Blazin' Squad
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Blazin' Squad is a 10-piece UK band. As 9 of them MC, they each chose themselves an MC name and the other chose a DJ name:
- MC Spike-E - Real name Sam Foulkes - Chosen because he has spikey hair.
- MC Reepa - Real name Stuart Baker - Chosen because he liked the sound of it.
- MC Strider - Real name Mustafa Omer - Chosen because he is a fast runner.
- MC Krazy - Real name Lee Bailey - Chosen because he has mad moments.
- MC Freek - Real name Oliver Georgiou - Chosen because his favourite pirate station is Freek FM.
- MC Melo-D - Real name Chris McKeckney - Chosen because he liked the sound of it.
- MC Kenzie - Real name James McKenzie - Chosen by splitting his surname.
- MC Plat'num - Real name Marcel Sommerville - Chosen because he liked it (originally was Rocky-B because he liked rocky movies).
- MC Flava - Real name James Murray - Chosen because he likes different flavours of music.
- DJ Tommy-B - Real name Tom Beasley - Chosen by using his name.
History
All of the 10 lads grew up in Chingford, London and attended Highams Park school. They all made friends there. When the other kids were walking the streets at night Blazin' Squad were mixing tracks on their decks, writing lyrics, MCing and listening to pirate radio stations.
When work experience was going on, one of their friends was at a recording studio. He told Blazin' Squad that they could go along and make a demo there for £200 so they all paid £20 each towards making their own demo which was called "Standard Flow". This demo was released on pirate radio stations under their own record label "Weighty Plates".
After EastWest Records heard this song on the radio, they decided to give them a proper record deal. DJ Tommy-B chose to cover a song called "Crossroads", which was originally recorded by Bone Thugs and Harmony, which had not been released in the UK but was sucessful in America.
They used the chorus of the original song and wrote their own MC verses. They then released it as their first single once they left school at the ages of 16. Crossroads went straight into the UK Charts at the number one spot and, since then, Blazin' Squad have become a big success.
Music
Blazin' Squad's music comes under the genres Urban, Rap and Pop.
They have released so far six singles which in order were:
- Crossroads
- Love On The Line
- Reminisce/Where The Story Ends
- We Just Be Dreamin
- Flip Reverse
- Here 4 One
All of the singles entered the top 10 in the UK chart and two of which reached the top 5. They have made two albums so far. Their first was called "In the Beginning". This album contained their first three singles and also their track "Standard Flow" which got them their record deal in the first place.
Their most recent album "Now or Never" was released at the end of 2003. This album was much better than the first because they had grown up more and had become more experienced. It contains their two top 5 hits "We Just Be Dreamin'", "Flip Reverse" and their latest single "Here 4 One".
Blazin' Squad have performed two UK tours (summer 2003 and spring 2004).
External links
- Blazin' Squad Official Site (http://www.blazinsquad.com/)