Chase & Status are a British electronic duo from London, one of the most influential projects in the history of drum and bass, jungle, and the wider UK bass culture. Their career is a rare example of long-term success in which underground thinking, street energy, and producer intelligence not only survived changing eras, but once again became central to the global music agenda in 2023–2024.
Members and origins
The Chase & Status project was formed in the early 2000s in London. At its core are two producers and DJs:
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Saul Milton — Chase
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Will Kennard — Status
Both grew up within the British rave scene of the 1990s: jungle, hardcore, drum and bass, pirate radio stations, and illegal parties were not genres for them, but a natural environment. From the very beginning, they saw themselves not simply as DJs, but as authors of tracks designed for maximum physical impact on the dancefloor.
Early stage: underground roots and scene credibility
At the start of their career, Chase & Status released singles, remixes, and instrumental tracks that quickly gained support on the UK DnB scene. Their sound stood out through hard, aggressive rhythms, heavy sub-bass, and minimal yet extremely effective structures.
The breakthrough came with the track “Barbarians”, after which the duo earned a reputation as producers whose releases worked like weapons for the club. They became regular fixtures in the sets of leading DJs and gradually moved beyond the boundaries of a niche scene.
Debut album: More Than Alot (2008)
Their first album, More Than Alot, was a statement of intent as full-scale album artists. On it, Chase & Status demonstrated a broad musical vision, combining:
The record showed that the duo were capable not only of making DJ tools, but also of building their own musical universe, while retaining street aggression and a distinctly British character.
Mainstream breakthrough: No More Idols
The album No More Idols (2011) became a turning point. Chase & Status entered the global mainstream without losing the respect of the club scene.
This period was marked by active use of vocals, collaborations with MCs and pop artists, and the adaptation of drum and bass for radio and festival formats.
It was then that Chase & Status firmly established themselves as universal producers, capable of combining a hard sound with mass appeal.
World-class production
Alongside their own releases, Chase & Status worked extensively as producers for other artists. A key milestone was their collaboration with Rihanna during the era of the album Rated R.
This experience elevated the duo into the top tier of pop production and proved that their sound could be aggressive, contemporary, and commercially successful without losing its identity.
Sound evolution and genre freedom
Throughout the 2010s, Chase & Status freely worked across multiple styles:
Yet the defining feature of their music has always remained a connection to the street — a sense of raw, unfiltered sound aimed at real club reaction rather than algorithms.
MTA Records and industry impact
A crucial part of their legacy is their own label, MTA Records.
Through MTA Records passed a new generation of UK bass artists, including Nero and Kove.
The label became a true incubator of sound, shaping the development of drum and bass and UK bass throughout the 2010s.
Second youth: 2023–2024 and the Baddadan effect
In 2023–2024, Chase & Status experienced one of the most powerful renaissances in modern electronic music.
The track Baddadan became a cultural phenomenon:
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bringing jungle and drum and bass back into global charts
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going viral on TikTok and Reels
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attracting a new Gen Z audience
Chase & Status were once again perceived not as nostalgia, but as a language of the present. This process is often referred to as the Gen Z DnB wave.
Boiler Room London 2023
The culmination of this period was their performance at Boiler Room London 2023. The set became a symbol of the era: a packed space, ecstatic crowd, hard jungle, and raw drum and bass.
Boiler Room captured the duo’s return to their roots — but now with the status of artists shaping global trends.
Live performances
Chase & Status are known for their powerful live shows, often featuring MCs, hybrid DJ/live formats, and a hard, tightly constructed set dramaturgy.
Their concerts are not just track playback, but a performance built on tension, energy, and direct connection with the crowd.
Key albums
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More Than Alot (2008)
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No More Idols (2011)
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Brand New Machine (2013)
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Tribe (2017)
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What Came Before (2022)
Chase & Status are not just a duo, but a core institution of the British electronic scene. They became a bridge between 1990s rave culture, the 2000s club underground, festival mainstream, and the new Gen Z wave of drum and bass.
Their career proves that hard club music does not age when it remains honest, street-rooted, and loud.
