"You know the latest X Men where we see the world's first ever mutant? He's like that for MCs. The first one." Henry Lewis caught up with the 'Live + Direct' MC to talk about grime's Godfather.

Last updated: 27th Mar 2017

Originally published: 21st Mar 2017

Image: Ben Walsh Photography

There is no doubting Wiley's position as the Godfather of grime. When you consider the success the genre is currently experiencing it's perhaps easy to forget where it was born from. One Richard Cowie Jnr began composing beats on his home computer in the early 2000s, thus creating a cold, new sound that took influence from garage but was slower and more menacing. Dubbed 'Eskibeat', the genre Wiley was creating churned out early instrumentals with names such as 'Snowman', 'Blizzard', 'Frostbite' and anything else that reflected the sparse coldness of the sound.

As well as building the musical foundations of grime, Wiley then went on to be a svengali within the genre, encouraging and nurturing new MCs through Eskimo Dance shows where groups of rappers would take their turn to spit their bars before passing to the next. One grime MC who felt that buzz and is a proven product of Wiley's stewardship is P Money, who spoke to Henry Lewis about the Godfather's lasting legacy ahead of Eskimo Dance's first arena show at the SSE Arena, London on Saturday 8th April.

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What makes Wiley the Godfather of grime?

Have you seen 'The Godfather' films? If not, watch them and then you'll see why we call him that. Grime is like one big family and he put everyone on. 

Can you talk in detail about your early experiences with Wiley, what was it like meeting him for the first time?

He was just bless, and told me I was sick. He knew things I didn't expect. Our crew wasn't big when I met him but he knew about us. He recorded with Little Dee a lot. I respected him for bringing in one of my closest friends.

When you MCin frontont of him for the first time, were you eager to impress him?

He invited Little Dee to come out at a show. It was in 93 Feet East on Brick Lane. I was with Little Dee so I Mc'd too. I was grateful for the opportunity but wouldn't say I was trying to impress him. I was just trying to get a reload. (laughs)

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He released a track about you in 2015 - what has he said to you about the track? 

I saw him at an Eskimo Dance and he just told me he really rates me. Also he mentioned he had a track. He said he referenced me and that was all. I was surprised when I heard it man. Again, I'm extremely grateful, you always wonder if you're good or not and that for me helped in many ways mentally.

What makes Wiley such a good MC?

His style is like no other. You know the latest X Men where we see the world's first ever mutant? He's like that for MCs. The first one. He showed us singalongs, songs, freestyles, war, girl tracks - he's been showing us a blueprint without even knowing. 

What is your biggest on stage highlight with Wiley?

Probably Redbull Culture Clash. So many Elite MCs came to represent for him. 

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You worked with Wiley on ‘Gunfingers’, what’s the story behind that track?

Skepta showed me the beat and idea while we were in Napa, Wiley had heard the beat and wanted it too but I got it. A few months later we were in the same studio and he asked me what I had done so I showed him. He liked it and wanted to be on it so I sent it and got a verse back in no time. I showed JME after and I swear he sent a verse back like next day or something mad like that.

You’re on the bill for Eskimo Dance in April - firstly how excited are you to be involved in its first ever Arena show? Do you think grime is getting to the stage where it can compete with say, rock gigs, where fans fill massive arenas to watch MCs?

I've done arenas before but it's exciting to see others be able to do it too and to do it with them. I used to do big festivals and arenas as the only grime MC so it was kind of lonely at times. When there's a load of you together it's sick man. There are so many familiar faces and we're all secretly fans of each other so it's always sick to watch certain MCs perform.

How important has Eskimo Dance been to the development of grime?

Every scene needs a major event. Every MC needs a goal or a show they should aim to be at. Eskimo Dance is one of them. It's secretly a battle ground. You train doing smaller shows and radio, then you get to see if your training has paid off on the big stage alongside other MCs who are there to do the same as you. 

Finally, what you have got on at the moment musically, any big projects in the pipeline?

I started a music label, Mandem Worldwide, releasing my own stuff on there as well as producer's projects. The first release off Mandem Worldwide, Like Dem Man is out on Sunday 26th March and will be the first time I release something alongside my alter ego, Hyde. There's a video for that too. I got M.O.E. 3, the last one of the series, coming this year and then I'll have my second album.