2 Unlimited - The Netherlands techno/dance-pop phenomenon
2 Unlimited was one of the most popular groups in Europe during the early '90s, selling 18 million records and charting number one singles in every European country.
2 Unlimited was the brainchild of the Belgian production duo Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde, who wrote and recorded the backing tracks.
2 Unlimited formed in 1991 when Wilde and DeCoster were introduced to rapper Ray Slijngaard and vocalist Anita Doth by Marvin D., who had featured both in his rap group in the past. In 1991, debut single “Get Ready for This” reached number two on several European charts; the following year Get Ready was released.
The modest success of the first few singles prepared the way for
2 Unlimited's 1993 sophomore album «No Limits». The title track hit number one in 15 European countries plus Canada, and other singles from the album also did well, including “Faces”, “Maximum Overdrive” and “Let the Beat Control Your Body”. Third album «Real Things» and the singles “The Real One”, “No One”, “Here I Go” continued the hit-making.
2 Unlimited amassed a total of twelve Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom, and took two of their albums to number one as well.
Shortly after releasing a greatest hits album, they split up in 1996 due to conflicts over
2 Unlimited’s future; - Ray Slijngaard wanted to move more towards rap, whereas Anita Doth wanted the group to become an R&B-inspired group.
