C2C (group)

Lore & Background

C2C formed in 1998 in Nantes, France, when four high school friends—Atom, pFeL, 20Syl, and Greem—bonded over their fascination with DJ Qbert and DJ Shadow. Each member uses a turntable as an instrument, recreating drums, bass, guitar riffs, and brass sounds. They began competing in turntablism championships and won the DMC team world title four years in a row from 2003 to 2006, a first quadruple. They also won the ITF team championship in 2005 and the Hip Hop World Challenge title.

The group released their first EP "Down the Road" on 23 January 2012 and their debut album "Tetra" (stylized as Tetr4) on 3 September 2012. The album's cover art was done by LVL Studio with a photograph by Wang Chien-Yang. "Tetra" earned them four trophies out of four nominations at the 2013 Victoires de la Musique, including Best New Artist, Best Music Video, and Best Live Show. They also won the 2013 European Border Breakers Awards, honoring the best new music acts in Europe.

C2C's music videos for "Tetra" include six releases, all with over a million YouTube views as of May 2024. Their song "Down the Road" was used in the TV series The 100 and Silicon Valley, while "Happy (feat. Derek Martin)" appeared in Macy's TV commercials in 2016 and 2017. The group uses tailor-made LED-display systems for live performances, with pFeL noting that every sound drop has a corresponding visual.

Reader's Guide

C2C's significance lies in their dominance of turntablism competitions and their successful transition to recorded music and live performance. As four-time DMC team world champions (2003–2006), they set a record for consecutive wins, establishing themselves as leading figures in the turntablist community. Their debut album "Tetra" (2012) earned critical and commercial success, winning all four categories for which it was nominated at the 2013 Victoires de la Musique, France's equivalent of the Grammys, including Best New Artist and Best Live Show. The album also won the European Border Breakers Award, highlighting their impact across Europe.

Their legacy includes pioneering a visual approach to live shows, using custom LED displays to synchronize visuals with turntable sounds, as described by member pFeL. Their music videos, particularly "Delta" with 48.5 million views, demonstrate broad appeal. Songs like "Down the Road" and "Happy" reached wider audiences through TV placements and commercials. C2C's blend of technical skill, innovative performance, and chart success helped bring turntablism to mainstream attention in the 2010s.

Did You Know?

• The music video for 'Delta' has 48.5 million views on YouTube as of May 2024.
• Their song 'Happy (feat. Derek Martin)' was used in Macy's TV commercials in 2016 and 2017.