Group Bio

Combining ten sixteen year old lads from East London, Blazin’ Squad first debut Single Crossroads is brimming with raw energy and urban vibes and is about to storm the charts, but don’t be fooled Blazin’ Squad are not your average group.

How Blazin Squad came together

The Blazin’ Squad story began three years ago in ten teenage bedrooms across North London, Genuinely inspired by pirate radio stations and the hot new sounds coming from the underground, schoolmates MC Freek, Melo-D, Strider, Reepa, Krazy, Spike-E, Flava, Rocky B, Kenzie and DJ Tommy B got together and started mixing up some havoc on their own. They are now experimenting with everything – RnB, Hip Hop and Pop,

Currently happening

Right now Blazin’ Squad are sharing their time between revising for their GCSE’s (awaiting results on Thursday 22nd August) and recording their debut album. Their first signal is a cover of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony hit. DJ Tommy B heard the track on MTV and took it to the boys.

Video Destination and Locations used in the video

They recorded their video in South Africa. The video involves a Go-Karting, Helicopters hovering, a broken bridge and on top of a skyscraper.

Music Influences

Their influences come from bands like Eminem, Heartless Crew, and DMX to stand-out pop acts like Sugababes, Blue and Usher, Blazin Squad are ready to transcend any obvious lyrical and musical expectations. “We mix all styles of music,” says Krazy, Some of our songs are about us, others are just proper love songs. We rap about almost everything from superheroes to bank robbers.

How did the group meet?

Unlike many manufactured pop bands that dominate the charts, they met years ago on the grounds of Highams Park School in North London. Before Blazin’ Squad was formed there were two crews Blazin’ Squad and the Incredible Crew. They joined forces in 2000 to become Blazin Squad. A friend of the band worked in a Recording Studio for Work Experience and invited them to hang out with the two producers Taps and Terry, They were then asked to put together a demo and that is where it all began.

Recording music

The group recorded the pumping anthem “Standard Flow” and released it on Blazin’ Squad’s very own label Weighty Plates. Word got around and Dream Team and EZ started playing our tunes and now it’s on a couple of dance compilations. Track was found by eastwest record label and they received a record deal.

 

Blazin' Squad!-Extract From J-17

Eminem has a lot to answer for. If it wasn't for him, a gang of 16-year old school friends from North London may have never found the inspiration to write a lyric or mix a record.

The lads, who are all in the same year at school, first got into MCing and DJing a few years ago when they used to hang out at eachothers houses. But it was when their mate landed work experience at a recording studio that things really kicked off. "He encouraged us to come to the studio and record a song" explains Reepa. That track ,Standard Flow, went to number three in the underground charts and before the guys left school, they had a recording contract.

But although their mates at school were all impressed , not everyone was so enthusiastic. "Some of the teachers would give us a hard time and if we were naughty they would be like 'Your not famous yet, you know," grins Spike-e, the cheekest of the bunch. As a result, if the guys make it big with their single Crossroads , there are gonna be a few teachers who've had the smiles wiped off their faces!

Although it is easy to compare the squad to So Solid, there are a few differences."We aint a garage group or an R&B group or a hip-hop group. We mix everything like no-one else. Were totally different ,"Rocky B explains. MC Freek agrees. "So Solid can chat about guns and stuff, but we can't because we aint been brought up like that and were not old enough either", he laughs.

With one DJ(Tommy), the rest of the lads are all MCs and write their own individual rhymes.And their lyrics are inspired by all kinds of situations. "When I was revising for my GCSE's it was a nightmare, i would lose track of revision and start writing lyrics," says Spike-e. "And i always think of lyrics when im walking down the street too. I just tap them into my mobile."

So would the band like the female attention their hero Eminem gets? "When i see all those girls screaming at bands on TV, I just cant imagion it happening to us" admits Reepa. But as Flava says "A year ago, i never imagioned we'd be doing photo shoots for J17 either. I thought we were all gonna end up becoming plumbers."