Roll Deep

Roll Deep
Roll Deep performing at the Love Music Hate Racism Festival in Barnsley
Background information
Origin	Bow, London, England
Genres	Grime & Hip Hop
Years active	2002–present
Labels	Virgin Records Relentless Records Roll Deep Recordings
Associated acts	Jodie Connor Alesha Dixon Tania Foster Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. MNDR Boy Better Know
Website	www.rolldeepofficial.com
Members
Wiley Tania Foster Flow Dan Scratchy Breeze DJ Karnage Brazen Manga Target J2K Skat D
Past members
Tinchy Stryder Dom P DJ Bionics Dizzee Rascal Jamakabi Wonder Biggie Pitbull Jet Le Bubbles Trim Syer Bars Roachee Killa P Little Dee Skepta Danny Weed Riko

Roll Deep are an Urban Music Awards-winning London-based grime music collective. They were founded in 2002, by a group of MCs including Wiley. Roll Deep were also closely associated with Boy Better Know with members in both. Their debut album, In at the Deep End, was released in June 2005. Four singles were released from the album: "Heat Up", "The Avenue", "When I'm 'Ere" and "Shake A Leg". Roll Deep Recordings is their own record label, which they use to distribute their mixtapes.

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 U.K and even US, 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 November 7 2010. Roll Deep have confirmed via Twitter that they are working on a follow up album to their latest release.

Career

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. 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.

Roll Deep have appeared on BBC 1Xtra on numerous occasions. Members that appeared on the show include Wiley, Flow Dan, Breeze, Riko, Scratchy and Manga.

Current members

• Wiley – The leader of the crew/group. Helped, form the crew and has featured on many Roll Deep songs. Achieved his first number 1 with the crew in 2010 on the song 'Good Times and Green Light. Wiley has announced via Twitter that he is still a member of Roll Deep and always will be but won't feature on the album released in 2012 in order for the rest of the crew to shine

• Breeze – Older brother of fellow Roll Deep member Brazen. Known for witty lyrics and distinctive style. One of the founder members of Roll Deep. Featured on the number 1 Roll Deep single 'Good Times and Green Light.

• Brazen – Younger brother of Breeze. Known for his aggressive voice on the mic. Featured on the number 1 Roll Deep single 'Good Times and Green Light.

• Flow Dan – A founder of Roll Deep. Features on many of their songs including the single 'Celebrate', 'Heat Up' & Club 7 just to name a few. Has a deep voice and speaks in patois – although the accent is not as strong as Riko's.

• Scratchy – Original founder member of Roll Deep. Featured on many Roll Deep Tracks like "When I'm 'Ere", "Badman" & "Club 7" just to name a few, he also featured on Roll Deep's first number 1 single 'Good Times'and Green Light, and has distinctive flow.

• J2K – Been a member since 2008 at the age of 22 and has featured on many Roll Deep tracks(Like Green Light) since.

• Manga – Picked to join the crew by Wiley. Has a speedy, jumpy flow, and featured on Roll Deep's "When I'm 'Ere" & "Do Me Wrong".

• Target – Producer and long-time member of Roll Deep. Made the instrumental for Riko's "Chosen One" amongst many others.

• DJ Karnage - Roll Deep's DJ. Cousin of Trim, a former Roll Deep MC.

• Tania Foster - Roll Deep's newest member, joined in late 2011. Before joining she was featured on their #1 single Green Light.

Past members

• Dizzee Rascal – Early member of Roll Deep from 2002, and most well-known grime artist with many top 40 hits including 5 number 1 hits. Left Roll Deep before the release of album 'Showtime'.

• Tinchy Stryder – Early member of Roll Deep from 2002, and featured on Roll Deep's 2004 mixtape, Creeper Vol. 2. Performed some songs including "U Were Always" in 2002, which was released years later on Roll Deep's compilations album, Street Anthems in 2009. Back then he had a high pitched voice. Has since recorded number 1 hits like "Number 1" and "Never Leave You", along with many top 40 hits.

• Trim – Early member Join 2004, featured on 'Heat Up' and 'When I'm 'Ere'. Has a deep gritty flow. Left Roll Deep in 2006 because of a disagreement with Flow Dan.

• Roachee – Early Member join 2004, Roachee joined roll deep with his cousin Trim, Featured on 'When I'm Here', Left Roll Deep while in jail in 2006 he as gone solo like his cousin Trim.

• Syer Bars – Joined Roll Deep in 2004 after leaving O.T Crew, but left Roll Deep in 2004 after having a disagreement with Trim. Syer didn't feature on any Roll Deep tunes. He has a deep, gritty, Cockney, slow-paced flow.

• Jamakabi – Joined Roll Deep in 2002, Featured on the tracks 'Terrible', 'Roll Deep Regular' & 'Bounce' left Roll Deep after a disagreement with Wiley in 2004.

• Little Dee – Join in 2008. Has featured on one Roll Deep track, 'Give Up' but left in 2008 on good terms to pursue his own solo career.

• Killa P – Been a member since 2006. He's the cousin of Flow Dan. Killa P's flow is like Riko's – he MCs in patois. Featured on "Club 7". (Not yet confirmed if he's left Roll Deep yet)

• Riko - Joined Roll Deep before the album In At The Deep End. Featured on songs including 'Stampers', 'Flame Grilled Whopper' and 'Roll Deep Rally'. Left around 2010 to concentrate on his solo career.

• Danny Weed - A producer and founding member of Roll Deep, Danny Weed drifted from Roll Deep around the same time as Riko. However, Breeze has claimed that he is still associated with the crew.

• Skepta - Appeared on Roll Deep's album Rules and Regulations. Featured on the hit 'Celebrate'. Has since gone on to achieve nationwide recognition. Manga however confirmed that Skepta is still associated with Roll Deep.

• Biggie Pitbull - Also known as Pitbull T. He was an early member of Roll Deep and featured on 'Bounce' as well as 'Poltergeist Relay' and other songs. Had an angry voice. He was Wiley's cousin.

• Wonder - A former member of Roll Deep. Wonder was a producer, although nowadays he no longer produces grime.

• DJ Maximum - A former Roll Deep DJ and now a member of Boy Better Know.

• DJ Bionics - A former Roll Deep DJ who left to DJ in support of his cousin Kano.

• Dom P - Former member who was the brother of Danny Weed. He did not MC; instead he was a singer. He featured of the song 'They Should Know'.

• Jet Le - A long-time member of the crew who featured on In At The Deep End and Rules and Regulations. Had a verse on 'Celebrate'.

• Bubbles - Another early member of Roll Deep. He featured on the song 'Bounce' amongst others. In 2008 he released a solo mixtape on Roll Deep Recordings even though he hadn't been heard for a long time.

Discography

Main article: Roll Deep discography

• In at the Deep End (2005)
• Rules and Regulations (2007)
• Return of the Big Money Sound (2008)
• Street Anthems (2009)
• Winner Stays On (2010)
• TBA (2012) (April)

Mixtapes

• Creeper Volume 1
• "Creeper Volume 2"
• Roll Deep Presents Grimey Vol 1 (2006)
• "Say No More (2010)

First Album Line Up

These are the Roll Deep members that either were producing or MCing on the In at the Deep End album in 2005;

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Breeze
• Roachee
• Flow Dan
• Trim
• Jet Le
• Manga
• Target
• Danny Weed

Second Album Line Up

These are the Roll Deep members that either were producing or MCing on the Rules and Regulations album in 2007;

• Wiley
• Skepta
• Scratchy
• Breeze
• Flow Dan
• Jet Le
• Trim
• Manga
• Riko
• Killa P
• Danny Weed
• Target

Third Album Line Up

These are the Roll Deep members that either were producing or MCing on the Return of the Big Money Sound album 2008;

• Wiley
• Skepta
• Scratchy
• Breeze
• Brazen
• Flow Dan
• Manga
• Riko
• Killa P
• J2K
• Little Dee
• Danny Weed
• Target

Greatest Hits Line Up

These are the Past and Present Roll Deep members that either were producing or MCing on the Street Anthems album 2009;

Present Members

• Wiley
• Skepta
• Scratchy
• Breeze
• Brazen
• Flow Dan
• Manga
• Riko
• J2K
• Danny Weed
• Target

Ex Members

• Dizzee Rascal
• Tinchy Stryder
• Trim
• Roachee
• Jet Le
• Bubbles
• Biggie Pitbull
• Jamakabi

Fourth Album Line Up

These are the Roll Deep members that either were producing or MCing on the Winner Stays On album 2010;

• Wiley
• Scratchy
• Breeze
• Brazen
• Flow Dan
• Manga
• J2K
• Dave
• Danny Weed
• Target

Featured Guests

• Jodie Connor
• Tania Foster
• Alesha Dixon
• Eva Simons
• Bakyu

External links

• Official website
• Music Video masterclass with Mo filming Roll Deep – BBC Blast
• Roll Deep on GrimePedia
• UK Grime Group Roll Deep Scores U.K. No. 1 by Billboard