Blazin' Squad

Blazin' Squad are a British rap and pop group from Chingford, United Kingdom, active from 2002 to 2006. The group forms around a ten-member line-up, with members including Joe Williams, Lee Bailey, Stuart Baker, Tom Beasley, Sam Foulkes, Freek, Kenzie, Marcel Somerville, Chris McKeckney, James Murray, Mustafa Omer, Chris Tulloh and James Mackenzie. The members grow up in Highams Park, Walthamstow, East London, and attend Highams Park School.

Early releases and label deals

The group makes its first recording, Standard Flow, with the production team TNT Xplosive, led by Terry Mcleod and Tapps Bandawe. They sign a recording and production deal with TNT Xplosive on the independent label Xplosive Records, which then licenses them to EastWest/Warner Music. Standard Flow first circulates on pirate radio through the Weighty Plates label and features dancehall artist Elephant Man.

Breakthrough singles

Blazin' Squad break through with Crossroads, a reworking of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's Tha Crossroads. The group writes its own verses and uses its own version of the chorus. The single goes straight to number one in the UK Singles Chart in August 2002 and is followed by a run of six consecutive UK top 10 hits.

Their debut album, In The Beginning, is certified gold in the UK and produces two more UK top 10 singles: Love On The Line, which reaches number six, and the double A-side Reminisce/Where The Story Ends, which reaches number eight in February 2003.

Second album and later chart success

In 2003, the group has further UK top five singles with We Just Be Dreamin', which reaches number three in July, and Flip Reverse, which reaches number two in November. Flip Reverse is used to relaunch BBC's Top Of The Pops, with a performance filmed outside Television Centre and backed by around 100 hooded dancers.

Their second album, Now or Never, does not reach the UK Top 40 album chart. A live recording from a Liverpool concert is released for Christmas 2003, but does not revive sales. A follow-up single, Here 4 One, reaches number six in the UK in early 2004. The group also completes a sold-out 21-date UK tour in 2003, managed by promoter Aaron Hill.

Criticism, split and related project

Blazin' Squad receive criticism in the British media, which does not take their rap skills seriously and often frames them as appealing mainly to a younger audience. They are also associated by some critics with chav culture.

After Kenzie appears on Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother in 2005 and finishes second, the original group splits shortly afterwards. Kenzie, James and Mus form Friday Hill, a more pop-oriented act. Friday Hill release the singles Baby Goodbye, which reaches number five, and One More Night Alone, which reaches number 13, as well as the album Times Like These, which does not chart.

Blazin' Squad briefly return to the UK charts in October 2006 as a four-piece with All Night Long, which reaches number 54, before the group ends again.