Rougher Than the Average - 2 Unlimited

2 Unlimited was a eurodance group from Amsterdam, Netherlands formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of the Belgian production duo Jean-Paul De Coster and Phil Wilde, who wrote and recorded the backing tracks. Their songs' vocals were performed by Dutch rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth, who also wrote the lyrics. The two original members now record as Ray & Anita.

Their first hit, Get Ready For This, was released in 1991 and took the European charts by storm, first as an instrumental version, then as a rap version. They are best remembered for No Limit, which was a world-wide number one hit in 1993, reaching number one in 35 countries. The group amassed a total of twelve Top 20 hits in the United Kingdom, and took two of their albums to number one as well.

Shortly after releasing a greatest hits album, they split up in 1996 due to conflicts over 2 Unlimited's future: Ray Slijngaard wanted to move more towards rap, whereas Anita Doth wanted the group to become an R&B-inspired group.

Anita initially started working for Dutch radio station Radio 538, later releasing a solo album called "Reality". Ray also tried to launch a solo career, which turned out to be commercially unsuccessful. The duo are thought not to have spoken to each other for ten years.

De Coster and Wilde brought in two new singers, Romy van Ooijen (b. 18th November 1971) and Marjon van Iwaarden (b. 18th June 1974) in 1998, but ultimately this new project was relatively unsuccessful, with single "Wanna Get Up" only managing to reach number 38 in the UK. After just one album, the new duo also parted in 1999.

More recently, remixes of "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance" were moderate hits in Germany and in 2004 a DVD featuring all their videos was released through ZYX Records. Anita still tours nightclubs around Europe, performing her old band's greatest hits and is also part of the group Divas Of Dance. A petition on the Internet for Anita to re-form 2 Unlimited has so far been unsuccessful.

Ray and Anita continue to perform their old hits separately in nightclubs and university student union clubs around the world. They both plan to release new solo material in 2009.

It was announced in the summer of 2008 by both Ray and Anita that they would reunite. On April 11th 2009 they will headline as 2 Unlimited at 'I love the 90's - The party' in Belgium.

In late 2009, 2 Unlimited reformed as Ray & Anita because their original producer own the rights to the 2 Unlimited name. On January 22, 2010, their first song recorded together in over a decade, titled "In Da Name Of Love" was released.

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