 North west collective, SLK are joining the garage top rank with their debut single, “Hype Hype”, recently snapped up by new Ministry of Sound record label, Smoove. Having debuted in last weeks National Singles Chart at 22, it's looking good, but it’s not been clear sailing for non-east based MC’s, DJ’s and producers…
Geographical politics within music aren’t unusual, garage proving no exception. A couple of years ago the scene was dominated by a south London crew, So Solid, and Battersea property prices decreased (probably). But east were fighting back hard. Bow E3 and the surrounding postcodes became synonomous with the new skool, grime. Already signed to major record label deals there’s being Dizzee, Wiley, Kano, Roll Deep, Goodz, Lethal B… Don’t be fooled though, all corners of London are for sale – and representing.
“Where we’re not from east we’ve definitely been treated differently” laughs SLK’s female spitter Lady Envi. But with a twelve strong-and-counting gang of man on the streets, SLK are of the new breed of UK street artists that fully recognise the importance of having an underground stronghold. And they have the determination to retain it, regardless of location.
Frontman Flirta D elaborates “SLK haven’t really put a lot out on vinyl but we’ve been getting on stuff with other people. We’ve been a unit for about a decade and there’s been lots of tunes made, I’ve made enough for three or four albums, but this is the first crossover tracks we’ve made. We do the lot R&B, hip hop, garage…”
“We’re the real UK hip hop, what they’re doing in America is what we’re doing here,” adds Van Damage. “I don’t like to say grime, it sounds nasty. Grime is a culture more than anything cause there’s so many different sounds within it. That culture is about the streets, the hustle…”
That big break into crossing over into the more lucrative mainstream turf is so often a case of time and place. With the aid and inspiration of a beat from ex-Social Circles, producer Sticky (Ms Dynamite, Stush, Tubby T), Flirta D, Van Damage, Lady Envi and Wunder Kid were able to capture a moment.
“When we heard the beat we knew what we had to do, I’m a hook man, hook man Flirta, and it fitted straight away. We wanted to bring something different to the scene, flip the script, get away from the agression and get that old skool garage vibe back. We used to love raving back in the day because of that.”
Garnering interest across the country, “Hype Hype” has already been playlisted on MTV Base, Channel U, Choice FM, the 1Xtra A List and having been the longest running no. 1 in the 1Xtra garage chart, SLK look set to follow Lethal B’s success breaking the Top 40. A DJ Wonder (Dizzee Rascal) remix, catering for the darkside and featuring Lethal is seeing the buzz front warm up nicely too.
But there’ll be no sitting back with a second hit single necessary. While various members work the roads with mixtapes and pirate radio murkage, the red studio light looks set to remain on for those fit enough for the booth.
“And you know I’m next in there…” Flirta winks as he exits the building.
SLK ‘Hype Hype’ is out now on Smoove/Ministry of Sound
[url]www.ministryofsound.com[/url]
[b][u]SLK – THE FACTS[/b][/u]
- Flirta D’s trademark is that he’s a humn noise specialist, contorting his vocals and flows. Previous names include Danger D and Dread MC but he had so many girls on him he became known as Flirts.
- SLK stands for whatever you want it to stand for. Options include Solo Lady Killers, So Low Key and Super Lean Cowboys.
- Wunda Kid appeared on Deekline’s Beats, Breaks and Blondes album out last year.
- SLK can be seen spitting bars on the Practise Hours DVD, out now.
- Van Damage was formerly known as Adam B.
- Other SLK members are DJ’s Vectra, Pistol, Mondi and MC’s Swarvo, BMD, Skrapstar, Tinstar, Lil G, Ribs, Shiesty Too.
- Lady Envi’s didn’t like her lyrics on the remix and asked for them to be taken off. Her favourite colour is pink.
[b][u]IT’S A UK THING…[/b][/u]
SLK aren’t the only crew not from east London to be busting a move… Tense investigates
[b]Essentials[/b]
Having caused a stir in 2004, the Paperchase Recordings gang, hailing from south London are one of this years hotly tipped. With talent including producer DaVinChe (Kano), DJ/producer Bossman, MC’s K Dot, Rema D and singer-of-singers Katie Pearl it’s not a joke.
[b]Macabre Unit[/b]
They may come from Bedford but that’s not stopping Macabre Unit. Occassionally heard on Rinse FM, they focus on running MK43, their producers having licked out big road tracks including Shooting Stars and Showtime for leading labels like Dumpvalve.
[b]Venon Crew[/b]
Friends of north London producer Hindzy D, Venom Crew’s Orange can currently be seen doing his rendition of Shrapnel, the super-catchy “I’m Mad” on Channel U. With more releases to follow from V Empire and on Sting Recordings, keep your eyes peeled.
[b]Midlandz Mafia[/b]
Regulars on Sidewinder tape packs and at all things Sidewinder and True, the 10-strong Midlands Mafia continue to reign supreme in the um, Midlands. Grime Ville Vol. 1 is out now.
[b]N Double A[/b]
No one seems sure whether south Londons N Double A are still active as a group or not, but their reported final U18’s Top Boy rave takes place in Feb. With a keen interest in history and social issues, friend of Lady Sovereign, L Man, is definitely one to be listening for in the future – solo or otherwise.
[b]WW Dot (Wild West Distinctive Original Talent)[/b]
Also representing the Midlands WW Dot have been working the pirate circuit for sometime. Responsible for the Wild West mixtape featuring the hottest up north talent, members such as Smokey are working on albums.
*A version of this article appeared in Tense Magazine, 2005.*
[b]Words By: Chantelle Fiddy[/b]
[b]Photography By: Mark Okoh[/b]
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