Thievery Corporation formed in Washington, D.C. in 1995 — Rob Garza and Eric Hilton, running their own Eighteenth Street Lounge label and helping define the downtempo era. Dub, bossa nova, and Indian classical threads run through The Mirror Conspiracy (2000) and The Richest Man in Babylon (2002), the two to grab first. Dig into Thievery Corporation vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
Thievery Corporation formed in Washington, D.C. in 1995, founded by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton. The duo built their reputation on a richly eclectic, globally influenced downtempo sound and ran their own label, Eighteenth Street Lounge Music. They became one of the most recognizable acts in the electronica and chillout movement, performing live with a large band and an array of guest vocalists.
Thievery Corporation blend downtempo, trip hop, and lounge with dub, reggae, bossa nova, Indian classical, and Middle Eastern influences, creating a cosmopolitan, atmospheric sound. Their records frequently feature multiple guest singers across languages and styles, and their politically conscious themes appear alongside the music's relaxed, sophisticated textures.
The duo's catalog on Eighteenth Street Lounge Music and ESL has appeared in numerous vinyl pressings and reissues prized by downtempo and electronica collectors. The early albums are of particular interest as documents of the chillout era.
Listeners new to Thievery Corporation often start with The Mirror Conspiracy (2000) or The Richest Man in Babylon (2002). For related listening, see and .
