Wiley

Richard Kylea Cowie Jr, MBE (born 19 January 1979), better known by his stage name Wiley, is an English grime artist and record producer from London. 
He started his career as a member of UK garage group Pay As U Go. Working solo he produced several influential beats, including some of the first grime beats. Wiley soon became one of the first grime MCs to achieve mainstream success, earning the name Godfather of Grime. In 2018 Wiley was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). 
== Career ==
=== 1996-2003: Early Career ===
Wiley began his career on pirate radio stations and Drum and Bass stations, joining UK garage group The Ladies Hit Squad in 2000. After achieving some success they joined with rival group Pay As U Go to form a garage super crew, eventually achieving a top 20 hit. After the group disbanded, Wiley formed another group, Roll Deep, which included Dizzee Rascal. Together they moved away from UK garage to form a new sound that would eventually become grime. From 2001, Wiley began producing instrumentals through his own record label, Wiley Kat Recordings, gaining a solo deal with XL Recordings.
=== 2004-07: Treddin' on Thin Ice, Da 2nd Phaze and Playtime Is Over ===
In 2004, Wiley released his debut album Treddin' on Thin Ice drawing comparisons with former labelmate Dizzee Rascal who had achieved success the previous year with Boy in Da Corner. At this time Wiley termed the new genre 'Eski' and released under the name Eskiboy. In 2006 he released his second album Da 2nd Phase through Boy Better Know. In 2007 he released his third album Playtime Is Over.
=== 2008-09: Grime Wave, See Clear Now and Race Against Time ===
In 2008 Wiley received mainstream success with the song "Wearing My Rolex". The song caused unrest in the grime scene as it moved towards a more radio friendly sound despite Wiley stating he would never change his sound to receive mainstream success. However, in the same month Wiley released Grime Wave which was a more traditional grime sound. In October 2008 he released See Clear Now which included "Wearing My Rolex" and was a much more mainstream friendly album. Wiley has since disowned the album, claiming he was angry at his label for changing his sound. This caused him to leave his label and become independent where he released Race Against Time, having more control over his artistic direction.
=== 2010-11: Zip Files, iTunes Offload and 100% Publishing ===
In 2010 Wiley released 11 Zip files on Twitter containing 200 tracks of old and unreleased music. In 2011 he released Offload Volume 1 on iTunes as well as an instrumental album Run The Riddim Selecta. In June 2011 he released the album 100% Publishing. The next month he released an independent EP Chill Out Zone.
=== 2012-13: Evolve or Be Extinct and The Ascent ===
In January 2012 he released the album Evolve or Be Extinct. He also began releasing grime freestyles for free on Twitter, eventually compiled into the mixtape It's All Fun and Games Till Vol. 1. In June he released the single "Heatwave" which charted at number 1 in the UK, his first to do so. In April 2013 he released the album The Ascent. 
=== 2014-Present: Snakes & Ladders and Godfather series ===
In November 2014 Wiley released his tenth studio album Snakes & Ladders, announcing it would be his last. However in 2016 he changed his mind, announcing the album Godfather which was released in January 2017 charting at number 9 in the UK, his highest. In April 2018 he released another album Godfather II. 
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
Title 	Album details	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions
Title 	Album details	UK 	UK
R&B
Treddin' on Thin Ice	
* Released: 26 April 2004
* Label: XL Recordings
* Formats: CD, digital download	45 	—
Da 2nd Phaze 	
* Released: 1 July 2006
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Formats: CD, digital download	— 	—
Playtime Is Over 	
* Released: 4 June 2007
* Label: Big Dada
* Formats: CD, digital download	71 	6
Grime Wave 	
* Released: 25 May 2008
* Label: Eskibeat Recordings
* Formats: CD, digital download	— 	—
See Clear Now 	
* Released: 10 November 2008
* Label: Asylum
* Formats: CD, digital download	139 	—
Race Against Time 	
* Released: 8 June 2009
* Label: Eskibeat Recordings
* Formats: CD, digital download	130 	—
100% Publishing 	
* Released: 20 June 2011
* Label: Big Dada
* Formats: CD, digital download	76 	10
Evolve or Be Extinct	
* Released: 19 January 2012
* Label: Big Dada
* Formats: CD, digital download	86 	11
The Ascent 	
* Released: 1 April 2013
* Label: Warner Music Group
* Formats: CD, digital download	26 	—
Snakes & Ladders 	
* Released: 3 November 2014
* Label: Big Dada
* Formats: CD, digital download	69 	4
Godfather 	
* Released: 13 January 2017
* Label: CTA Records
* Formats: CD, digital download	9 	1
Godfather II 	
* Released: 27 April 2018
* Label: CTA Records
* Formats: CD, digital download	58 	8
=== Extended plays ===
Title 	EP Details
Chill Out Zone	
* Released: 12 July 2011
* Label: Elusive Entertainment
* Formats: digital download
#8 	
* Released: 26 July 2015
* Label: Chasing the Art Records
* Formats: CD, digital download
=== Mixtapes ===
Title 	Mixtape details
Tunnel Vision Vol. 1 	
* Released: 2006
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision Vol. 2 	
* Released: 2006
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision Vol. 3 	
* Released: 2006
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision Vol. 4 	
* Released: 2007
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision Vol. 5 	
* Released: 2007
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision Vol. 6 	
* Released: 2008
* Label: Eskibeat Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
Umbrella Vol. 1 	
* Released: 1 February 2008
* Label: Eskibeat Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
The Elusive 	
* Released: 8 July 2010
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
Offload Vol. 1 	
* Released: 4 March 2011
* Label: A-List Music Ltd.
* Format: digital download
Creating a Buzz Vol. 1 	
* Released: 6 July 2011
* Hosted by: DJ Whoo Kid
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
It's All Fun and Games Till Vol. 1	
* Released: 21 May 2012
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
It's All Fun and Games Till Vol. 2	
* Released: 21 March 2013
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
Ya Dun Know Vol. 1 	
* Released: 6 March 2014
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
=== Instrumentals ===
Title 	Mixtape details
Avalanche Music 1 	
* Released: 31 March 2010
* Label: Avalanche Music
* Format: CD, digital download
Run the Riddim Selecta	
* Released: 9 March 2011
* Label: Elusive Entertainment
* Format: digital download
=== Miscellaneous ===
Title 	Mixtape details
Zip Files 01-11 	
* Released: 8 July 2010
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
The Grime Leaks 	
* Released: 20 December 2010
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
Twitter Mix 2011 	
* Released: 21 December 2011
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
Twitter Downloads 2012	
* Released: 27 May 2012
* Label: Self-released
* Format: digital download
=== With Roll Deep ===
Title 	Album & Mixtape Details
Creeper Vol. 1 	
* Released: 2004-2005
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: digital download
Creeper Vol. 2 	
* Released: 2004-2005
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: digital download
In at the Deep End 	
* Released: 6 June 2005
* Label: Relentless Records/ Virgin Records
* Format: CD, digital download
Roll Deep Presents Grimey Vol. 1	
* Released: 27 February 2006
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
Rules and Regulations 	
* Released: 26 March 2007
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
Return of the Big Money Sound 	
* Released: 6 September 2008
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
Street Anthems 	
* Released: 19 October 2009
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: CD, digital download
Say No More 	
* Released: 16 August 2010
* Label: Roll Deep Recordings
* Format: digital download
Winner Stays On 	
* Released: 8 November 2010
* Label: Relentless Records/Virgin Records
* Format: CD, digital download
=== With Boy Better Know ===
Title 	Album & Mixtape Details
Da 2nd Phaze 	
* Released: 1 July 2006
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, digital download
Tunnel Vision 1-5	
* Released: 2006-2008
* Label: Boy Better Know
* Format: CD, Digital download
=== Singles ===
Title 	Year	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Peak chart positions	Album
Title 	Year	UK 	UK
R&B 	UK
DAN 	UK
IND 	AUS 	DEN 	IRE 	SCO 	Album
"Wot Do U Call It?" 	2004	31 	— 	— 	2 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Treddin' on Thin Ice
"Pies" 	2004	45 	— 	— 	7 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Treddin' on Thin Ice
"50/50" 	2007	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Playtime Is Over
"My Mistakes"
(featuring Manga & Little Dee)	2007	76 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Playtime Is Over
"Wearing My Rolex" 	2008	2 	— 	1 	— 	— 	32 	31 	— 	See Clear Now
"Summertime" 	2008	45 	3 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	See Clear Now
"Cash in My Pocket"
(featuring Daniel Merriweather)	2008	18 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	See Clear Now
"Take That"
(featuring Chew Fu)	2009	20 	— 	— 	— 	– 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album singles
"Never Be Your Woman"
(featuring Emeli Sandé)	2010	8 	4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album singles
"Numbers in Action" 	2011	55 	— 	— 	27 	— 	— 	— 	— 	100% Publishing
"If I Could"
(featuring Ed Sheeran)	2011	43 	— 	— 	26 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Chill Out Zone
"Boom Blast" 	2012	103 	— 	— 	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Evolve or Be Extinct
"Heatwave"
(featuring Ms D)	2012	1 	— 	1 	— 	31 	— 	8 	1 	The Ascent
"Can You Hear Me? (Ayayaya)"
(featuring Skepta, JME & Ms D)	2012	3 	— 	1 	— 	— 	— 	26 	3 	The Ascent
"Reload"
(featuring Chip & Ms D)	2013	9 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	83 	10 	The Ascent
"Lights On"
(featuring Angel & Tinchy Stryder)	2013	9 	— 	3 	— 	— 	— 	47 	8 	The Ascent
"You Know the Words"	2014	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album single
"On a Level" 	2014	55 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Snakes & Ladders
"Chasing the Art" 	2015	88 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Non-album single
"Can't Go Wrong" 	2016	— 	— 	— 	10 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather
"Bring Them All / Holy Grime"
(featuring Devlin)	2016	— 	— 	— 	39 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather
"U Were Always, Pt. 2"
(featuring Skepta and Belly)	2016	— 	— 	— 	38 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather
"Speakerbox" 	2017	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather
"I Call the Shots"
(featuring Jme)	2017	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather 2
"Bar"
(featuring Scratchy and D Double E)	2017	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather 2
"Been a While" 	2018	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather 2
"Remember Me" 	2018	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	Godfather 2