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The 11 best Chase & Status songs
The British drum and bass duo continue to only grow in relevance.
21 years after their debut, Chase & Status scored their first UK No.1 single with ‘BACKBONE’, their chart-topping collaboration with Stormzy. But this win is just one chapter in the remarkable story of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). The pair met at Manchester University in the early 00s, and rose from graffiti artists and local DJs to one of the most influential British DJ duos in recent memory.
While they’re predominantly known for drum ‘n’ bass, they’re not ones to be boxed in – Comfortably swinging between hip hop, jungle, breakbeat, dubstep, and more. Their sound developed in tandem (or ahead of) the evolution of music as a whole, and their success is a testament to dance music’s increasing dominance in pop culture.
We live in an era where producing and releasing music is easier than ever before. This makes for a democratic but oversaturated release environment. This, coupled with the internet’s attack on our attention span, is why longevity is an elusive dream for many artists today. With six albums, countless hit singles and multiple awards, Chase & Status’ have more than risen to the challenge.
Following their viral 2023 Boiler Room performance, their 2024 Brit award win for Producer of the Year, and the announcement of their UK tour, Chase & Status are hotter than ever before – and doesn’t that make it the perfect time to reflect on our top 11 favourite Chase & Status tunes?
11. ‘Mixed Emotions’
(What Came Before, 2022)
A rousing track about a fading relationship, ‘Mixed Emotions’ is a sharp D&B/pop crossover. Clementine Douglas’ stirring vocals provide an enticing gateway for pop-loving ears to enter into the world of Chase & Status. Fuelled by a rollercoaster of emotions, from all-out euphoria to head-spinning comedowns, the ‘Mixed Emotions’ music video invites viewers to join in on a wild night out.
10. ‘Liquor & Cigarettes’
(2 RUFF, Vol. 1, 2023)
Cheating, arguments, regrets, keyed cars and break-ups, ‘Liquor & Cigarettes’ is an absolute frenzy. Teaming up with Gen Z D&B producer Hedex and rising Brighton rapper ArrDee, ‘Liquor & Cigarettes’ is the second single from Chase & Status’ 2023 mixtape, 2 RUFF Vol. 1. What started as a passion project quickly turned into a chart-dominating affair. Following the monster hit ‘Baddadan’ and the Becky Hill collab ‘Disconnect,’ ‘Liquor & Cigarettes’ became Chase & Status’ third single to hit the UK Top 40 simultaneously, truly cementing the duo’s impressive return to mainstream consciousness.
9. ‘Time’
(No More Idols, 2011)
‘Time’ is the third official single from Chase & Status’ second album, No More Idols. Back in 2011 the melodrama in Delilah’s vocals really spoke to my angsty teenage soul, and I mean that in the most complimentary of ways. Honestly, I still live for the drama. Chase & Status’ thumping production elevates the track’s heightened emotional content. It’s multifunctional – you can listen to ‘Time’ while you’re deep in the rave or crying in your bedroom.
8. ‘Count On Me’
(Brand New Machine, 2013)
Masters in reinvention, the breaks-infused ‘Count On Me’ provides a soulful twist on Chase & Status’ big beat D&B style. Close your eyes and Moko’s passionate, bouncy vocals will transport you into a 90s rave. Uncharacteristically bright and buoyant, but with a huge chorus that’s unmistakably Chase & Status, I can’t go past ‘Count On Me’. No matter the genre or mood they’re experimenting with, soaring choruses are where Chase & Status really fly – a talent which no doubt attracted the attention of artists like Snoop Dogg and Rihanna.
7. ‘Pieces’
(More Than Alot, 2008)
If forced to pick one song from Chase & Status’ debut album, some fans might go for the the dubstep classic ‘Eastern Jam’. Or maybe the jungle-infused ‘Hurt You’, or the hip hop anthem ‘Against All Odds’. But look, I’m from the emo generation, and ‘Pieces’ cuts deep. Rapper Plan B will tear you apart with the dramatic hook: “You don’t care about me, anymore / That’s why you, you wanna break my heart / Into pieces on the floor.” Demonstrating Chase & Status’ unique ability to forecast music’s evolution, ‘Pieces’ is a bridge between the emo wave of the early 2000s and the emo rap that would take over in the 2010s.
6. ‘Take Me Away’
(More Than Alot, 2008)
Good thing I’m not being forced to pick one song from Chase & Status’ debut album. 16 years after its release, the rolling D&B anthem ‘Take Me Away’ remains a crowd-favourite. With a sample from Loleatta Holloway’s ‘Sweet Sensation’ – quite possibly electronic music’s most beloved and sampled song of all time – ‘Take Me Away’ is a timeless club classic.
5. ‘No Problem’
(No More Idols, 2011)
‘No Problem’ is like the ‘Hakuna Matata’ of drum ‘n’ bass – it’s all about the good vibes. The track features on their debut album and has remained a mainstay in Chase & Status’ live sets. It’s not hard to see why; whether the duo are leaning more commercial or heavy, fans will always go off when they hear ‘No Problem’.
4. ‘Baddadan’
(2 RUFF, Vol. 1, 2023)
Shining a light on the UK’s most exciting rising talent has always been an intrinsic part of Chase & Status identity. On ‘Baddadan’ (translation: “badder than”) the duo link up with the next-gen breakneck drum ‘n’ bass producer Bou. Using an all-gas, no-breaks approach, Chase & Status park the sweeping choruses and pop vocals. The track puts hip hop’s bravado front and centre. Chase & Status enlist Flowdan, IRAH, Trigga and Takura to deliver blustering, ego-driven verses over a heavy bassline. It’s the perfect recipe for a walk-out tune, which Tyson Fury himself will attest to. This dancehall-infused tune is meant to be listened to so loud it’ll blow speakers.
3. ‘Blind Faith’
(No More Idols, 2011)
Weaving elements of grime and soul into a throbbing bassline, complemented by Liam Bailey’s cinematic verses, and topped off with a sensationally uplifting chorus, ‘Blind Faith’ is a dubstep anthem that’s stood the test of time. It hits just as hard in 2024 as it did at the height of the wubs. Fun fact: It’s also the second song on this list to reference Loleatta Holloway’s ‘Love Sensation’.
2. ‘BACKBONE’
(BACKBONE, 2024)
BACKBONE’S trap-influenced intro almost immediately induces an involuntary stank-face. Go on, give it a listen and just try to resist the stank. It’s demolition-level drum and bass at its absolute dirtiest. Paired with Stormzy’s swaggering lyricism, ‘BACKBONE’ is a sonic injection of confidence. Joining only a handful of drum and bass tunes to go #1 in the UK – most of which have been far softer and more commercial in sound– the success of ‘BACKBONE’ speaks volumes about both the drum and bass resurgence and its ever-growing cultural significance.
1. ‘End Credits’
(No More Idols, 2011)
A track about morality and our fear of death, ‘End Credits’ opens with pensive guitar chords and slow-building strings before dropping into an adrenaline-pumping drum and bass rhythm. If you’re a sucker for big feelings like me, ‘End Credits’ really delivers. Isn’t that exactly how music speaks to our human condition? Featuring the emotive vocals of UK rapper Plan B, ‘End Credits’ is a masterful drum ‘n’ bass ballad. It was the theme song (and ‘End Credits’) for the movie Harry Brown – also starring Plan B. Released in 2009, the track became Chase & Status’ first to break into the Official UK Charts top 10, and it continues to connect with fans today.
Catch Chase & Status touring across the UK in 2025. Find Chase & Status tickets here