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Yes, you read that correctly: Ruff Sqwad are officially back!
Rumours of the East London grime collective reuniting for a new project began circulating last September when they headlined the TRENCH x Adidas Originals event on Oxford Street, Central London; the jam-packed affair also featured Boy Better Know’s Jme, Rinse FM stalwart DJ Slimzee, junglist SHERELLE, Travs Presents, and more.
Ruff Sqwad—which now consists of Slix, Prince Rapid and Dirty Danger, but formerly included Tinchy Stryder, Fuda Guy, Shifty Rydos, Mad Max and the late DJ Scholar—rose through grime’s ranks in the mid-2000s as some of the most innovative, forward-thinking producers and MCs the scene had ever seen; and now, almost two decades later, some would say that they are yet to be matched. From their iconic Guns N Roses mixtape series to their timeless White Label Classics compilation—even when they weren’t active, Ruff Sqwad’s star never dimmed, and now they make their long-awaited return with a new EP, and short film, titled Flee FM.
Artfully directed by long-time RS fan and fellow East Londoner Dumas Haddad, the Flee FM film takes us back to the exciting days of pirate radio sets (Avirex jackets and Nokia 3310s to boot), but its soundtrack couldn’t be more future-facing. “Flee FM is all about vibes, energy, authenticity and the essence of grime music, which, for years, has been one of the pillars of our scene,” Slix tells us. “We don’t often get our flowers so, for us, Flee FM helps stamp our greatness and contribution to the scene. Renaissance, growth—timeless.”
While Ruff Sqwad may not have released any new music for almost a decade, they have been working together as an arts foundation for quite some time, helping young people across London hone in on their passion for music and other creative fields. Those of us who were lucky enough to attend the Flee FM film premiere on March 8, at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch, got to hear how truly impactful RS have been in the lives of the youth on their program during the night’s Q&A section.
You should expect to see and hear more from the Ruff Sqwad mandem as 2024 unfolds, but for now, take in the Flee FM film up top and stream the EP after the jump.
