AJ Kwame and Joseph 2 Grand are the Runaways UK, a duo who have spent their 17 year partnership on the run from musical mediocrity. The pair met in Brighton in 1991, forming the visionary outfit RPM (or Revolution Per Minute) a year later. RPM released a string of singles on the fledgling Mo Wax imprint, and toured Europe alongside James Lavelle and DJ Shadow. AJ’s wide- ranging musical abilities and Joe’s deck wrecking skills leant RPM a unique edge as a plethora of ‘Trip hop’ groups rose in their wake. In 1995 AJ & Joe changed both name and label, becoming the Runaways UK and finding a new home in Ultimate Di-lemma Recordings in the UK and Three Sixty Records in the USA. Highly acclaimed singles led the way to their debut LP Classic Tales, a musical tour de force that was the culmination of the Runaways UK quest to forge a truly British hip-hop sound. The album featured striking cover art in the form of a painting of a calming, typically English pastoral scene. This attention to presentation has been carried over to Progress, their 2nd album, where the duo have enlisted the help of the Turner Prize winning artist Chris Ofili in exclusively providing a unique cover artwork. This album also features a diverse collection of very special guests Masta Ace, Iriscience, J zone, Tiye Phoenix, Sylvia Powell and Matt Cooper(Outside). The Runaways UK and their music have travelled worldwide and forged relationships with a host of like-minded artists. Their golden remix touch has graced tracks from DJ Zinc, Doctor L and Emiliana Torrini, Cyclops 4000 Sir Menelik/Scaramanga/Chewbacca Uncircumcised etc), Mos Def and Talib Kweli, Kid Loco, Killer Priest, Flash and the Pan, Belles of Monica, Pressure Drop. And exclusive tracks for labels Catskills, Blue Juice, Grand Central and Nuphonic and Three Sixty Records.

Discography

 

USA Releases

Classic Tales (CD) Three Sixty Records 1998

Levitation feat Cyclops 4000 (12″) Three Sixty Records 1998

Reflections feat Tye Phoenix (12″) Three Sixty Records 1998

Express Delivery feat Masta Ace (12″) Three Sixty Records 1999

Express Delivery feat Masta Ace(CD) Three Sixty Records 1999

Finders Kreepers (12″) Three Sixty Records 1999

Pounds 4 Dollars / You Don’t Understand (12″) Three Sixty Records 1999

Progress (CD) Three Sixty Records 2000

 

Tracks Appear On

Music For Moving Images (12″) Momentum Three Sixty Records 1997

03:00am Eternal (2xCD) Levitation Lacerba        1998

Black Diamond (2xCD) Sanctuary Three Sixty Records 1999

Gang Of Four EP (12″) Do It Phat Plastic Records 2000

03:00am Eternal (3xLP) Levitation Lacerba  

Extracts From Musical Dilemma’s (12″) Beauty And The Beats Ultimate Dilemma  

Musical Dilemma’s (CD) Finders Kreepers, Beau… Ultimate Dilemma  

Innovation In Experimental Beats (2xLP) Beauty And The Beats, … Ultimate Dilemma  

Beats By Dope Demand Three (2xCD) Finders Creepers Kickin Records 1996

Creative Trip Hop (2xCD) Finders Keepers Sound And Media Ltd 1997

Creative Trip Hop (3xLP) Finders Keepers Sound And Media Ltd 1997

Viva Diablo Blanco Freestyle Beats(2xLP)Finders Keepers Indochina 1997

Common Ground – No More Heroes (CD) Comment Ultimate Dilemma 1998

Common Ground – No More Heroes (2xLP) Comment Ultimate Dilemma 1998

FSUK4 (2xCD) Finders Keepers Ministry Of Sound 1999

Lo Fidelity Allstars – On The Floor At The Boutique (CD)Levitation Skint Records 1999

On The Floor At The Boutique (CD) Levitation Columbia Records 1999

On The Floor At The Boutique (CD) Levitation Skint Records 1999

Slam The Breaks On (2xCD) Feel The Feeling Lacerba 1999

Dope On Plastic! 7 (2xCD) P.E.A.C.E. React 2000

Dope On Plastic! 7 (CD) P.E.A.C.E. React 2000

The Big Chill: Enchanted 02 (2xCD) Do What You Wanna Do Big Chill Recordings 2000

Highway & Landscape 3 (2xCD) Finders Keepers Distance 2001

Music First – PIAS Sampler (CD) Progress Sinedín Music 2001

The DJ Spinna Collection Part 1(2xCD) Finders Kreepers Urban Theory 2001

Straight Out The Cat Litter Scoop Three (2xLP) Pure Funk Catskills Records 2002

Straight Out The Cat Litter Scoop Three (CD) Pure Funk Catskills Records 2002

Remixes

 

DJ Cam – The French Connection (CD) Life Of Fortune And Fa… Shadow Records 2000

Macroscope (12″) Macroscope (Runaways R… Ultimate Dilemma  

Test Anxiety (12″) Test Anxiety (Runaways… Mute Records Ltd. 1997

Black Whole Styles (2xLP) Nanotech Pilots (Runaw… Big Dada 1998

Black Whole Styles (CD) Nanotech Pilots (Runaw… Big Dada 1998

Dope On Plastic! 5 (2xCD) Macro Scope (Voyager Mix) React 1998

Instrumentals EP (CD5″) Apollo (Runaways Brock… Cup Of Tea Records 1998

Instrumentals EP (12″) Apollo (Runaways Remix) Cup Of Tea Records 1998

Life Of Fortune & Fame (10″) Life Of Fortune & Fame… Artefact 1998

Turbo Beats: Scott Hendy (CD) Apollo (Runaways’ Broc… Cup Of Tea Records 1998

Baby Blue (CD5″) Baby Blue (Runaways Mix) One Little Indian 1999

Fu*k The Millennium EP (CD) Pink Panther (Runaways… True Playaz 1999

The Endless Bummer Rmx Appendix (CD) 144.000 (Runaways Rmx) Yo Mama Records 1999

The Endless Bummer Rmx AppNo.2 (12″) 144.000 (Runaways Rmx) Yo Mama Records 1999

Transatlantik Lounging 2 (CD) 144.000 (Runaways Remix) Life Enhancing Audio 2000

Transatlantik Lounging 2 (3xLP) 144.000 (Runaways Remix) Life Enhancing Audio 2000

Tellement (12″) Tellement (The Runaway… Musiques Hybrides 2001