MC Conrad

MC Conrad
Birth name	Conrad Thompson
Born	April 16, 1972 Northampton, England
Died	April 30, 2024
Genres	Drum and bass, Jungle
Occupation(s)	MC, vocalist, music producer
Years active	1980s–2024
Labels	Good Looking Records, Resonance

Conrad Thompson (16 April 1972 – 30 April 2024), known professionally as MC Conrad, was a British vocalist, MC, and music producer. His career, spanning over three decades, was marked by a distinctive style that blended elements of jazz, hip hop, and soul with drum and bass.[1][2]

Early life

Conrad Thompson was born in Northampton, England. Thompson was influenced by his early exposure to music from his father's record collection of ska, rocksteady, bluebeat, and reggae. He first gained attention in the local breakdancing scene during the 1980s.[3]

Career

Thompson started in the UK hip hop scene but shifted towards rave and drum and bass as the genres began to gain momentum in the early 90s. Thompson partnered and collaborated with LTJ Bukem, which lead to the establishment of Good Looking Records in 1991. Thompson would also launch his own label, Resonance, in 2020.[4]

Personal life

In 2010, Thompson moved to Birmingham, where he became an integral part of the community. He spoke warmly of Birmingham's spirit and diversity. Later in life, he reconnected with his father, a notable figure in the city's Caribbean community.[5]

Death and legacy

Thompson died on 30 April 2024, aged 52.[6]

In honour of Thompson's legacy and commitment to nurturing young talent, the MC Conrad Foundation was established in June 2024. The foundation aims to support young and emerging artists within the challenging landscape of the music industry.[7]

Discography

Studio albums

• Progression Sessions Vol 4–6
• Vocalist 01

Live Albums

• Progression Sessions: Live
• Progression Sessions: UK Live 2003

See also

• LTJ Bukem
• Good Looking Records
• Drum and bass

References

1. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben. "MC Conrad, acclaimed drum'n'bass vocalist, dies aged 52". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
2. Birchmeier, Jason. "MC Conrad Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More |..." AllMusic. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
3. "RIP MC Conrad: A peerless performer who became one with the music". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
4. "MC Conrad, pioneering drum & bass vocalist, dies aged 52". DJ Mag. 30 April 2024.
5. "Legendary drum and bass MC Conrad talks Birmingham, Jamaica, and the Commonwealth Games". Birmingham Mail. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 2024-07-01.
6. Marcus Barnes (1 May 2024). "RIP MC Conrad: A peerless performer who became one with the music". MixMag.
7. "MC Conrad Foundation launched to support young musicians in memory of late D&B vocalist". DJ Magazine. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-03.