Emerging from the UK garage scene of the early Noughties, Wiley was a key figure in the East London music community as a member of the Pay As U Go Cartel and a founder of Roll Deep. Morphing the melodic, soulful hooks of UK garage with dance-hall rhythms and drum & bass beats, Wiley became a pirate radio station star and, alongside Dizzee Rascal, a pioneer of grime music. He described his debut album Treddin' On Thin Ice (2004) as "eskibeat" due to its cold-hearted feel, before being crowned King of Grime for his albums Playtime Is Over (2007), See Clear Now (2008) and Race Against Time (2009). Also working as a producer, he finally hit the mainstream with the crossover hit single Wearing My Rolex. In November that year, a convincing hoax BBC news report declared Wiley had been stabbed to death in Hackney. As the news spread, a helpful response on Wiley's Myspace blog reassured - "I AM NOT DEAD!"
Artist biography compiled by BDS/West 10. All rights reserved
