Scroobius Pip

Born in 1981 and raised in Essex, England, David Meads began writing poetry as a 24-year-old. He eventually adopted the pseudonym Scroobius Pip, an intentional misspelling of an Edward Lear poem, and started touring the U.K. as a spoken word artist. After wrapping up work on a self-released poetry album, No Commercial Breaks, in 2006, Scroobius Pip put his solo career on hold and formed an electronic hip-hop duo with local producer Daniel Stephens (aka Dan Le Sac) instead. Christening themselves dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip, the two combined Pip's witty poetry with Le Sac's glitchy electronics, a combination that earned accolades in the U.K. as well as America. Dan le sac Vs Scroobius Pip released two albums -- including 2008's Angles, which became a Top 40 hit in England -- before both members briefly returned their attention to their own solo careers. Taking a break from hip-hop, Pip explored a more rock-oriented sound on 2011's Distraction Pieces, a popular solo album that peaked at number 35 in the U.K. ~ Andrew Leahey, Rovi