biography
Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson. Formed in 1992, alongside production partner Mel Simpson, Us3 were signed to legendary jazz label Blue Note and given unprecedented access to sample anything from their back catalog. The debut album “Hand on the Torch” became a global phenomenon and sold over 2.5M copies. The debut single “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” was a worldwide hit, and over 30 years later still retains it’s fresh appeal.
After extensive touring around the world, Mel left and in 1997 “Broadway & 52nd” saw NY rappers KCB and Shabaam Sahdeeq feature, with the Blue Note samples becoming more embedded in the groove.
Having left Blue Note, “An Ordinary Day In An Unusual Place” (2001) used less samples with more live instrumentation, a taste of what was to come. “Questions” (2004) ditched the samples completely, adding a greater Neo-Soul influence. “Schizophonic” (2006) returned to a more live hip hop jazz sound featuring NY rappers Akil Dasan and Gaston, who stayed for “Say What!?” (2007). “stop. think. run” (2009) saw rappers Brook Yung and Sene inject a tougher hip hop style alongside explosive live jazz elements. In 2011, “Lie, Cheat & Steal” was a kaleidoscope of sounds from latin grooves to afrobeat, and featured vocalists Akala & Oveous Maximus.
2013 marked the 20th anniversary of “Hand On The Torch”, and Geoff made a new album “The Third Way” subtitled “Hand On The Torch Vol II”. This time, interpolations of some classic jazz standards are woven in. Akil, KCB, and Tukka (“Hand On The Torch”) all returned.
Unfortunately Geoff fell seriously ill in 2014, and pulled the plug on Us3 whilst concentrating on his recuperation. On recovery Geoff retreated to his happy place (the studio!) and became a full time media composer, having over 1,000 tracks signed to a variety of music production libraries over the next 10 years.
2025 saw Geoff revive Us3 with an all instrumental album entitled "Soundtrack”, this time fusing contemporary trap beats with an 18-piece horn section, playing arrangements largely influenced by the work of (Miles Davis collaborator) Gil Evans. A 21st Century cinematic reboot of the hip hop jazz fusion pioneered by Us3 in the 90s.
Now in 2026 Us3 return to more familiar hip-hop-jazz ground with their new album “Snap, Crackle & Bop!”.
MC Akil Dasan is the sole vocalist throughout, and Us3 regular sidemen Ed Jones (sax & flute), Bryan Corbett (trumpet & valve trombone), and Mike Gorman (keyboards) all return to the party. Us3 head honcho Geoff Wilkinson is at the production and mixing helm, holding things together in his own unique style.
“Cool Cat” kicks things off in a Jimmy Smith-influenced organ, guitar and big band horns vibe, augmented by both contemporary hip hop beats and finger clicking grooviness. “One Step Ahead” and “We Like That” tread a more familiar path of fusing hip hop and jazz in an Us3 style, while “Catch The Vibe” careers from a pulsing jazz track to a funky hip hop groove, to a dark & moody trap beat, to a rolling Amapiano track, to a pounding Reggaeton rhythm, and back again to a pulsing jazz track! Wilkinson is showing us his influences here, all rolled up into one track.
The Afro influence is prominent in the club banger “I Like To Party” mixing the jazz with Afrobeats & Amapiano flavours, which surface again in the closing instrumental “The Garden Of Forking Paths”. A percussive latin vibe also propels the gorgeously optimistic “Have A Great Day”, where Akil extols the virtues of positive thinking and encourages the celebration of individuality.
Us3’s legacy is fomenting a cross-cultural hip-hop and jazz dialogue that remains as vital today as ever, pulling influences in from decades of musical experimentation. Wilkinson says “When I was a kid, my mum always used to say “Life is a journey not a destination”, and this is another big road trip!”