Although Massive Attack released their first single, "Daydreaming," in 1990, they have been in existence since 1987. Their musical roots stretch back even further to the embryonic days of the British rap scene when, as The Wild Bunch -- also featuring Nellee Hooper -- they were one of the first homegrown crews to merge rap and graffiti art, rocking the scene in their Bristol hometown.

They teamed up with vocalist Shara Nelson back in 1986, cutting "The Look Of Love," a song that, in retrospect, was the prototype for the slow groove lover's rap sound later taken to the mainstream charts by Soul II Soul. When Nellee left Massive for Soul II Soul in 1987, 3-D, Mushroom, and Daddy G became the creative core of Massive Attack, a floating collective of rappers, dj's, singers, and musicians modelled on the extended collective posse ethos of American hip-hop and Jamaican sound systems.

"Blue Lines" emerged in 1991, trailed by a triumvirate of extraordinary singles: "Daydreaming," "Unfinished Sympathy," and "Safe From Harm," each accompanied by groundbreaking videos from director Baillie Walsh. The album immediately became a favorite among tastemaker dj's and adventurous music fans in the U.S., while wowing the music scene in Britain, where it was voted Best Album of 1991 by the Face (with "Unfinished Sympathy" taking Best Single honors) and nominated for a Brit award, England's equivalent of America's Grammy. Shara Nelson, Horace Andy and Tricky all contributed vocals to an album that managed, simultaneously, to be both dancefloor friendly and CD compatible. The unanimous critical acclaim that greeted their debut was, for once, not overstated, and "Blue Lines" remains a marvel of technological sophistication, hard urban lyrics, and cutting edge beats.

The last three years have seen Massive Attack part company with Shara, who left to pursue a successful solo career. In creative terms, Massive Attack simply went underground, regrouping in Mushroom's in-house studio and recording the breakthrough Protection, while exploring new creative avenues.