Wiley: The Godfather of Grime on Fame, Cancellation, Beef & the Truth About the Industry
In this rare, unfiltered 2+ hour interview, Wiley — widely known as the Godfather of Grime — tells his full story from growing up in Bow, East London, to becoming one of the most influential figures in UK music. He breaks down how jungle, garage, pirate radio, youth clubs, PAYG, and Roll Deep shaped grime, why no one person “started” the genre, and the evolution of his signature sound. Wiley speaks openly about fame, money, scrutiny, clashes, relationships with Dizzee Rascal, Skepta, Stormzy, Kano, Chip, Devlin, being cancelled, media influence, accountability, AI, and the future of grime. This is grime history, legacy, truth, and reflection — uncut and direct from the godfather himself!

0:00 title
2:14 welcome Wiley / why are you here?
3:56 why do you not show up?
6:16 born & raised
7:10 school / being outside / beef
9:29 siblings / Roll Deep / youth clubs
10:30 musical influences / music in school
12:02 looking up to American rap / lyric writing
13:48 I wanted to be famous until I got there
15:10 famous people can’t be human / respected
16:21 Bonnie Blue / fame equals scrutiny
17:38 Jungle / meeting Slimzee / Wiley name
19:34 jungle → garage / starting PAYG
21:04 record deal / money / MC style
21:56 where I went wrong in school
22:35 were garage MCs lyrical?
24:08 PAYG / I made Know Wee
24:38 meeting Dizzee Rascal / new sound
25:51 Know Wee flies / Maxwell D made 100k
27:01 Wiley flow was different / Dizzee
28:40 is “Oi” a grime song? / Bushkin’s view
30:09 did So Solid start grime?
30:40 Bushkin said he’s the father of grime
31:11 PAYG vs HLC clash / why no clash?
33:30 crew roles / why PAYG ended
34:35 helping Dizzee Rascal get signed
36:07 “Oi” / what do you call it? / making own scene
37:46 grime legacy / humans are hypocrites
38:52 Wot Do You Call It video / regret lyrics
39:35 where the name “grime” came from
40:33 one man didn’t start grime / evolution
41:23 grime clashes begin / what is a moot?
42:00 Lethal B clash / being a target
42:47 helping others / uniting the scene
45:38 Dizzee Rascal & Ayia Napa fallout
47:55 moving on without Dizzee
48:37 Dizzee almost performed at Eskimo Dance
49:44 people blocking Wiley & Dizzee unity
50:21 on stage with Dizzee / can unity happen?
52:12 current music plan / independence
53:11 handling fame vs being outside
55:01 Kano clash / Lord of the Mics
55:45 lyrical intellect /best grime MCs / Devlin
56:42 mainstream success / Rolex
58:20 face scar / why Wiley didn’t show up
59:02 mainstream money / spending / sharing
1:01:46 juggling crews & solo career
1:02:46 bringing through Chipmunk & Ice Kid
1:03:35 why Chipmunk blew & not Ice Kid
1:04:20 unhappy with grime’s direction / Twitter
1:06:51 I don’t feel British
1:07:17 issue with Ed Sheeran
1:09:25 issue with Drake
1:15:37 issue with Stormzy
1:22:57 moving to Cyprus / rest period
1:24:09 public issue with former manager
1:26:07 being “cancelled”
1:27:23 psychological effects of cancellation
1:28:36 making others stand with you
1:29:35 learning & growing & rebuilding
1:30:49 streets & business are the same
1:32:44 tarnishing artists / Pow banned
1:34:01 Kanye / Diddy / selective outrage
1:37:30 family impact / can’t lose
1:39:18 raised without hate / no religion
1:40:35 taking accountability
1:41:11 too real for industry & interviews?
1:43:14 relieved to be cancelled? / growing up
1:43:52 I’m not dumb / don’t make me say it
1:45:35 food talk / comeback for grime legacy
1:47:12 is grime yours? / Crash Bandicoot
1:48:25 being the “Godfather” / people decide
1:49:09 getting & losing the MBE
1:51:26 media is the devil
1:54:50 why do this interview?
1:55:47 not afraid of media / scandal sells
1:58:52 should Ginga Jay be cancelled?
2:04:29 should Pen Game have sacked Ginga Jay?
2:07:03 self-control / healing
2:09:03 media tricks / self-hatred
2:11:26 I’m back to keep grime alive
2:12:15 thoughts on drill
2:13:24 grime is NOT 140 BPM / millionaires
2:14:30 Skepta starting UK vs USA rap beef
2:15:33 Skepta vs Joyner Lucas
2:18:09 can Wiley fix grime beefs?
2:20:11 Chip taking leadership
2:21:01 singles vs albums / scene control
2:23:14 younger generation / Eskimo Dance
2:24:00 not invited to Big Smoke Festival
2:25:11 Stormzy at Glastonbury / rapper vs grime
2:27:05 AI questions / grime birth / anthem
2:30:09 foundation / beat Stormzy / corruption
2:32:06 Rolex / gangsters / Lethal B fees
2:35:00 ungrateful / current grime king
2:35:55 grime vs drill / Central Cee
2:39:00 Boasty / Idris Elba / no video
2:41:30 Stormzy is nang / Chip problem
2:43:06 AI is good / leaving / flowers
2:45:37 quick fire Q's / flowers / thank you