Who is 2 Unlimited? ------------------- By Mike Delaney ------------------- SIXTH EDITION: Feb. 1995 2 Unlimited is a Dutch techno supersensation. The members are 22 year old rapper Kid Ray, and 21 year old Anita. They both co-write all their songs, along with their producers Phil Wilde, and J.P. DeCoster. Wilde has worked with other techno groups such as Belgium's AB Logic. Both Kid Ray, and Anita have had previous experience; Ray has toured with Marvin D, and has been rapping since age 16. Anita used to sing in a group called Trouble Sisters. It was at a Marvin D concert that the two met. 2 Unlimited exploded onto the European techno/rave scene in late 1991 with the hit single "Get Ready For This", a song that stayed at #2 in Europe for four months. Later came "Twilight Zone", which made it to #2 on the Gallup/Music Ltd./BBC (London) poll in March of 1992. In the U.S., on the Rockpool Promotions charts, the single hit #3 in July of the same year. "Twilight Zone" would go on to become one of 2 Unlimited's many popular singles. "Get Ready For This", and "Twilight Zone" both came from 2 Unlimited's debut album, "Get Ready", which also spawned another hit single, "Workaholic", which hit #4 in London in June of 1992, and has been used in the opening and closing of the worlwide radio show "U.K. Chart Attack", produced in London. After the success of "Get Ready" came their second album, "No Limits" in early 1993. The debut single, "No Limit" did so well in London that it knocked Whitney Houston's smash hit "I Will Always Love You" from the #1 spot in April of 1993. This single hit #1 in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The next single, "Tribal Dance" was also very well recieved. Another single, "Faces" only made it to #10 in October of 1993, but the final single from the album, "Let The Beat Control Your Body", hit #6 in winter of 1993. "No Limits" hit #3 in London in July of 1993. 2 Unlimited's third album, "Real Things", was released in the U.S. in July of 1994. In Europe, it and the debut single, "The Real Thing" both hit #1. The second single, "No One" is currently in the top 5 in Belgium, and has not yet been released on cassette in the U.S. Another single is planned for European release in early 95. Their success has not gone without notice. Kid Ray and Anita have performed at the 1993 World Music Awards ("No Limit"), and at the following year's awards ("Let The Beat Control Your Body"). And, at the MIDEM Convention in Winter of 1993, they won 80 awards for their album sales; gold and platinum. This makes for a total of over 120 MIDEM awards in their career. Finally, they are featured in a dance compilation "Dance Mix USA", and performed in its informercial. Their songs, "No Limit", and "Tribal Dance" are featured. The awards the recieved were well deserved. In 1993 alone, they sold a million singles in Europe. Their "No Limits" album has sold well in excess of 2.5 million copies in Europe. Their work has always done well on the European charts; the lowest placing of a single they've had was "Magic Friend", which hit #15. Speaking of compilation albums, they are featured on "Rave 'Til Dawn" with the instrumental version of "Get Ready For This", and on the recent "Welcome to The Future", with the Breakbeat mix of "No Limit". They also appear on "100% Energy" with "Let The Beat Control Your Body". 2 Unlimited had planned a U.S. tour to start in September of 1993, but it was delayed until at least late Feburary due to last minute problems. They have played clubs in America before, and a tour is set to begin in early '95 in clubs nationwide, as well as in Mexico. The record labels that make 2 Unlimited's music possible are in America, Critique Records in Worburn, Massacusetts, and Radikal Records in Teaneck, New Jersey. In Belgium, it's Byte Records, and their music is licensed for international hearing by ToCo International in the Netherlands. It is not likely 2 Unlimited will fade from popularity soon. Although none of their albums have hit the top 40 in America, "Get Ready", and "No Limits" combined have sold over 500,000 copies, and sales figures are not yet available for "Real Things". As of writing of this feature, the re-release of the single "Get Ready For This", which was originally released in 1992, is #53 on Billboard's singles charts.(*) The song swooped out of nowhere to the #83 position in October, 1994. This was due to heavy radio airplay, and hence, increased record sales. ========================================= This informational file is an independant production of TRM Communications. It is not officially sponsored or endorsed by 2 Unlimited, their labels, or agents. (C) Copyright 1995, TRM Communications. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Comments are welcome through Internet e-mail at: delaney@acy.digex net. This feature will be updated several times throughout the year. (*)= The ranking as of this writing ========================================= Updated blog/contact URL added at request of author on 18 June 2008: http://www.michaelcrook.net/