Us3 is the brainchild of London-based producer Geoff Wilkinson. Formed in 1992, alongside production partner Mel Simpson, Us3 were signed to legendary jazz label Blue Note and given unprecedented access to sample anything from their back catalog.

The debut project’s album Hand on the Torch became a global phenomenon and sold over 2.5M copies. The debut single “Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)” was a worldwide hit, and over 30 years later still retains it’s fresh appeal.

After extensive touring around the world, Mel left and in 1997 new album Broadway & 52nd saw NY rappers KCB and Shabaam Sahdeeq feature, with the Blue Note samples becoming more embedded in the groove.

Having left Blue Note, An Ordinary Day In An Unusual Place from 2001 used less samples with more live instrumentation, a taste of what was to come, as in 2004 Questions ditched the samples completely, adding a greater neo-soul influence. Schizophonic from 2006 returned to a more live hip hop jazz sound featuring NY rappers Akil Dasan and Gaston, who stayed for Say What!? from 2007. In 2009 Stop. Think. Run saw rappers Brook Yung and Sene inject a tougher hip hop style alongside explosive live jazz elements. In 2011, Lie, Cheat & Stea” was a kaleidoscope of sounds from latin grooves to afrobeat, and featured vocalists Akala & Oveous Maximus.

2013 marked the 20th anniversary of Hand On The Torch, and Geoff made a new album The Third Way subtitled (Hand On The Torch Vol II). This time, interpolations of some classic jazz standards are woven in. Akil, KCB, and Tukka from the original Hand On The Torch album all returned.

Unfortunately Geoff fell seriously ill in 2014, and pulled the plug on Us3 whilst concentrating on his recuperation. On recovery Geoff retreated to his happy place (the studio!) and became a full time media composer, having over 1,000 tracks signed to a variety of music production libraries over the next 10 years.

2025 saw Geoff revive Us3 with an all instrumental album entitled Soundtrack, this time fusing contemporary trap beats with an 18-piece horn section, playing arrangements largely influenced by the work of (Miles Davis collaborator) Gil Evans. A 21st Century cinematic reboot of the hip hop jazz fusion pioneered by Us3 in the 90s.

Now in 2026 Us3 return to more familiar hip-hop-jazz ground with their new album Snap, Crackle & Bop!. MC Akil Dasan is the sole vocalist throughout, and Us3 regular sidemen Ed Jones (sax & flute), Bryan Corbett (trumpet & valve trombone), and Mike Gorman (keyboards) all return to the party. Us3 head honcho Geoff Wilkinson is at the production and mixing helm, holding things together in his own unique style.

Us3’s legacy is fomenting a cross-cultural hip-hop and jazz dialogue that remains as vital today as ever, pulling influences in from decades of musical experimentation. Wilkinson says “When I was a kid, my mum always used to say ‘Life is a journey not a destination’, and this is another big road trip!”