2 Unlimited

2 Unlimited Biography by John Bush Get Ready! The Belgian/Dutch techno/dance-pop phenomenon 2 Unlimited was one of the most popular groups in Europe during the early '90s, selling 18 million records and charting number one singles in every European country. In England alone, 11 consecutive singles topped the charts. Meanwhile in America, smash single "Get Ready for This" from their 1991 debut Get Ready became a hit two years after it was first released, turning into a ubiquitous fixture in sports arenas around the country in the decades that followed. The idea for the group came about in 1990, when Belgian producers Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul DeCoster -- who had previously gained success with AB Logic -- were looking for another vehicle for their songs. 2 Unlimited was created when Wilde and DeCoster were introduced to Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and Dutch vocalist Anita Doth by Marvin D., who were both featured in his rap group in the past. In 1991, debut single "Get Ready for This" reached number two on several European charts; the following year Get Ready was released. No Limits [CD Single] The modest success of the first few singles -- including their first Dutch chart-topper "Twilight Zone" -- paved the way for 2 Unlimited's 1993 sophomore album No Limits. The title track hit number one in 15 European countries plus Canada, becoming their most successful single, while other tracks from the album also fared well, including "Faces," "Tribal Dance," and "Let the Beat Control Your Body." Third album Real Things and the singles "The Real One," "No One," and "Here I Go" continued the hitmaking. The best-of album, 1995's Hits Unlimited, was the final release for this iteration of the group, as Slijngaard left to manage his X-Ray label and Doth moved into TV and radio talk shows (later also recording with Mad Cobra). II At the end of the '90s, DeCoster and Wilde recruited new Dutch vocalists Romy van Ooijen and Marjon van Iwaarden, issuing the 1998 Dutch Top Ten single "Wanna Get Up." The fourth 2 Unlimited set, II, was released that year to limited success and van Ooijen and van Iwaarden parted ways with the group in 1999. While various remix collections appeared in record stores into the 2000s -- including 2004's CD/DVD combo The Complete History -- the outfit remained relatively quiet. Slijngaard and Doth reunited in 2009 for a handful of nostalgic live performances as 2 Unlimited, later teaming up as the duo Ray & Anita. They issued a handful of singles that charted in the Netherlands. In 2012, Ray & Anita reconnected with DeCoster to revive 2 Unlimited, debuting on-stage in 2013. "Get Ready for This" received a propulsive modernized remix by Steve Aoki and returned to the Dutch Top 30 that year. By 2016, the group reached another turning point, as Doth parted ways to continue her solo career and was replaced by Kim Vergouwen. 2 Unlimited continues to perform their catalog of hits around Europe.