Roll Deep

Roll Deep (formerly Roll Deep Entourage) are an English grime crew. They were founded in 2002 by Wiley following the disbandment of UK garage crew, Pay As U Go Cartel.^[1] The crew distributed a number of mixtapes and vinyl singles independently before being signed to a major label and releasing their debut album In at the Deep End in June 2005. Four singles were released from the album: "Heat Up", "The Avenue", "When I'm 'Ere" and "Shake a Leg". They won an Urban Music Award^[2]

Their second album Rules and Regulations was released in 2007, followed by the release of Return Of The Big Money Sound in 2008. Current member Wiley and former members Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder have gone on to be successful solo artists in the UK and even the U.S., with songs that have topped charts. The group got their first UK number 1 single with the song "Good Times" in May 2010 and the group's second UK number 1 single was "Green Light" in August 2010. Their next single was "Take Control", featuring R&B singer Alesha Dixon, which charted at number 29 on 7 November 2010.^[3] Roll Deep released their next single "Picture Perfect" (produced by Agent X) peaking at #19 in the indie charts. They released their fifth studio album in 2012 before entering an indefinite hiatus in 2013.

History

Roll Deep have been consistent supporters of Love Music Hate Racism and have played at many of the organisation's more high-profile events including the memorial for murdered teenager Anthony Walker, and released a single and video of "Racist People", from the Rules and Regulations LP.

In October 2006, Roll Deep participated in a project of Tate Modern museum where various groups and songwriters were invited to choose a work that inspired them from the gallery's collection of modern art and then write a track about it.^[4] Roll Deep's submission, Searching, was inspired by the Anish Kapoor sculpture Ishi's Light, and can be heard on headphones in front of the work or on the Tate Tracks website.^[5]

Roll Deep have appeared on BBC 1Xtra on numerous occasions. Members that appeared on the show include Wiley, Scratchy, Flow Dan, Breeze, Brazen, Riko and Manga. In later years the groups work began to take a more mainstream oriented approach which led to members such as Riko and Flowdan becoming less active within the crew. In March 2014 Flowdan confirmed in an interview on Rinse FM the group's current hiatus and discussed the lack of drive from other members to work on music collectively.^[6] However many members of the crew are still active as solo artists and none have ruled out a return to writing music together in the future.

Current members

• Wiley (Richard Kylea Cowie) – The leader of the crew/group/collective.^[7] Formed the crew and has featured on many Roll Deep songs. Achieved his first number-one's with the group in 2010 with song's Good Times and Green Light.^[7] Wiley has announced via Twitter that he is still a member of Roll Deep and always will be, but was not featured on the album in 2012.^[8]

• Scratchy (Ryan Robert Williams) – One of the founder members of Roll Deep from 2002. Featured on many Roll Deep tracks like "When I'm 'Ere", "Badman" & "Club 7". He also featured on Roll Deep's number-one singles 'Good Times' and 'Green Light'. He has a distinctive flow.^[7] Also known as Scratchy Demus.
• Flowdan (Marc Veira) – One of the founder members of Roll Deep from 2002. Features on many Roll Deep tracks like 'Celebrate', 'Heat Up' & 'Club 7' Has a deep voice and speaks in patois, although the accent is not as strong as Riko's.^[7]
• Breeze (Ibrahim Ali) – One of the founder member's of Roll Deep from 2002. Older brother of fellow Roll Deep member Brazen. He featured on Roll Deep's number-one single's 'Good Times' and 'Green Light'. Known for witty lyrics and distinctive style.^[7][7]
• Brazen (Ardom Ali) – Member of Roll Deep from 2004, and younger brother of Breeze. He featured on Roll Deep's number-one singles 'Good Times' and 'Green Light'. Known for his aggressive voice on the mic.^[7]
• Manga (Matthew Reid) – Member of Roll Deep from 2004. Featured on Roll Deep tracks "When I'm 'Ere" & "Do Me Wrong".^[7][7] Has a speedy, jumpy flow. Now going by the name Manga Saint Hilare.
• Riko (Zane Williams) - Member of Roll Deep from 2004. Well known for his distinctive and sometimes very aggressive style of rapping in Patois. Took a back seat from the crew in early 2010 to concentrate on his solo career, though he has stated on Twitter he will never leave Roll Deep. More commonly known as Riko Dan.
• DJ Target (Darren Joseph) – Long-time member of Roll Deep from 2002. Main Producer and DJ of Roll Deep. Made the instrumentals for many Roll Deep tracks.^[7] Since gone on to host his own BBC Radio 1Xtra show.
• DJ Karnage - Long-time member of Roll Deep from 2002. He is the cousin of former member Trim, and Roll Deep's main DJ. A former Roll Deep MC.^[7]
• J2K (Jason Black) – Member of Roll Deep from 2008, although he did feature on track "Good Girl" on their 2005 album "In At The Deep End". At the age of 22, he has featured on many Roll Deep tracks, including number-one single 'Green Light'.^[7]
• Tania Foster - Member of Roll Deep from 2011. Before joining, she was featured on the group's number-one single 'Green Light.^[9]

Past members

• Dizzee Rascal – Joined Roll Deep when asked to provide the hook for the track "Bounce" in 2002, but left Roll Deep in 2003 after the Ayia Napa stabbing incident. Featured on tracks "Bounce", "U Were Always", "Roll Deep Regular" and "Eskimo Vocal". He is now one of the most well-known grime artists in the UK, with five number-ones.
• Tinchy Stryder – Early affiliate/possible member of Roll Deep from 2002, but left to work with his own grime crew Ruff Sqwad and focus on his solo career. He featured on Roll Deep's 2004 mixtape Creeper Vol. 2 and performed on some songs including "U Were Always" in 2002, which was released years later on Roll Deep's compilations album Street Anthems in 2009. Has since recorded many top 40 hits including two number-ones.
• Biggie Pitbull - Also known as Pitbull T, he was an early member of Roll Deep from 2002. He featured on tracks 'Bounce' as well as 'Poltergeist Relay' and other songs. Had an angry voice. He is Wiley's cousin. Left the group in 2004.
• Wonder - Early member of Roll Deep from 2002. Wonder was a producer for the group, but he left in 2004. He now no longer produces grime.
• Jamakabi – Early member of Roll Deep from 2002, he featured on many tracks like 'Terrible', 'Roll Deep Regular' & 'Bounce'. He left the group in 2004, after a disagreement with Wiley.
• Bubbles - Early member of Roll Deep from 2002, but left the group in 2004. He featured on the song 'Bounce' amongst others. Released a solo mixtape in 2008.
• DJ Bionics - Early member of Roll Deep from 2002. Bionics was one of the DJ's for the group, but left in 2004 to DJ in support of his cousin Kano.
• Jet Le - Early member of Roll Deep from 2002. He featured on albums In At The Deep End and Rules and Regulations. Had a verse on 'Celebrate'. Left the group in 2006.
• Trim – Member of Roll Deep from 2004, featured on tracks 'Heat Up' and 'When I'm 'Ere'. Has an off-kilter, poetic flow. He left the group in 2006, after a disagreement with Flowdan. Also known as Trimbal.
• Roachee – Member of Roll Deep from 2004, joined the group the same time as his cousin Trim. Featured on 'When I'm Here'. He left the group in 2006, as he was sent to prison.
• DJ Maximum - Member of Roll Deep from 2004. Maximum was one of the DJ's for the group, but left in 2006 to focus on other grime crew Boy Better Know.
• Skepta - Member of Roll Deep from 2006, but left in 2007 to concentrate on his own grime crew Boy Better Know and his solo career. Skepta appeared on Roll Deep's album Rules and Regulations and featured on the hit 'Celebrate'. Has since recorded many top 40 hits. In September 2016 he beat the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead and The 1975 to win the Mercury Prize. He won the £25,000 award for self-released album Konnichiwa, which covers topics including police harassment and his anger at British politics.
• Jammer - Member of Roll Deep from 2006, joined the group the same time as Skepta. Appeared on Roll Deep's album Rules and Regulations and featured on tracks 'Ride or Die Chick' and 'Bring Ur Crew Then'. Left the group in 2007 to focus on other grime crew Boy Better Know.
• Danny Weed - Long-time member of Roll Deep from 2002. He was a producer for the group, but left in 2010.
• Killa P – Member of Roll Deep from 2006, and the cousin of Roll Deep member Flow Dan. Killa P's flow is like Riko's, he MC's in patois. Featured on the track "Club 7". Left the group in 2010.
• Little Dee – Member of Roll Deep from 2008. He featured on one Roll Deep track 'Give Up', but left the group in 2008 on good terms to pursue his own solo career. Currently a member of OGz alongside P Money.
• Syer Bars - Member of Roll Deep briefly around 2004. Also a member of the Dagenham-based O.T. Crew.

Discography

Studio albums

• 2005: In at the Deep End
• 2007: Rules and Regulations
• 2008: Return of the Big Money Sound
• 2010: Winner Stays On
• 2012: X

Compilation album

• 2009: Street Anthems

Timeline

2002–2003

The Original and First line up of Roll Deep:

• Wiley
• Dizzee Rascal
• Tinchy Stryder
• Scratchy
• Flow Dan
• Breeze
• DJ Target
• DJ Karnage
• Danny Weed
• Jet Le
• Biggie Pitbull
• Dom P
• Wonder
• Jamakabi
• Bubbles
• DJ Bionics

2004–2005

Second line up of the group:

Once Dizzee Rascal, Tinchy Stryder, Biggie Pitbull, Dom P, Wonder, Jamakabi, Bubbles & DJ Bionics left the group, Wiley brought in 7 new members for their 2005 album "In At The Deep End".

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Flow Dan
• Breeze
• DJ Target
• DJ Karnage
• Danny Weed
• Jet Le
• Brazen - Joined the group in 2004
• Manga - Joined the group in 2004
• Riko - Joined the group in 2004
• Trim - Joined the group in 2004
• Roachee - Joined the group in 2004
• DJ Maximum - Joined the group in 2004
• Syer Bars - Joined the group in 2004

2006–2007

Third line up of the group:

Once Jet Le, Trim, Roachee, DJ Maximum & Syer Bars left the group, Wiley brought in 3 new members for their 2007 album "Rules and Regulations".

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Flow Dan
• Breeze
• DJ Target
• DJ Karnage
• Danny Weed
• Brazen
• Manga
• Riko
• Killa P - Joined the group in 2006
• Skepta - Joined the group in 2006
• Jammer- Joined the group in 2006

2008–2010

Fourth line up of the group:

Once Skepta & Jammer left the group, Wiley brought in 2 new members for their 2008 album "Return of the Big Money Sound".

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Flow Dan
• Breeze
• DJ Target
• DJ Karnage
• Danny Weed
• Brazen
• Manga
• Riko
• Killa P
• J2K - Joined the group in 2008
• Little Dee - Joined the group in 2008

2010–2012

Fifth and final line up of the group:

Once Danny Weed, Killa P & Little Dee left the group, Wiley replaced them with female R&B singer Tania Foster.

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Flow Dan
• Breeze
• DJ Target
• DJ Karnage
• Brazen
• Manga
• Riko
• J2K
• Tania Foster - Joined the group in 2011

References

External links

• Roll Deep – official site
• Roll Deep discography at Discogs
• Roll Deep on GrimePedia
• Music Video masterclass with Mo filming Roll Deep on BBC Blast
• UK Grime Group Roll Deep Scores UK No. 1 by Billboard