The Nextmen

The Nextmen are a UK production/songwriting/DJ duo consisting of Dom Search (a.k.a. Dominic Betmead) and Brad Baloo (a.k.a. Brad Ellis). Often incorporating hip hop, drum&bass, dub, pop, soul and various other eclectic electronic and indie genres into their sound, they have worked with many artists from the UK, US, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand. They are currently running their own label Play Nice Recordings in the UK, and working on their various studio projects including their sixth artist album.

For the comic book, see Next Men.
The Nextmen
Also known asBrad Baloo & Dom Search
OriginUK
GenresHip hop, soul
InstrumentsGuitar, keyboard
Years active2000-present
Labels75Ark, Antidote, Sanctuary, Fat City, Custom, Scenario, Nice Up, Trojan, Universal, Play Nice Recordings,
Associated actsPlan B, Alice Russell, Groove Armada, Fat Freddy's Drop, Rodney P, Kano, Dynamite MC, Kiko Bun, Kidz in the Hall, Faithless, Public Enemy
Websitewww.thenextmen.com
MembersBrad Ellis & Dom Betmead

Musical career

The Nextmen have been prolific remixers since 2000 working with Public Enemy, The Pharcyde, Blackalicious, Jeru The Damaja, Groove Armada, The Kooks, Fat Freddy's Drop, Rae & Christian and many more, but their first official remix was for UK Hip Hop group London Posse on "Style", the Posse's last 12" single, in 1996.[1] They have created a string of hotly coveted mixtapes (including 2004's Personal Golf Instructions, considered to be one of the greatest DJ mixes recorded), and perform two-man, four turntable DJ sets, often fronted by an MC (usually MC Wrec, Dynamite MC or Yungun) which include music from many genres.

The pair grew up in Cambridge, England and are based in North London. They are both musicians, playing guitar (Dom Search) and keys (Brad Baloo).

Their DJ sets are renowned the world over, popular at big festivals such as Glastonbury, T in the Park, Bestival, V Festival, Isle of Wight Festival, Womad, The Big Chill, Good Vibrations, Grooving The Moo, Field Day, The Sydney Festival, Shambala and many others. They are also the often-selected go-to party DJs having performed private sets for MTV, Cannes Film Festival, the Branson Family, Jade Jagger, in Pierre Cardin's Bubble Mansion, at Elizabeth Taylor's Villa in Nice, in a Russian cold war nuclear bunker in Moscow, and for various events annually throughout the ski resorts of The Alps.

They DJ sets have seen them tour throughout the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, France, Germany, Croatia, Spain, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Italy, Norway and Hungary.

Releases

Their first album, 2000's Amongst the Madness included performances from MCs from the US and UK. The second album Get Over It, released in 2003, featured such artists as American rapper J-Live and Cutty Ranks. Dom Search appeared on two Groove Armada albums, Vertigo and Goodbye Country, Hello Nightclub.

The 2005 reggae compilation Blunted in the Backroom on Antidote Records included two new Nextmen tracks, "Blood and Fire" featuring Dynamite MC, and "Piece of the Pie" featuring Demolition Man.

In June 2007, The Nextmen released their third studio album This Was Supposed To Be The Future on Antidote Records.[2] It featured vocalists include LSK (faithless) Dynamite MC, Zarif, Alice Russell, Sway, Bridgitte Amofah and Kidz in the Hall. The first single was "Let It Roll", featuring Alice Russell. At their album launch, The Nextmen performed as a full 10 piece band, with members of the Part Time Heroes.

In 2009, The Nextmen released their fourth studio album Join The Dots on Universal. It featured vocalists Dynamite MC, Betty Steeles, Ms Dynamite, Kivanc, and Johnny Tarr.

In 2018, The Nextmen released an album in collaboration with Gentleman's Dub Club called "Pound For Pound" featuring Dallas/Joe Dukie from Fat Freddy's Drop, Chali 2na, Kiko Bun, Gardna, Eva Lazarus, Hollie Cook and Parly B.

The Nextmen also produced the title track of Plan B's 2006 album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words on 679 records.

Amongst many mix CDs, The Nextmen created an exclusive mix CD for The Addict Beats Collective They have also released a mix album called Friends and Family after the acclaimed club night of the same name.

They started producing a monthly Podcast in late 2010, the first of which went straight to No. 1 in the UK iTunes music chart and remains popular.

In 2011, the pair worked on Plan B's forthcoming album 'The Ballad of Belmarsh' (Dom Search), and the debut album for The Milk (Brad Baloo).

Dom Search is also making a dance music album under a hidden alias, while Brad Baloo is a prolific songwriter penning tracks for Wilkinson, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, James Arthur, Anne Marie, Maisie Peters, Louis Baker, Karen Harding, Becky Hill and many others.

Albums

Singles
  • "Style (Next Men Remix)" – London Posse (1996, Bullitt Records)
  • "Slide Up" (1997, Scenario Records)
  • "Break The Mould" (1999, Scenario Records)
  • "Amongst The Madness" (2000, Scenario Records / 75Ark)
  • "Buck Foolish" (2000, Scenario Records / 75Ark)
  • "Turn It Up A Little" (2001, Scenario Records / 75Ark)
  • "Turn It Up A Little – Remixes" (2001, Scenario Records / 75Ark)
  • "I'll Try" (2002, Stonegroove Recordings)
  • "The Next Trend / Liven It Up" (2002, Scenario Records)
  • "Where You'll Find Me" (2002, Scenario Records)
  • "Silent Weapon" (2003, Scenario Records)
  • "High Score" (2003, Scenario Records)
  • "Firewalking" (2003, Scenario Records)
  • "Firewalking Remixes" (2003, Scenario Records)
  • "90% Of Me Is You" (2004, Scenario Records)
  • "Blood Fire / Piece of the Pie" (2005, Antidote / Sanctuary Records)
  • "Spin It Round" (2005, Custom / Fat City Recordings)
  • "Knowledge Be Born" (2007)
  • "Let It Roll" feat. Alice Russell (2007, Antidote / Sanctuary)
  • "Something Got You" feat. Zarif (2007, Antidote / Sanctuary)
  • "The Lions Den" feat. Ms. Dynamite and Andy Cato (2009, Sanctuary / Universal)
  • "Round of Applause" feat. Dynamite MC (2009, Universal)
  • "Sofa" feat. Pupajim (2010, Nice Up)
  • "The Corner" feat. Nu-Logic and Kiko Bun (2016, Play Nice Recordings)
  • Battlecreek 3 (2001, Illicit Recordings)
  • Plug Famalam Mixtape (2006, White Label)

References
  1. "The Nextmen feat. MC Wrec". 28 April 2005. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  2. Nyman, Sarah (2007). "BBC Music - The Nextmen: This Was Supposed To Be The Future, Review". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
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