different vocalists and exploring global sounds, notably on An Ordinary Day in an Unusual Place, which integrated Indian and Brazilian influences. Critically, they are viewed as leaders of the acid jazz movement alongside peers like Guru and Galliano. Their legacy lies in their ability to introduce jazz history to a hip-hop generation without sacrificing the integrity of either genre.