The Spooks
Origin Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Members :
Booker T, Hypno, Ming-Xia, Joe Davis, Water Water (deceasedin 2003)

The Spooks biography :

Accepting the truth is a spooky thing...literally. In 2000, Spooks first doused the people with refreshing splashes of reality on their unforgettable, critically acclaimed debut, S.I.O.S.O.S., Vol. 1. Now, Spooks return with their brilliant sophomore album, Faster Than You Know... (KOCH Entertainment/ In The Paint)— scheduled for a September 23, 2003 release. Spooks vibrant tales of life’s addictive highs and depressing losses flow like holy water through the verses of Mr. Booka-T, Hypno, Joe Davis, and Ming-Xia.

Acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne was the first to rise to the Spooks’ call to reality. "Things I’ve Seen" became not only the first single off of S.I.O.S.O.S., Vol. 1, but also the title song to Fishburne’s directorial debut, Once In The Life. Things progressed swimmingly from here especially in Europe ; where the single reached Gold status in Belgium, Sweden, and France. "Things I’ve Seen" went on to become the number one most played song in Europe in 2001. Spooks were also Top Ten in nearly a dozen countries from Germany and The Netherlands to Turkey and Israel with S.I.O.S.O.S., Vol. 1 eventually achieving Gold album status in the U.K.

Furthermore, the "Things I’ve Seen" video was nominated for a Billboard Video Award.

It was the Spooks’ passionate love of knowledge and music that actually made the group whole. Mr. Booka-T and Joe Davis grew up together as member of a hip-hop group known as Rated-X in North Philadelphia, and gained experience recording and performing between Philly and New York. Ming-Xia and Mr. Booka-T met at an art college in NYC, where they developed a close bond in both art and music, Hypno was sporadically pursuing his own music career. After a mutual friend connected the male MCs, they immediately vibed and hit Philadelphia’s club and freestyle circuit in 1995. When Ming was brought in to sing on a track in 1996, it was clear from the get-go that her distinct voice was the missing link. From that point on, all of the diverse elements converged together to form Spooks. Over the next three years, Spooks crafted a unique sound, and recorded a ten song demo entitled, Hi-Jacking The Planet, which eventually landed them a recording deal in 1999 with Anthra Music Group.

S.I.O.S.O.S., Vol. 1 was the beginning of the Spooks’ quest to create mass awakenings of realizations and push the boundaries of hip-hop. Now with their second dynamic album, Spooks continue to paint vivid pictures of an often multi-edged reality. "We don’t run from the dark sides of issues that present themselves," says Hypno. "On a Spook song, you may hear one verse dealing with the pleasant side and another dealing with the harsher side. We tell the whole story."

If the glaring realities on Faster Than You Know... don’t wake you up, the beats definitely will. The album’s title track "Faster Than You Know..." is the first single and features a guest appearance by Chali 2na of Jurassic 5. Ming’s hypnotic declarations of the power of love soar above the delicate acoustic guitar licks and percussive bass lines that make bodies sway to and fro. Party-rockers, like "In On It" featuring renown Black Lily vocalist Lady Alma, make stressful distractions fade away by taking listeners back to a time when getting up on the dance floor was synonymous with hip-hop. Poignant songs such as the drum and bass influenced "Deadbeat" stimulate the mind as each Spook member addresses the issue of deadbeat fathers. "This is a personal song," says Ming-Xia. "I wrote it because it was definitely something that had to be talked about." Insightful tracks like "Change," written a few days after the September 11th tragedy, motivate people to believe. Mr.  Booka-T explains, "This is a song of inspiration. We wanted to keep the basic themes of inspiration, hope, growth and advancement alive."

Other magical cuts like "Part of the Game," produced by Hypno for Tongue Productions, breaks down the unstable realms of love. The Beatminerz produced song, "Still Gonna Do It" is sure to bounce bodies in the club. The groups self proclaimed manifesto, "Spooks" produced by Booka-T and Ming for Tongue Productions, sparkles with lines like, "Who specialize in waking up with your subconscious ? /Shocking you with knowledge until you are no longer zombies / stepping out of the pack / we got hypnotic compassion / with some wicked melodies and a vicious iron dragon." Joe Davis explains the track by saying, "The whole song sums up the group."

Spooks continue down the path charted by S.I.O.S.O.S. Vol. 1. Faster Than You Know... makes the road clearer...the message is more potent and the truths are fearlessly explosive. Mr. Booka-T expounds on the reality that is Spooks, "we’re determined to keep our integrity, and still say things we feel should be heard and said in music. We’re determined to win and to do it our way. "

The Spooks Discography

The Spooks albums

2000 S.I.O.S.O.S. Vol.1
2003 Faster Than You Know

The Spooks Singles

2000 Sweet Revenge
2000 Things I’ve Seen
2001 Karma Hotel
2001 Yes B-side, Europe
2001 I Believe B-side, Europe
2001 Swindley’s Morraccas
2003 Faster Than You Know Featuring Chali 2na
2003 Still Gonna Do It Double A-side, Featuring Evil Dee
2003 Crazy Double A-side, Featuring Supa Dave West
2003 Break B-side, Japan
2003 Around The World B-side, Japan
2003 Change
2003 Don’t Be Afraid

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

The Spooks, by Parry P [2008-04-23 10:35:24]

This was the group I discoverd and then signed them to Antra Records. I was the VP of the lable at that time. We did a jopint venture with Artemis records and the rest is history. If any one knows where ming Xia is. I have a solo deal waiting for her. I am still a VP but at another lable.