[5] The group initially attracted attention as a sound system some years prior to 1988 run by founder Jazzie B, playing at nights including their own at the Africa Centre, London.

[6] They released their first single, "Fairplay", with Rose Windross on lead vocals, recorded at the Africa Centre.

The weekly club night, having grown ever more popular, moved to the much larger The Fridge Nightclub in Brixton, South London, where it would remain well into the 1990s.

Together with an eclectic mix of “Funki Dredd" – "A happy face, a thumpin' bass, for a lovin' race!"

Together with the nascent UK Dance Music movement originating both there and at venues like The Haçienda in Manchester, and Cream in Liverpool and on to the massive 1990s legal rave scene at club nights, venues and festivals all across the UK, Ibiza and Europe.

A plaque now commemorates the collective's significant influence on the original venue, which closed in 2010 but which was subsequently renamed and reopened as the Electric Brixton[9][10] During the late 1980s, Jazzie B and several other members of the group became involved in the local pirate radio station movement.

In March 1989, their label released the group's single "Keep on Movin'", featuring Caron Wheeler on lead vocals.

The album's final single "Missing You", featuring Kym Mazelle on lead vocals, also performed well on the charts.

After the conclusion of the tour, Wilson-James, Mazelle, Lewis left the group to pursue solo careers.

The follow-up single "Move Me No Mountain", performed by Kofi on lead vocals, achieved moderate success in the UK.

The third single, "Just Right", suffered the same fate, relegating the album to limited and moderate sales figures.

In November 1993, the group released their greatest hits album Volume IV The Classic Singles 88–93.

The album spawned the single "Wish", which featured the new addition to the group Melissa Bell on lead vocals.

This ultimately led to Wheeler leaving the group again during the recording of the song "Love Enuff".

The album reworked drum and bass structures and production techniques from King Tubby, Prince Alla,Yabby You, Big Youth's iconic Screaming Target album, as well as sampling bass lines from The Palmer Brothers Step it Out of Babylon[13] In 1998, the group officially disbanded with each member pursuing solo careers.

Following their disbandment, several members including Wilson-James, Mazelle, Lamya, and Kelly would release solo albums which would each garner success, respectively.

In 1999, Kelly released her self-titled debut album, which spawned the number-one Dance chart single "Skin".

In March 2002, Doreen Waddell, who had been living in Hove following her departure, died at 36 after being hit by three cars while she was fleeing from a shoplifting incident.

[12] In July 2002, Lamya released her solo debut album Learning from Falling, which spawned the number-one Dance chart single "Empires (Bring Me Men)".

The lineup consisted of Caron Wheeler, Jazzie B, Aitch B, with the new addition of MC Chickaboo.