WILEY

Wiley, or to give him his real name, Richard Kylea Cowie Jr, MBE, is an English grime MC, rapper, songwriter, DJ and record producer born January 19, 1979 in Bow, East London. Wiley is pretty much the Godfather of Grime and is a pioneer of British rap. Wiley got his first taste of chart fame in 2001 as part the UK garage crew Pay As U Go, and their song Champagne Dance. Wiley had soon invented his own crew Roll Deep, featuring members such as future chart stars Dizzee Rascal, Tinchy Stryder, Skepta and JME and popularising the then-emergent grime sound. Wiley was also producing his own instrumental tracks under the name Wiley Kat around this time, and would also release mixtapes under the name Eskiboy. Wiley was also soon tasting chart success with a string of more commercial singles such as Wearing My Rolex and the 2012 Number 1 Heatwave, while steadily building his grime empire. Wiley was awarded the MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to Music, to go along with his NME Award Teenage Cancer Trust Outstanding Contribution to Music from 2017 and The Ivors Inspiration award at the 2019 Ivor Novello Awards. A true legend, he can often be found winding up and enjoying a beef with other artists on social media.