Natural Selection

R&B/Synth Pop duo active from 1989 to 1992.

The duo was started by Elliot Erickson and originally included singer Steve Bryant (Kallsen) where they recorded a remake of Nik Kershaw's "86863". The single was first picked up independently by KDWB's Brian Phillips and started to create a buzz around the Minnesota/Wisconsin radio scene. This was the original catalyst which brought attention to the band Natural Selection. Bryant left the band and was replaced by Frederick Thomas.

The song "168088" sat unfinished until Erickson began working on it again in 1989. The rap was originally recorded by Ingrid Chavez, a friend of the duo who improvised the rap in the studio. In 1990, the version with Chavez doing the raps was a local hit on Minnesota's WLOL-FM, where Erickson worked as a remix engineer.

Once Natural Selection was signed to a recording contract, Chavez's raps were re-recorded by Niki Haris, because Chavez was by then under contract with Paisley Park Records.