The Square (group)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Square
| image =
| landscape =
| alt = Square Set
| caption =
| origin = Lewisham, London, England
| genre = Grime
| instrument = Vocals (MC)
| years_active = 2012–present
| label = No Hats No Hoods Records
| current_members = Blakie
DeeJillz
Elf Kid
Faultsz
Lolingo
Streema
Deema
| past_members = Dee Cee
Grandmixxer
Hilts
Novelist
Syder Sides
| associated_acts = Novelist, YGG, MTP
}}
The Square is an English grime music crew from Lewisham, London. The group was founded by DeeJillz, Elf Kid, Lolingo and Novelist.
The group has since expanded with all members hailing from Lewisham and surrounding areas of South London. The crew is known for its youthfulness, adherence to an old school grime sound as well as for the distinct individual styles of its MCs.{{cite web |url=http://www.musiccrowns.org/urban-music-crown/square-next-generation-grime/ |title=THE SQUARE- NEXT GENERATION OF GRIME - Music Crowns | Unsigned Music | New Music & Songs |website=www.musiccrowns.org |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321110553/http://www.musiccrowns.org/urban-music-crown/square-next-generation-grime/ |archive-date=21 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dummymag.com/features/the-square-grime-interview/|title=The Square: just a bunch of scumbags from Lewisham|website=DummyMag.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-square-novelist-teenage-crew-future-of-grime/|title=Wiley is 35 Years Old. Novelist is 17. Meet Grime's Next Generation: The Square|first=Aimee|last=Cliff|website=Vice.com|date=November 16, 2014}}
History
The group originally consisted of four members who met at the age of 15, members included: DeeJillz, Elf Kid, Novelist and Lolingo.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0ncbBMH5tM?t=15m55s |title=Nomis /w Elf Kid and Streema [The Square] on Balamii |publisher=YouTube |date=2015-05-17 |accessdate=2020-05-21}}{{cite web|url=https://i-d.co/article/2-4-6-8-we-appreciate-the-square/|title=2, 4, 6, 8…. we appreciate the square!|first=Clare|last=Considine|website=I-d.vice.com|date=February 18, 2015}} The first collaborative material from Elf Kid, DeeJillz and Novelist was released in early 2012 and predates the name The Square.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYa6VDpGj2k |title=YouTube |publisher=YouTube |date= |accessdate=2020-05-21}} By early 2013 the group had expanded to include three further MCs, Syder Sides, Faultsz and Streema. In June 2013 a bootleg mixtape was released featuring the original seven members of the crew.{{cite web|url=https://www.grimeforum.com/threads/131121-Bootleg-mixtape-showcasing-some-of-the-best-upcoming-youngers-(Novelist-Deejillz-ect)|title=New Release: Bootleg mixtape showcasing some of the best upcoming youngers (Novelist/Deejillz/ect)|website=Grimeforum.com}} In late 2013 the crew began to make frequent pirate radio appearances alongside DJ Grandmixxer.{{cite web|url=https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/43v4mm/the-young-musicians-part-two|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116193402/https://i-d.vice.com/en_uk/article/43v4mm/the-young-musicians-part-two|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 January 2018|title=the young musicians: part two|website=I-d.vice.com|date=July 3, 2015}} Following on from this in late 2014 the crew officially released its first record,
In early 2015, Blakie, General Courts and Grandmixxer joined the crew. In 2015, the group received funding from PRS for Music to produce a debut album.{{cite web |url=http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Momentum-Music-Fund/Momentum-Artists/The-Square- |title=PRS for Music Foundation - the Square |website=www.prsformusicfoundation.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806010213/http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Momentum-Music-Fund/Momentum-Artists/The-Square- |archive-date=6 August 2015 |url-status=dead}} On 1 September 2015, Novelist left The Square to further his solo career.{{cite news|title=Novelist has left South London grime crew The Square: "Time to be myself"|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/novelist-has-left-the-square-time-to-be-myself/|access-date=1 September 2015|website=Noisey.vice.com|date=1 May 2015}} DeeCee and Hilts subsequently announced their departures from the group on 7 September and 27 September respectively.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/HiltsLDN/status/648221523250180096|title=I won't be working with The Square any longer as I'll be perusing my own career. Nothing but love to the Square man and their future.|website=Twitter.com|date=September 27, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ArtistDeeCee/status/640816779254734848|title=I've made the decision to leave The Square and go full solo. Regardless of anything i still got love for all The Square mandem|website=Twitter.com|date=September 7, 2015}} On 19 December Syder Sides left the group and Faultsz also subsequently announced his departure on Boxing Day.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Faultsz/status/680839525799718912|title=Mans no longer in the square|first=Man Said|last=F-nizz|website=Twitter.com|date=December 26, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/SyderSides/status/678255357144248321 |title=Sy on Twitter: "I have left the Square, as a group we agreed this is the best decision and I wish the whole crew the best of luck in the future n thas 100." |website=twitter.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305140053/https://twitter.com/SyderSides/status/678255357144248321 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=dead}} However Faultsz rejoined the crew in May 2016.
On 9 May 2016, grime documentist Simon Wheatley announced he had made a documentary about the crew called "Golden Boys" after Elf Kid and Lolingo's 2015 single "Golden Boy".{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2016/05/interview-simon-wheatley-the-square-golden-boys/|title=Interview: Photographer Simon Wheatley on The Square Documentary 'Golden Boys' and 'Don't Call Me Urban!'|website=Complex}} On 25 May 2016, Noisey premiered the first track from the crew's debut album "Defeat Us".{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/premiere-the-square-defeat-us/|title=Grime Crew The Square Are Back, and They Want You To Know You Can't "Defeat Us"|website=Vice.com|date=May 25, 2016}}
Members
=Current members=
- DeeJillz – MC (2012–present)
- Elf Kid – MC (2012–present)
- Lolingo - DJ, producer (2012–present)
- Streema – MC, producer (2013–present)
- Blakie – MC, producer (2015–present)
- Faultsz – MC (2013–2015, 2016–present)
- Deema – MC (2016–present)
=Past members=
- Novelist – MC, producer (2012–2015)
- Grandmixxer – DJ, Producer (2014–2015)
- Dee Cee – MC (2014–2015)
- Hilts (also known as Murkilla) – MC, producer (2014–2015)
- Syder Sides – MC (2013–2015)
Discography
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Pengaleng
|
|
| scope="row"| Lewisham McDeez
|
|
| scope="row"| Defeat Us
|
|
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| The Formula
|
|
=Bootlegs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Introducing: The Square
|
|
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://nohatsnohoods.com/artists/square/ The Square's profile on No Hats No Hoods]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Square, The}}