Wiley

  • London, England
    hometown
  • Electronic/Dance
    genre
  • 1999
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Wiley


Quite possibly the key U.K. grime player -- though he called his knotty, brittle style "eski" or "eskibeat" -- producer and MC Wiley (born Richard Cowie) was a member of Pay as U Go Cartel and was later a founding member of Roll Deep Crew. Though he released a pair of strong albums during the 2000s, Treddin' on Thin Ice (XL, 2004) and Playtime Is Over (Big Dada, 2007), much of his best work as a producer trickled out as white-label vinyl releases and free downloads. He made a controversial crossover move with his fifth album, See Clear Now; released on Asylum in 2008, it featured production input from Mark Ronson and Arthur Baker, among others, and the bouncy single "Wearing My Rolex" reached number two on the U.K. singles chart. In addition to being prolific as a producer and solo artist, Wiley continuously assisted the careers of producers and MCs younger than him, including onetime Roll Deep partner Dizzee Rascal. He set up the A-List label for the development of young talent, as well as Elusive Entertainment, where he issued 2011's Chill Out Zone. He would return to Big Dada for his second 2011 release, 100% Publishing, along with 2012's Evolve or Be Extinct, the album being released on his birthday. His 2013 album, The Ascent, found him on the Warner Music label and collaborating with the Asian-American hip-hop crew Far East Movement. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi

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Photos

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  • Wiley

News

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  • Wiley
    BET Awards 2013 Nominations: The Complete List
    MTV News
    May 14, 2013
    Drake grabs a leading 12 nods, while Chris Brown and R. Kelly are set to perform at June 30 awards show.
    Read More
  • Wiley
    BET Awards 2013 Nominations: The Complete List
    MTV News
    May 14, 2013
    Drake grabs a leading 12 nods, while Chris Brown and R. Kelly are set to perform at June 30 awards show.
    Read More
  • Wiley
    Wiley Releasing New LP, '100% Publishing,' July 4
    prefixmag.com
    be interesting to hear how all the tracks come together on here. 100% Publishingdrops July 4. The track list is below. 01 Information Age 02 100% Publ...
    Read More
  • Wiley
    Wiley to Release New Album on Big Dada
    www.pitchfork.com
    FACT reports that UK grime MC Wiley is set to release his latest album, 100% Publishing, July 4 via Big Dada. The fact that it's coming out on Big Dad...
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  • Wiley
    Wiley Previews New Album, '100% Publishing'
    prefixmag.com
    Could we be witnessing a resurgence of U.K.-based hip-hop in the U.S. in 2011? Perhaps, but onecouldargue that the Web has just made such continental ...
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  • Wiley
    Video: Wiley: "Numbers in Action"
    www.pitchfork.com
    A very clever Michel Gondry-esque video for UK rapper Wiley's new single "Numbers in Action" awaits after the jump, via FACT. Directing team Us helmed...
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  • Wiley
    Wiley Aims For #1 With Christmas Song | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet It's almost Christmas, y'all, and the one thing British rapper Wiley wants under his tree is a number one record. At least, that's what he's aim...
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  • Wiley
    News in Brief: The Smell, Wiley, Nada Surf, Bugged Out Weekender
    www.pitchfork.com
    -- L.A. all-ages venue the Smell is celebrating its 14th birthday with a weekend of performances January 6 and 7. Best Coast, No Age, Abe Vigoda, Luck...
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  • Wiley
    Wiley: 'Boom Blast' (Video) | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet Wiley's latest single off Evolve Or Be Extinct, his third project in about six month's time, is not one that will satisfy fans of his earlier da...
    Read More
  • Wiley
    Wiley Raps From An iPad In His New 'Evolve Or Be Extinct' Video | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet Wiley released one of the best videos of 2011 with the prop and visual trick-heavy "Numbers in Action." And today, the British hip-hop stalwart ...
    Read More
  • Wiley
    Listen: Wiley & J2K Remix Disclosure's 'Tenderly' | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    on a concoction of Rap, Garage and Dancehall influences. It's also one of the few genres that can mesh into other sounds and styles--successfully. Tha...
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Tour Dates

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  • May 24 Friday
    Londonderry, UK Ebrington Square
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  • Jun 9 Sunday
    London, UK Wembley Stadium
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  • Jun 26 Wednesday
    Shepton Mallet, UK Worthy Farm
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  • Jul 12 Friday
    Abersoch, UK Unknown venue
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  • Jul 26 Friday
    Stratford-upon-avon, UK Unknown venue
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  • Aug 23 Friday
    Leeds, UK Leeds Festival, Bramham Park
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  • Aug 23 Friday
    Reading, UK Richfield Avenue
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  • Aug 30 Friday
    Norwich, UK Unknown venue
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  • Sep 7 Saturday
    Birmingham, UK O2 Academy Birmingham
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  • Sep 8 Sunday
    Manchester, UK Club Academy
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  • Sep 10 Tuesday
    Leeds, UK O2 Academy Leeds
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  • Sep 13 Friday
    Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK O2 Academy Newcastle
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  • Sep 14 Saturday
    Nottingham, UK Rock City
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  • Sep 14 Saturday
    Nottingham, UK Rock City
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  • Sep 16 Monday
    Bournemouth, UK O2 Academy Bournemouth
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  • Sep 17 Tuesday
    London, UK O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
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Discography

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  • The Ascent (2013)
    Wiley
    The Ascent (2013)
    Warner Bros.
  • Evolve or Be Extinct (2012)
    Wiley
    Evolve or Be Extinct (2012)
    Redeye Music Distribution
  • 100% Publishing (2011)
    Wiley
    100% Publishing (2011)
    Big Dada
  • Chill Out Zone (2011)
    Wiley
    Chill Out Zone (2011)
    Elusive Entertainment
  • See Clear Now (2008)
    Wiley
    See Clear Now (2008)
    Atlantic UK
  • Grime Wave (2008)
    Wiley
    Grime Wave (2008)
    Neutone
  • Playtime Is Over (2007)
    Wiley
    Playtime Is Over (2007)
    Big Dada
  • Da 2nd Phaze (2006)
    Wiley
    Da 2nd Phaze (2006)
    Boy Better Know
  • Treddin' on Thin Ice (2004)
    Wiley
    Treddin' on Thin Ice (2004)
    XL Recordings/Beggars Group
  • It's Not Me It's You
    Wiley
    It's Not Me It's You
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