The Cuban Boys
| Cuban Boys | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Torquay, England |
| Genres | Synthpop |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | Org Records, EMI, House Of Beauty |
| Website | http://www.thecubanboys.co.uk/ |
| Members |
Ricardo Autobahn Skreen B |
| Past members | Jenny McLaren BL Underwood |
The Cuban Boys are an English electronic group and production team, currently composed of Skreen B and Ricardo Autobahn; the band formerly also included B.L. Underwood ("Blu") and Jenny McLaren (Autobahn's sister). Their music is characterised by fast electronic beats, heavy reliance upon samples and the repetition of the words "The Cuban Boys" in the background of many of their tracks. They achieved success after being aired on John Peel's BBC Radio 1 show with sample-heavy dance tracks and cut-ups and were responsible for the UK No. 4 hit single "Cognoscenti Vs. Intelligentsia" which was released through EMI.
The Cuban Boys formed in 1998 using the Internet as a publicity and collaboration tool from the outset. After a web only release of an anonymous dance track, Diophantus Arithmetica, with hints that it was by Noel Gallagher, they recorded Oh My God! They Killed Kenny (later retitled Kenny), which featured sampled dialogue from South Park combined with The Bump by Kenny. This was played extensively by John Peel and took the 6th position in the 1998 Festive Fifty. Following this it was released as the band's first single. A six-track EP, Blueprint For Modernisation, followed. A track from this EP, "Cuban Boy (Cuban Boys Go Boom! Mix)", went on to be used as the theme music for the BBC sitcom Still Game.
The Cuban Boys next single, "Cognoscenti Vs. Intelligentsia" was built on a sample used from "Whistle Stop" by Roger Miller which was featured in the Disney movie Robin Hood. It was first featured on the Internet as part of The Hampster Dance song on the website of the same name. The same sample was later used as the basis for the song "Irritating Hamster" by the artist DJ Mavica, then as part of the Cuban Boys' hit (a close but noticeably different imitation of the original sample was used in the final release, as the licensing fees could not be met)
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