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MC Conrad, acclaimed drum’n’bass vocalist, dies aged 52

Rapper and singer was acclaimed for partnership with producer LTJ Bukem, and went on to become a producer and label head in his own right

No cause of death has been given for the artist, born Conrad Thompson, who was celebrated for his dexterity on the mic, his singing ability, and affinity with the jazzier end of the genre’s spectrum including in collaborations with producers such as LTJ Bukem and PFM. He and Bukem collaborated on an entry in the BBC’s Essential Mix series, and released a landmark album in 1998, Progression Sessions 1, that led to the pair being regarded as one of the quintessential DJ-MC combos in British dance music. Steppa called him “a truly gifted legend of the scene, one of the nice guys, and gone far too soon”, while promoters Drum’n’BassArena said: “He set the blueprint for generations of MCs with his signature style and brought so much soul to this music.”

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