Patrick De Meyer

Technotronic was a Belgian electronic music project formed in 1988 by Jo Bogaert, who originally gained popularity in the early 1990s as part of a cover band and as a solo artist under various New Beat projects, including the Acts of Madmen and Nux Nemo. Together with vocalist Ya Kid K (Manuela Kamosi), he produced the hit single "Pump Up the Jam", which was originally an instrumental. An image for the act was later put together, utilizing Congolese-born fashion model Felly Kilingi as its album/single cover art, and supposed singer in the music video.

The track that became "Pump Up the Jam" began life as "Technotronic" (which later became the project's official name), an original instrumental that Bogaert released under the name The Pro 24s. Based on Farley Jackmaster Funk's "The Acid Life", this instrumental initially included vocal samples from Eddie Murphy's "Delirious" live set from 1983 and was months later replaced by newer music, along with lyrics and vocals from Ya Kid K prior to the song's international release in September 1989.

The song became a worldwide success, eventually reaching No. 2 on both the US Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in late 1989 and early 1990. It became the first house song to reach the top ten of the US Hot 100 chart. It was also one of the first songs outside Chicago to pioneer the hip-house genre, a fusion of house music with elements of hip-hop.

The success of the project's first single led to the release of Pump Up the Jam: The Album, which featured tracks by Ya Kid K and MC Eric. They also became an opening act for Madonna and had appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Arsenio Hall Show, and It's Showtime at the Apollo. It was at this time that Ya Kid K became Technotronic's actual featured vocalist after it was revealed that Felly was merely lip-synching the vocals in the video for "Pump Up The Jam".

Three follow-up singles, "Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)", a No. 7 hit in the US and a No. 2 hit in the UK; "This Beat Is Technotronic" (featuring MC Eric) (US Dance No. 3, UK #14); and "Rockin' Over The Beat" (UK #9), also reached the Top 10 in many countries, and the album eventually climbed into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 in the US and reached No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.

In 1990, Kamosi contributed vocals to the single "Spin That Wheel", recorded by Technotronic's side-project "Hi-Tek 3" for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soundtrack.

A megamix was released compiling many of Technotronic's previous hits. Released as a single, it peaked at No. 6 in the UK and No. 1 on the Eurochart Hot 100. The Megamix single also appeared on the remix album Trip On This, released in late 1990, which featured remixes of all the singles from Pump Up the Jam: The Album, a remix of "Spin That Wheel", and the new song "Turn It Up" featuring vocals by newcomers Melissa Bell and MC Einstein.

By 1991 Ya Kid K had left Technotronic to pursue a solo career, releasing the single "Awesome (You Are My Hero)" from the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II" soundtrack in 1991, followed in 1992 by the solo album "One World Nation". Neither of them were commercially successful.

"Turn It Up" failed to make an impact on the singles charts, Melissa and Einstein were soon replaced in Technotronic by new vocalist Reggie (Réjane Magloire). Reggie provided vocals to six tracks on 1991's "Body To Body", the group's second full length album, which also featured singer Riv and rapper Colt 45 on two tracks. Several singles were released in Europe, the UK and Australia, including "Move That Body", "Work", and "Money Makes The World Go Round" (featuring Reggie on vocals) during 1991 and 1992.

In 1992 the song "Move This" from Pump Up the Jam: The Album (featuring vocals by Ya Kid K) became popular through its use in a Revlon television commercial, and became the group's third Top 10 hit in the United States, peaking at No. 6. With renewed interest in the Pump Up The Jam album, it was repackaged for the U.S. market in 1992, retaining the original track listing but this time featuring Ya Kid K's face on the cover (not Felly's).

In 1993 a hits album was released, The Greatest Hits. It featured the new songs "Hey Yoh Here We Go" and "One + One", both featuring vocals from a returning Ya Kid K, alongside the radio versions of previous hit singles and entirely new mixes of the tracks "Turn It Up" and "Voices". "Hey Yoh Here We Go" and "One + One" were released as singles in 1993 and 1994 respectively, to moderate success.

Continuing with Ya Kid K as frontwoman, Technotronic released the single "Move It to the Rhythm" in 1994 followed in 1995 by the album Recall and the further singles "Recall" (featuring Ya Kid K), and "I Want You by My Side". Beside vocal contributions from Kamosi, the album also featured established dance singer Daisy Dee on two tracks as well as male singer Black Diamond (who featured on the single "I Want You By My Side").

The remix EP "Pump Up The Jam – The '96 Sequel" was released in 1996. The same year, Kamosi collaborated with Robert Clivilles (founder of C+C Music Factory) on the track "Shake That Body" for his album "Robi Rob's Club World". The track was released as a single, credited as "Robi Rob feat. Ya Kid K". The Technotronic single "Get Up – The '98 Sequel" as well as compilations This Beat Is Technotronic (Hits & Mixes) and Pump Up The Hits were both released in 1998.

Technotronic later returned in 1999 with new singles "G-Train" and "Like This", featuring male vocalist Monday Midnite. In 2000, Ya Kid K returned as the group's vocalist once more, releasing the non-album single "The Mariachi" to moderate success. MC Eric and Ya Kid K reunited to tour parts of Europe, South America and Australia, performing their classic hits as well as new material as a part of tour commemorating Technotronic's 20th anniversary. MC Eric also tours as a DJ.

The compilation album Greatest Remix Hits was released in 2006, including mixes of their most notable hits plus a DVD of their music videos.

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Hi Tek 3