2 Unlimited

2 Unlimited is a Belgian–Dutch dance music group, founded in 1991 in Antwerp by Belgian producers and composers Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde.

From 1991 to 1996 the duo was fronted by Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and Dutch singer Anita Doth. During this period 2 Unlimited enjoyed worldwide success with sixteen international chart hits and sales of eighteen million records.

The project began with the instrumental release of Get Ready for This in spring 1991. Seeking a more accessible formula, Wilde and De Coster contacted Raymond Lothar Slijngaard to write lyrics and add a rap; he suggested bringing in singer Anita Dels, from Amsterdam’s club scene. The new version of Get Ready for This, released in September 1991, cemented the group’s success.

The following single, Twilight Zone, outperformed it on the charts and became a recognized club anthem. The debut album also includes the hits Workaholic and The Magic Friend.

Their second album, “No Limits!” (1993), was such a success that five singles were released from it, including Tribal Dance and especially No Limit. The latter became their biggest hit, reaching number one in more than 35 countries and becoming the best-selling single in Europe in 1993.

In the United States the group achieved less mainstream recognition, but several of their tracks became popular themes in sports broadcasts, notably in the NBA and NHL.

In 1996, complicated relations between Ray and Anita precipitated the split of 2 Unlimited. An attempt to relaunch under the name “2 Unlimited 2” with singers Romy and Marion Van Iwaarden had limited success and ended in 1998.

On 10 February 2009 the original members Ray and Anita announced a reunion concert during a Dutch television interview, suggesting a possible reunion, although no concrete project followed.