Taking their inspiration from A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul and the Pharcyde, Slum Village formed while still at high school.

Known for their innovative and sometimes light-hearted approach to hip-hop, the group have collaborated with some of the genre's biggest names but, with a tumultuous history and ever-evolving line-up, it hasn't always been easy.

Hailing from Detroit, the group was formed by three members rappers Baatin and T3 and the late rapper/producer Jay Dee.

In the mid-Nineties, Jay Dee became part of the hip-hop elite as a member of the Ummah, the production team responsible for hits by Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest and Common.

So it wasn't until 2000 that they released their first album, Fantastic, Vol 2. They were joined in the studio by such luminaries as D'Angelo and Busta Rhymes, among others, and the album became an underground classic.

After its release, it was all change, however, and Jay Dee left the group, although he returned from time to time.

Two years passed before they were heard from again but the album Trinity (Past, Present And Future) broke their silence and introduced new member Elzhi.

By the time their next album came out, Baatin had left the group due to mental illness and guests including Kanye West were brought into the fold. Last year, they severed ties with their label Capitol and joined independent group Barak, resulting in the release of the self-titled, full-length album in October.

The longplayer came with a DVD in which the group spoke about their past to clear up rumours and answer questions about the numerous changes in the line-up and label.

They say that, throughout the changes, their mission has been the same: "To deliver soul-stirring sonics that represent Detroit to the fullest."

"We're trying to give you all the aspects of how people are coming at us, the type of stuff we're dealing with and kind of give you a glimpse of the stuff we're dealing with in the group," says T3.

"We've never tried to change to get commercial success. We always just did what we did and when you do what you do, eventually somebody's going to have to give you your respect for having the courage to do what you do."

Jay Dee, aka J Dilla, died in February, aged 32, due to complications from lupus.

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