Bomfunk MC's

Biography

Bomfunk MC's is a Finnish hip hop group that was active from 1998 to 2005, before reuniting in 2018. The group's frontman is rapper B.O. Dubb (born Raymond Ebanks, formerly known as B.O.W.), and the main producer is Jaakko Salovaara, also known as JS16.

1999–2005

The band's debut release was the 1999 album In Stereo×In Stereo1999 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Uprocking Beats3:432Other Emcee’s3:503B‐Boys & Flygirls3:154Freestyler5:085Rocking, Just to Make Ya Move3:476Sky’s the Limit (radio edit)3:597Stir Up the Bass3:388Fashion Styley4:4191, 2, 3, 44:0710Rock, Rocking tha Spot3:1711In Stereo4:4912Spoken Word4:4413Uprocking Beats4:3114Freestyler5:45 (Sony Music), which included the singles "Freestyler×Freestyler30 October 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Freestyler (radio edit)2:552Freestyler (alternative radio edit)4:083Freestyler (Happy Mickey Mouse mix)4:504Freestyler (Missing Link remix)5:41", "Uprocking Beats×Uprocking Beats17 December 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Uprocking Beats (radio edit)3:432Uprocking Beats (JS16 Sound Design)5:043Uprocking Beats (DJ Gismo’s Groove)4:114Uprocking Beats (original version)5:37", and "B-Boys & Flygirls×B-Boys & Flygirls1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1B‐Boys & Flygirls (radio edit)3:142B‐Boys & Flygirls (JS16 Sound Design)6:423B‐Boys & Flygirls (DJ Gismo Goes Funky mix)4:004B‐Boys & Flygirls (Missing Link remix)5:125B‐Boys & Flygirls (original version)4:206B‐Boys & Flygirls (Jori Hulkkonen Deep ’n’ Smooth remix)7:25", all of which gained popularity in the United Kingdom. "Uprocking Beats" reached the number one position on the Finnish Dance charts. In Stereo sold over 600,000 units.
The album's success led to the release of "Freestyler" in Scandinavia and Germany. By 2000, "Freestyler" had become popular across Europe, becoming the region's highest-selling single of the year. The single also reached the number one position in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany, and peaked at number two in the United Kingdom.
The Bomfunk MC's won the 2000 Best Nordic Act award at the MTV Europe Music Awards.
In 2002, the group released their second album, Burnin' Sneakers, which included the singles "Super Electric×Super Electric8 October 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracksA1Super Electric (Fu-Tourist remix)5:38A2Super Electric (Bostik remix)6:34B1Super Electric (JS16 remix)6:36B2Super Electric (Label 23 remix)6:46", "Live Your Life×Live Your Life2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Live Your Life3:512Live Your Life (DJ Slow remix)3:553Live Your Life (Fu-Tourist remix)7:094Live Your Life (Modulation remix)6:245Live Your Life (C/L Bounce remix)4:086Live Your Life (extended mix)5:277It's All in Your Mind5:34" featuring Max'C, and "(Crack It!) Something Goin' On" with Jessica Folcker. While this album received less international attention, it sold well in Finland. "Something Goin' On" reached the top 10 in Germany.
In September 2002, DJ Gismo left the band (later joining the band Stonedeep) and was promptly replaced by Riku Pentti (DJ) and Okke Komulainen (keyboards). After their addition, Bomfunk MC's released a special remix of "Back to Back×Back to Back2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Back to Back (Skillstersplusone radio mix)3:492Back to Back (radio edit)3:44".
In 2004, the group released their third and final album, Reverse Psychology×Reverse Psychology17 September 2004 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Hypnotic4:052Ladies & Fellas3:573No Way in Hell3:464Reverse Psychology3:575Hey Everybody3:586Funky Things3:257Track Star4:328Turn It Up3:589Foxy Lady3:3410Irresistible3:3411Mosquito3:1012Obvious3:59, under Universal Music. This was preceded by the single "No Way in Hell×No Way in Hell2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1No Way in Hell (radio version)3:462No Way in Hell (Royal Gigalo mix)5:223No Way in Hell (Moonbootica remix aka koweSix)6:334No Way in Hell (DJ Slow remix)5:305No Way in Hell (Muffler remix)6:026No Way in Hell (a cappella)3:26". Later that year, they released another single, "Hypnotic×Hypnotic13 September 2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Hypnotic4:052Hypnotic (Dallas Superstars remix)7:183Hypnotic (Will Power & Infekto Electro Breaks remake)5:084Hypnotic (Arrants remix)5:105Put Your Hands Up (live remix)3:40", featuring Elena Mady. Half of the album was produced by JS16, while the other half was produced by Pentti, Komulainen, and Ville Mäkinen, collectively known as The Skillsters Plus One.
Reverse Psychology and its singles received limited attention outside the Nordic countries. Both singles reached the German top 100 but failed to chart elsewhere in Western Europe. Fan reception was mixed, as many fans continued to see DJ Gismo as a key figure in the band, despite his minimal involvement in the band's music production, apart from providing scratches. Remixes attributed to DJ Gismo were actually produced by JS16, the band's main producer.
In 2006, Bomfunk MC's toured New Zealand during university orientation, performing in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, and Auckland in support of their album Reverse Psychology.

2019–present

Many of the band's collaborators pursued other musical projects, activities, or faded into obscurity. The band's main producer and mentor, JS16, remained musically active as a solo artist; in 2007, he released his first solo track in over five years, "Rosegarden," which gained significant club play. He is also a successful remixer and forms half of the popular dance act Dallas Superstars.
In the summer of 2019, the band made a comeback with their classic lineup. They performed at several festivals, debuting two new tracks, "Can't Runaway" and "Mic Drop." B.O. Dubb and DJ Gismo participated, along with their producer JS16, who officially became a member of the group.
In February 2019, the video for "Freestyler×Freestyler30 October 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Freestyler (radio edit)2:552Freestyler (alternative radio edit)4:083Freestyler (Happy Mickey Mouse mix)4:504Freestyler (Missing Link remix)5:41" was reshot as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of its release. The new version features the original band members and re-enacts scenes from the original, but with a modern twist. This includes replacing the Sony mini-disc player that controlled the music with a smartphone, changing the main character from male to female, and incorporating modern dance styles. The video was shot in Belgrade, Serbia.

Members

Current members

Raymond Ebanks (a.k.a. B.O.W. or B.O. Dubb) – MC (1998–2005, 2019–present)
Ismo Lappalainen (a.k.a. DJ Gismo) – DJ (1998–2002, 2019–present)
Jaakko Salovaara (a.k.a. JS16) – producer (1998–2005, 2019–present)
Former members

Ville Mäkinen (a.k.a. Mr Wily) – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1998–2005)
Riku Pentti (a.k.a. DJ Infekto) – DJ (2002–2005)
Okke Komulainen – keyboards (2002–2005)
Ari Toikka (a.k.a. A.T.) – drums (1998–2005)