A man of many musical faces, Norman Cook's Fatboy Slim is arguably his most successful alter ego, and one which made big beat music (a combination of rock and dance music styles) a huge crossover success. Cook began recording in the big beat style at the Big Beat Boutique (from which the movement took its name). Signing to Damian Harris' Skint Records, Fatboy Slim's debut single was "Santa Cruz", and was followed by further hit records including "Everybody Needs A 303" and the debut album Better Living Through Chemistry. "Going Out Of My Head", the March 1997 single featuring samples of the Who, gained Cook a place in the Guinness Book Of Records for achieving the most UK Top 40 hits under different names (seven). The irresistible "The Rockafeller Skank" brightened up the UK singles chart the following year, reaching number 6 in June. "Gangster Tripping" provided Cook with another hit single, reaching number 3 in October and paving the way for You've Come A Long Way, Baby. "Praise You" provided Cook with his first UK number 1 single as Fatboy Slim in January 1999, and in the process dragged the album to the top of the charts. "Right Here Right Now" was another hit, debuting at number 2 in April.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby also enjoyed crossover success in the USA, thanks to the prominent use of several tracks in movies including She's All That and Cruel Intentions, and advertisements for Adidas. Cook was honoured with three MTV Video Awards in September. Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars was influenced by both Cook's newly-married status and the derision now accorded big beat in dance circles, with thumping big beat numbers such as "Ya Mama" and "Mad Flava" offset by the dark house grooves of "Star 69", "Retox" and the Jim Morrison-sampling "Sunset (Bird Of Prey)".