Flow Dan started as a jungle MC in the late nineties before starting Roll Deep with Wiley. While at Roll Deep he has featured on all the main singles and featured on all three major CD releases: Rules & Regulations, In At The Deep End which has sold 85,000 copies to date and Return of The Big Money Sound. His first chart success came from the appearance on the UK Top 20 smash FWD Riddim.
Flow Dan is probably best known for his collaboration with The Bug on the albums London Zoo (2008) and Angels & Devils (2014) and various singles. In particular the track "Skeng" has become somewhat of an anthem in the Dubstep scene.
In 2009 he released the album Original Dan.
Flowdan tours regularly around the globe in countries such as Canada, Sweden, Belgium, France and Japan. Flow Dan also has consistently featured on mixtapes from other Grime artists including Wiley, Frisco, Killa P, Slew Dem, D Power & J2K. In recent times Flow Dan has formed his own collective Cemetery Warriors with Riko, Gods Gift, & Killa P which represents the four showcasing their skills in a Caribbean dialect.
EPs:
Big Mic Man (2002)
Sky Diver (2003)
Serious Business (2014)
Welcome to London
Flowdan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
That's how we function
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
That's how we function
That's how we function
Nobody donβ²t trust nobody
Welcome to London
Thatβ²s how we function
That's how we function
Nobody donβ²t trust nobody round here
What, welcome to London
So when I step to the high road
I see CCTV and cameras
They going hard for the riches and food juice
From the street vendors to the bankers
Boys in blue always looking for a problem
There's a price to pay when youβ²re a black man
There's the next one pressuring both sides
He donβ²t give a fuck, come cool in the blocks man
Yo
So welcome to London fam
Probably even got it in abundance fam
Some are homeless, some are reckless
You'll get fucked if you fuck up on a London gang
Watch thoroughly while they run up in your London grants
Put work in and mash up for ya London plants
Ya can't argue when they start charge you
Congestion thatβ²s another London scam
(Pre-Chorus)
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
That's how we function
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
Welcome to London
That's how we function
Thatβ²s how we function
Nobody don't trust nobody
Welcome to London
Thatβ²s how we function
That's how we function
Nobody don't trust nobody round here
What, welcome to London
Flex on dem slow, leave em suffering
On his name round ya see man coveting
We go hard but we know we been a likkle
But the ego donβ²t show where we struggling
Cold even through we got the tea pot bubblin
Youngas on the roadside they do the hustlin
So the street crimes always epidemic and the crook
Find the weed kill them without cop shuffling
Yo
So welcome to London fam
Black cabs, red busses and the white van man
Weβ²ve got oysters, they not just seafood
So the boy dem can follow and see you
24 hours every day my city don't sleep
You need Pβ²s in my city cause its not cheap
Top quality has never been a guarantee
We'll extort you, your friends and family
(Pre-Chorus)
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
That's how we function
Cold when itβ²s critical
Cool but cynical
Maxed out never minimal
Welcome to London
That's how we function
That's how we function
Nobody donβ²t trust nobody
Welcome to London
Thatβ²s how we function
That's how we function
Nobody donβ²t trust nobody round here
What, welcome to London
(Outro)
What the fuck do you mean next week?!
Are you mad?!
Come here listen, I've done the job, and I want my fucking money now
So fuck off
Find my money
Come back
Put it in me hand
And fuck off
Welcome to London young man
In Flowdan's song "Welcome to London," the artist describes the gritty reality of life in the city, particularly for those who are marginalized or disadvantaged. The song opens with an ominous and somewhat threatening tone, with the repeated refrain of "cold when it's critical, cool but cynical, maxed out never minimal." This sets the stage for the harsh realities of life in London, where distrust and suspicion seem to be the norm.
As the song continues, Flowdan describes the omnipresent surveillance in the city, as well as the desperation and resilience of those who live there. He notes that the police are always looking for trouble, particularly when it comes to black men, and that there are those who will "fuck you up" if you cross them. The chorus echoes this theme of distrust, with the repeated line "nobody don't trust nobody round here."
Overall, "Welcome to London" is a powerful commentary on the realities of life in a big city, particularly for those who are disadvantaged or marginalized. The song is a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding, and the need for greater support and resources for those who are struggling to survive in challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold when it's critical
We are not easily swayed, we remain aloof and distant when the situation demands it
Cool but cynical
We may seem detached, but we see through the facade presented to us
Maxed out never minimal
We always go above and beyond, never settling for the bare minimum
That's how we function
This is our modus operandi, this is how we operate
Welcome to London, Yo
You are now entering London, be prepared for our way of life
Nobody donβt trust nobody
No one can be fully trusted, everyone looks out for themselves
So when I step to the high road
As I walk down the main street
I see CCTV and cameras
Surveillance technology is prevalent in the area
Boys in blue always looking for a problem
Police officers are constantly on the lookout for issues, particularly for black men
There's a price to pay when youβre a black man
There are harsh consequences for being black in London
Watch thoroughly while they run up in your London grants
Be vigilant as people may try to take advantage of you and your property
Congestion that's another London scam
Traffic congestion is just another way London tries to get your money
Flex on dem slow, leave em suffering
We assert our dominance over those who are slower than us and leave them in pain
We go hard but we know we been a likkle
We may act tough, but we are aware of our limitations
Youngas on the roadside they do the hustlin
Young people sell illegal goods on the street
So the street crimes always epidemic and the crook
Street crime is rampant and the culprits are the criminals
Top quality has never been a guarantee
Just because something is expensive does not mean it is of good quality
We'll extort you, your friends and family
We are not above blackmailing and threatening those close to you to get what we want
What the fuck do you mean next week?!
Why are you delaying payment?
Are you mad?!
Are you insane?!
Come here listen, I've done the job, and I want my fucking money now
I require immediate payment for services rendered
Find my money
Locate the funds owed to me
Come back
Return to me
Put it in me hand
Place the money directly in my hand
And fuck off
Leave immediately
Welcome to London young man
This is what life is like in London, be prepared for anything
Writer(s): Marc Anthony Veira, Christopher Harle Reed
Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.