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Blazin' Squad
Biography
Self-proclaimed pioneers of "chav" culture, ten-piece pop/rap act Blazin' Squad scored an impressive six consecutive Top 10 hits in just two years. Members, Flava, Plat'num, Strider, Freek, Krazy, Tommy-B, Melo-D, Spike-E, Reepa, Kenzie all met at Higham Park School in Chingford, London where they bonded over a love of hip-hop. After recording a demo, "Standard Flow," at a nearby studio for just £200, the group released it to various pirate radio stations under their own label Weighty Plates. Attracting the attention of EastWest Records, they were promptly signed and in 2002, just weeks after completing their GCSEs, they released their debut single, "Crossroads". A re-working of the 1996 Bone, Thugs N' Harmony classic, it became an instant hit with the Smash Hits' audience, a staple of music video channels' playlists, and reached #1 in its first week. Despite its success, the group's image and hip-hop-lite sound were a constant source of derision for the media, and in reference to S Club 7's spin-off group, they were labelled the So Solid Crew Juniors. This unflattering tag didn't deter their increasing fanbase, with follow-up "Love On The Line" reaching #6 and debut album In The Beginning achieving gold status despite a lowly #33 position.
Selected Discography