Biography
Self-proclaimed pioneers of "chav" culture, the ten-piece pop/rap act Blazin' Squad amassed six consecutive Top Ten hits across a span of just two years. The members Flava, Plat'num, Strider, Freek, Krazy, Tommy-B, Melo-D, Spike-E, Reepa, and Kenzie first connected at Higham Park School in Chingford, London, united by a shared passion for hip-hop. After cutting the demo "Standard Flow" at a local studio for a mere £200, the collective issued it through their independent imprint Weighty Plates to an array of pirate radio outlets. EastWest Records took notice and offered a contract; in 2002, mere weeks after finishing their GCSEs, the group dropped its debut single "Crossroads." A reinterpretation of the 1996 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony classic, the track swiftly captivated the Smash Hits readership, rotated heavily on music-video networks, and debuted at number one. Even so, the ensemble's visual style and hip-hop-lite aesthetic drew persistent media scorn, prompting comparisons that branded them the "So Solid Crew Juniors" in reference to the S Club 7 offshoot. The slight failed to slow their momentum: the follow-up "Love on the Line" peaked at number six, while the debut album In the Beginning earned gold certification despite landing at number 33. The double A-side "When the Story Ends"/"Reminisce" became their third Top Ten entry at number eight; after completing a sell-out 21-date tour, the members turned to fresh recordings. In 2003 the lead single "We Just Be Dreamin'" climbed to number three, and "Flip Reverse," widely regarded as their strongest release, advanced one spot further to number two, preceding the second album Now or Never. Like its predecessor, the LP failed to match the singles' performance and settled at number 37; when "All 4 One" reached number five yet stirred little renewed interest, the remainder of 2004 passed without further activity. Kenzie, the group's most visible member, joined the revived Channel 4 reality series Celebrity Big Brother in 2005 and surprised observers by finishing runner-up to Happy Mondays' dancer Bez. Shortly after the program concluded the collective disbanded, and by year's end Kenzie, James Murray (Flava), and Mus Omer (Strider) had launched Friday Hill. Blazin' Squad resurfaced in October 2006 with only four original members; their comeback single "All Night Long" fell outside the Top 40, resulting in their release from the label. Several members are said to be pursuing solo projects, while unconfirmed reports of a reunion tour have appeared on the act's MySpace page.
Albums
Singles
