Wiley ()

Key player in U.K. grime , Wiley is often referred to as the Godfather of the genre. His particular style”Eski” or “Eskibeat” marked the move from UK Garage that once dominated the London Underground to a new, MC-led style that first dominated pirate radio and later took the UK by storm. Producer and MC Wiley came up as a member of Pay as U Go Cartel, and was later a founding member of Roll Deep Crew. Much of his most crucial early work as a producer came out as white-label vinyl releases and free downloads. His notoriety sprung from his underground activity, his sidewinder or early rinse sets with Slimzee, his lyrical clashes on air with other artists, his MC lucidity and his legendary output, there is no argument to the fact that he as been the longstanding figure-head of the Grime culture. Over the years his consistent work rate has grown him a huge and varied back catalogue, dabbling with releases on independent and major record labels alike and running a stylistic gauntlet from underground to pop. No matter what musical direction he’s travelled production-wise, Wiley is in his very essence, a living legend and an ongoing inspiration within the scene.