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Cymande

Cymande

The British funk band whose 1970s grooves became foundational hip-hop breakbeats and who returned decades later to close the loop.

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The British funk band whose 1970s grooves became foundational hip-hop breakbeats and who returned decades later to close the loop.

MOODS · funky · spiritual · groove-driven · soulful · jazzy · reggae-tinged · celebratory · retro · uplifting · rhythmic

BIOGRAPHY

Cymande formed in London in 1971, founded by bassist Steve Scipio and guitarist Patrick Patterson, drawing on Caribbean heritage to forge a sound they called 'nyah-rock,' blending funk, soul, reggae, African music, calypso, and jazz. Discovered by producer John Schroeder in a Soho basement club, they signed to Janus Records; their single 'The Message' and self-titled 1972 debut both charted in the US. In 1973 they became the first British band to headline the Apollo Theater and appeared on Soul Train, despite little recognition at home. The band disbanded in 1974 after three albums, but their music was rediscovered in the 1980s and 90s, sampled by Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul, EPMD, The KLF, MC Solaar, Heavy D, and The Fugees. A reunion began in 2012 with Schroeder, leading to 2015's 'A Simple Act of Faith,' a 2022 documentary, and 2025's 'Renascence.'

WHY THEY'RE COOL

Cymande's fusion of funk, reggae, and jazz was so ahead of its time that it quietly built the rhythmic backbone of early hip-hop, chopped into breakbeats by Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash before being sampled by De La Soul, EPMD, and The Fugees. Despite barely charting in their native UK, they made history as the first British act to headline Harlem's Apollo Theater. Decades after disbanding, they returned with critically praised new work, including 2025's 'Renascence,' proving their spiritual, jazz-inflected funk still resonates.

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