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By Vaishali Desai

Upon hearing SLK’s ‘Hype Hype’, I’m pretty sure you didn’t have the slightest clue about what the emcees were saying in the song, but the rhythm just kept your head bopping, right? How do I know? That’s exactly how I felt. As time goes on, the grimy beat catches on and so do the lyrics. Now, when you hear it at clubs you’re probably shouting out, “You know my flow’s too tight/ Don’t promote that…/ I wouldn’t approach that!” and “Hype Hype aaaggghhh!” If that’s the case this contagious rhythm has definitely had an impact on you!

Believe it or not, SLK, also known as ‘So Low Key’, are taking the UK by storm, with clubs from coast to coast blazing their single ‘Hype Hype’. North London’s finest consists of Flirta D, Van Damage, Wunda Kid, Swarvo, Ribz, Lady Envi and others. Although all of the artists have individually been in the scene for 10 years, they are fresh talent to the Ministry of Sound/Smoove Records.

SLK’s debut single, ‘Hype Hype’ was released in early March, and the group had high hopes of it going straight in at number one: “Everyone wishes that,” jokes Lady Envi. The video was shot in Ibiza to give it a club feel. Flirta tells us, “We just want to bring the good vibes back into the club, like the good times we’ve had.” The song didn’t make that number one spot, but with Sticky on the production and remixes by Lethal B and DJ Wonder, it still debuted at the respectable No.22 place.

The underground anthem has had its video on Channel U and is play listed on MTV Base and Kiss, quickly becoming a most requested track on these channels. Coming straight out of the urban underground scene, the rather silent Van Damage lets us know, “We’ve been working on pirate radio stations ever since we were young so this is a huge break through in our careers.” Envi told how she used to teach boys from a nearby school how to emcee: “They were always into battling each other, everyone wanted to be the best.” So, having that support from stations such as Heat FM and Xtreme FM to name a few, the single is not the only thing looking to make it big this year.

They all claim to bring in something unique or different to the whole urban scene, almost like their musical influences do. “I look up to Slum Village and Petey Pablo”, says Flirta. “I get my influences from artists such as Kelis and Andre 3000 as they are completely different but in the same game as everyone else,” explains Envi, and Damage tells us, “I get my influences from Styles P, 50 Cent and Game; they’re all doing big things.”

Raised in North West London and knowing music is a huge part of the younger generation these days, they seem to find a lot of tension between emcees in the game. “It’s all unnecessary,” explains Envi. “It’s like we can’t get along and work together, everyone just wants to have beef.” She continues, “If everyone supports each other, the grime scene could be just as successful in America.” Surprisingly, Flirta didn’t have anything to say on this matter, (not even about rival Kano). Of course, they didn’t fail to mention the artists they admire from London such as Lemar, Estelle and Dizzee Rascal. “We would love to work with them,” Flirta tells us. “Especially Lemar,” Envi giggles. Damage backs her up, “He’s merking the scene!”

Coming from the underground themselves, SLK know how to spot good talent, and they are keen to help promote upcoming emcees Younga SLK and Skrapsta. The rather talkative Envi rounded off the interview by saying, “Hopefully, in 10 years time I’ll be in another country, with my house, chilling up with a partner and that’s it!” Laughing, the boys agreed.

Look out for an album from SLK due to hit stores soon. “We’ve been working on an album and we already have a few tracks,” says Flirta. Let’s hope they continue to bring us that “Hype Hype aaaagggh!”