Cutting edge NYC-based hip hop trio Anti-Pop Consortium was formed in 1997 by members Priest, Beans and M. Sayyid, and producer E. Blaize. Inspired by a desire to create against the pressures of mainstream hip hop, the group released a succession of independent singles and cassettes, until the release of their debut album Tragic Epilogue in 2000. Impressed, legendary label British label Warp Records quickly released the EP The Ends Against the Middle in 2001, followed by sophomore album, Arrhythmia the following year. Calling it quits in 2002 after a tour with DJ Shadow, and after the short-lived side project Airborn Studio from all members excluding Beans, the group reunited in 2007. Their fourth album, Fluorescent Black, was released in 2009.