Urban Species is a British hip-hop band, best known for several hit singles during the 1990s. The band's music draws on a diverse range of influences (including reggae, blues, funk, dub, jazz, ragga and acoustic folk) and combines live playing with samples and programming, resulting in an organic sound that has sometimes been compared to a British version of Arrested Development. The band’s music is frequently associated with the acid jazz movement of the mid-1990s. 　　Urban Species’ consistent core figure and effective leader has been Peter "Mintos" Akinrinlola, but the band’s lineup has at various times included other producers and rappers plus many of the best musicians from the London funk and jazz-funk scenes. The band is also known for collaborations, most notably with Terry Callier and Imogen Heap. The band was founded in Tottenham, North London, by childhood friends Peter Akinrinlola (who took on the rapper's name of "MC Mint", later revising it to "Mintos") and Winston Small (who provided beats under the name "DJ Renegade"). Growing up in the 1980s, both shared an interest in various underground music including hip-hop (which at the time was restricted mainly to its electro and rap subdivisions), dancehall reggae, rave and blues. The duo began writing together in 1988. For sampleable material, they drew extensively on the stock of jazz and funk records owned by Renegade’s older brother, which came to shape their organic, live-sounding musical approach. 　　Under the MC Mint & DJ Renegade name, the duo recorded their first white-label release – 'It’s My Thing' - in 1989. The disc became an underground and pirate radio hit in the UK and also came to the attention of two high-profile New York radio stations (Kiss and WBLS) who eventually put the track into frequent rotation. 　　Inspired by this initial success (which, as an unsigned act without commercial backing, they were unable to immediately follow up), Mintos and Renegade eventually produced a second self-funded and distributed single called 'Got To Have It'. This attracted the interest of British DJ Gilles Peterson, a champion of new black British music who was also the owner of the Phonogram Records subsidiary Talkin' Loud (the label for acts including Incognito, Omar Lye-Fook, Young Disciples and Galliano). Talkin' Loud eventually signed Mintos and Renegade in 1992 under the new project name of Urban Species. 　　The first formal Urban Species track to be released was 'Hide And Seek' (which appeared on the Talking Loud Sampler Volume 2 compilation). Shortly afterwards, Urban Species expanded from a core duo to a trio with the addition of a second rapper, Doc Slim (real name Rodney Green). Slim was one of Mintos' and Renegade’s old school friends, and had an MC delivery inspired by ragga-style toasting and street humour. For live appearances, Urban Species drew on a pool of live funk musicians (including drummer Andrew Missingham, bass player Yolanda Charles and guitarist Nemo Jones, as well as members of Incognito and Galliano) to ensure that they delivered full-fledged musical shows instead of DAT-based PA performances. As a consequence - and following well-received support slots for MC Solaar, Guru’s Jazzmatazz project and the Stereo MCs - the band developed a strong live reputation and soon attained headline-act status. 　　Urban Species released their debut album – Listen – in May 1994. The band had extended the musicality of their concerts to their recording sessions, incorporating live instruments alongside the samples and programming, and going for a spacious, organic feel to the album atmospheres. Listen included the earlier single 'Gotta Have It' as well as 'Hide And Seek'. It also produced three more singles – the title track (featuring singer Chezeré), 'Spiritual Love' and 'Brother'. The latter two were hits, and the album received wide critical acclaim. 　　Over the next eighteen months, the band continued to develop their profile. They became successful in continental Europe (particularly in France) and maintained their inroads into the USA via New York, where they had developed an underground following considerable airplay and an acclaimed performance at the 1994 New Music Seminar. Aiming for a truly international approach, the band also toured the Far East and Africa, where they continued to befriend other musicians and educate themselves.