Chase & Status

England’s Chase & Status are one of the most commercially successful acts associated with drum’n’bass and dubstep, with multi-platinum albums, numerous charting singles, and production work for major artists like Snoop Dogg and Rihanna. Consisting of dance DJs and record-label owners Saul Milton and Will Kennard, with additional live performers, the group combine cutting-edge beats and production techniques with elements of rock, pop, reggae, hip-hop, and other styles, resulting in energetic tracks fit for the club as well as the radio. Originally surfacing in 2003 with singles on underground labels like Bingo Beats and Barcode Recordings, the duo made their full-length debut with 2008′s More Than Alot, a warmly received mix of drum’n’bass and dubstep tracks. Chase & Status then achieved multi-platinum success with the collaboration heavy No More Idols (2011), which hit number two on the U.K. album chart. 2013 follow-up Brand New Machine reached the same position, and 2017′s Tribe, another guest-heavy, multiple-genre full-length, also charted in the Top Ten. Chase & Status revisited their ragga-jungle roots with 2019′s RTRN II JUNGLE. What Came Before, released in 2022, touched on U.K. drill, big beat, and R&B.
Milton and Kennard first emerged as a U.K. garage/breaks duo in 2003 before switching to drum’n’bass in 2005. They earned their stripes after remixing the Capleton track “Duppy Man” with success that year. From there, the duo signed to Andy C.’s Ram Records imprint and began with a pair of club hits — in 2007 with the double A-side “Hurt You” b/w “Sell Me Your Soul” and 2008’s “Take Me Away” — which also reached the top of the U.K. dance charts. A full-length was finally released in 2008. Titled More Than Alot, it featured appearances from Kano, Takura, and Digga, and was well-received critically; it reached number 49 on the British charts and won a 2009 Drum’n’Bass Award for Best Album. In 2009, Milton and Kennard dipped their toes into more production, producing album tracks for Rihanna and Tinchy Stryder, as well as Snoop Dogg’s dubstep track “Snoop Dogg Millionaire.” They also collaborated with Plan B on “End Credits,” which hit the U.K. Top Ten. Its success led to Chase & Status’ 2011 album No More Idols, which featured collaborations with Dizzee Rascal, Tinie Tempah, and Cee-Lo Green. Spending 35 weeks in the U.K. Top 40, No More Idols went on to earn double-platinum status.
At the beginning of 2012, Chase & Status were nominated for Best British Group at the prestigious Brit Awards — a first for a drum’n’bass outfit — yet were beaten to the gong by Coldplay. Not resting on their laurels, they spent 2012 and 2013 playing huge live dates at festivals across the U.K. and Europe, including Radio 1′s Hackney Weekend, T in the Park, and a headline slot at Glastonbury in June 2013. As a thank-you to fans for their support, the festival favorite “Big Man” — featuring vocals from Liam Bailey — was released at the end of 2012. In 2013, the duo released the single “Lost and Found” featuring Louis M^ttrs, which hit the Top Ten in the U.K. and landed on their third studio album, Brand New Machine. The 2013 album was a darker effort than previous outings, featuring the ’90s rave-flavored single “Count on Me.” It peaked at number two on the U.K. album chart. While working on their fourth album, Chase & Status released the grime EP London Bars in late 2015. Continuing to blend grime with drum’n’bass and dubstep, full-length Tribe appeared in 2017. Featuring guests such as Mr. Vegas, Craig David, and Novelist, the album peaked at number seven in the duo’s home country.
RTRN II JUNGLE, a long-promised ragga-jungle album featuring guest deejays like Cutty Ranks and General Levy, arrived in 2019. They expanded on the album’s concept with the 2020 mix CD Fabric Presents: RTRN II FABRIC. Sixth album What Came Before appeared in 2022, with guests vocalists including Unknown T, BackRoad Gee, and Popcaan. ~ Chris True & Rich Wilson