Wiley, also known as Eskiboy (real name Richard Kylea Cowie, born 19 Januar… Read Full Bio ↴Wiley, also known as Eskiboy (real name Richard Kylea Cowie, born 19 January 1979) is a Grime MC and producer from Bow E3, East London. Wiley has created his own musical genre, which he calls "Eski", and which is largely associated with the Grime genre. "Eskimo", from which the genre takes its name, is probably the best known Eski track. Originally performing under the title "Wiley Kat" (adopted from the Thundercats cartoon), he has now shortened his stage to "Wiley" and is rarely referred to as "Wiley Kat".

Wiley is known as 'the godfather of grime', since it is widely regarded he is a pioneering influence in the grime scene, and he is also notable for his exceptional work-rate, having five projects lined up for 2008 alone. Wiley has been one of the biggest artists in the history of the genre, releasing three albums and having been signed to XL Recordings and now to Big Dada Recordings, on which he has recently released his third album "Playtime Is Over". Wiley founded Eskibeat Recordings in 2007. This is not a crew but is a record label which consists of MC's such as Chipmunk, Little Dee and ice kid.

In 2008, Wiley found mainstream success with his hit single 'Wearing My Rolex'.

Wiley first started producing in 1996, working in various genres, notable Jungle and Garage. Wiley first became well known in the East London underground garage scene during the late 1990s, when he was a member of the Pay As You Go Cartel, who had some limited UK chart success. He also co-produced "Nicole's Groove" as Phaze One, and appeared on several tracks by other artists. He made numerous vinyl releases, often driving around London himself selling to record shops. One of these, "Eskimo", was a huge success on the underground scene, reputedly selling in the thousands, where most other artists within the scene could only sell 500-1000 copies of their tracks. He regularly appeared on East London pirate radio stations playing grime tracks, which helped increase his profile. He still does underground events, like Lord Of The Mics 1 , Eskimo Dance, and also does Sidewinder but with his group Roll Deep, which he left Pay As You Go Cartel to create.

Slippin'
Wiley Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was slippin' in southwest London
No strap, no 'chete on my ones with the gash
I had to splurt from southwest London
Wrong place, wrong time no you can't have a stripe

[Listen, yo]

I'm real the people know

I go places where you don't go
You can find me in the hood murkin' a show
It's all normal, I'm up for making the dough
And if you wanna rob me don't be an amateur
'Cause if I get away I'll be back in a mo
Tell me to convert if you wanna
'Cause I swear the only answer you will hear is no
I will return to my country one day
but only when I've got enough dough
I won't get cozy here in England
I'm goin' back to Trinidad and Tobago
Listen, if I was you I wouldn't watch my dough
'cause I would never let two pound go
And I won't stay around so you can get stripes
You'll see me again and I'll be on my own

I was slippin' in southwest London
No strap, no 'chete on my ones with the gash
I had to splurt from southwest London
Wrong place, wrong time no you cant have a stripe

I'm from the jungle I won't get lost
I make the flow cold just like Jack Frost
And I'm the wrong person, you should never cross me
Takin' my life that comes at a cost
I don't stand in your face and floss
I'm easy, I wear a Casio watch
I'm sorry you lost your wifey
She still looks strong with chung lip gloss
Still actin' innocent when you're guilty
Me I'm still makin' the beats and they're filthy
Warin' MC's everyday, I'm guilty
For the street wars I'm built, they wanna kill me
I react quick though, face any challenger
New to this racket like Slazenger
Don't wanna manger
Back in the day I was a scavenger
Street kid Roman Road back to Latimer

I was slippin' in southwest London
No strap, no 'chete, on my ones with the gash
I had to splurt from southwest London
Wrong place, wrong time no you can't have a stripe

I was slippin' in southwest London
No strap, no 'chete on my ones with the gash
I had to splurt from southwest London
Wrong place, wrong time no you can't have a stripe

Listen, you wanna know a bit about about fallin' off?
I couldn't tell you cause I've never fallin' off
There's the bridge, all you've got to do is walk across
I'm a wizard my talent's got no cost

You ain't a boss like Wiley
There goes Kylie
Still havin beef today like I'm 19
I know it's my fault quietly, I'm too safe
so when you see me in the streets walk past me
If you've got a question don't ask me
I've never left the hood
You won't outlast me
As for those who want to bad mouth me,
you know revenge is sweet like candy
Girls make boys turn stupid
Don't be angry just be even, try to understand me
Cause settin' me up is no good
I could have my eyes closed and I can still see
And you ain't got one over me
Naw, I won't let you run over me
Pull a gun out at me, crews come out from me
I must be someone you all wanna be

I'm a baller from east,
never had a day of peace where I didn't want to sort out beef
You think that I don't want to get you back, you're wrong, man
Mental state is still street
But I'll just wait 'till the day I wake up,
come to your house and show you ‘bout beef
As I kid I had a knife in a sheaf on a mountain bike shottin weed
No I ain't a chief

I was slippin' in southwest London
No strap, no 'chete on my ones with the gash

I had to splurt from southwest London
Wrong place, wrong time, no you can't have a stripe

Overall Meaning

In the song "Slippin'" by Wiley, the artist reflects on a past incident in southwest London where he found himself in a vulnerable position. He emphasizes that he didn't have any protection or backup, referring to a strap (gun) or a machete. Despite being alone and in a precarious situation, he managed to escape from the wrong place at the wrong time without getting harmed. Wiley's lyrics suggest that he has street knowledge and experience, as he navigates through dangerous situations. He asserts his realness and the recognition he receives from the people who know him, indicating that he goes to places most people wouldn't venture. He also acknowledges his talent in murking (delivering a great performance) in his neighborhood while remaining focused on making money.

Wiley expresses his determination to return to his homeland of Trinidad and Tobago once he has accumulated enough wealth. He rejects the idea of getting comfortable in England and is resolute about maintaining his independence and privacy. He warns others not to underestimate his capability to protect his earnings, asserting that he wouldn't let go of even a small amount like two pounds. Wiley's confidence shines through as he declares that he will return alone to the scene, representing his individuality and self-reliance.

Throughout the song, Wiley emphasizes his resilience and readiness to face any challengers. He compares his craft in making beats to the slazenger racket, emphasizing his expertise. Reflecting on his upbringing in the streets, Wiley mentions Roman Road and Latimer - areas associated with his early life. He highlights his consistency in the music industry, implying that he has never fallen off or lost his success. Wiley also touches on the dynamics of relationships and the potential consequences of betraying him, asserting that revenge is inevitable and cautioning against underestimating him.

In summary, "Slippin'" by Wiley delves into the artist's experiences in southwest London, emphasizing his street knowledge and resilience. The lyrics showcase Wiley's confidence, determination, and ability to navigate through dangerous circumstances, all while remaining focused on his goals.

Line by Line Meaning

I was slippin' in southwest London
I found myself in a vulnerable situation in southwest London

No strap, no 'chete on my ones with the gash
I had no weapon or protection, alone with my romantic partner

I had to splurt from southwest London
I had to escape from southwest London abruptly

Wrong place, wrong time no you can't have a stripe
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you cannot gain prestige or reputation

I'm real the people know
I am authentic and genuine, recognized by the public

I go places where you don't go
I frequent locations that are exclusive and inaccessible to you

You can find me in the hood murkin' a show
You can see me in the neighborhood, delivering an impressive performance

It's all normal, I'm up for making the dough
It's all usual for me, I'm focused on making money

And if you wanna rob me don't be an amateur
If you intend to rob me, don't be inexperienced or unskilled

'Cause if I get away I'll be back in a mo
Because if I manage to escape, I'll return very soon

Tell me to convert if you wanna
If you want, you can suggest that I change my ways

'Cause I swear the only answer you will hear is no
But I promise, the only response you will receive is a refusal

I will return to my country one day
Eventually, I will go back to my home country

but only when I've got enough dough
But only once I have accumulated sufficient wealth

I won't get cozy here in England
I won't settle down comfortably here in England

I'm goin' back to Trinidad and Tobago
I'm planning to return to Trinidad and Tobago

Listen, if I was you I wouldn't watch my dough
Listen, if I were in your position, I wouldn't keep an eye on my money

'Cause I would never let two pound go
Because I would never let go of even two pounds of my money

And I won't stay around so you can get stripes
And I won't stick around so you can gain respect or recognition

You'll see me again and I'll be on my own
You will encounter me again, but I will be alone

I'm from the jungle I won't get lost
I come from a challenging environment, I won't lose myself

I make the flow cold just like Jack Frost
I have the ability to make my rap style intense and impactful

And I'm the wrong person, you should never cross me
And I am the type of person you should never provoke or antagonize

Takin' my life that comes at a cost
Attempting to harm me will come with severe consequences

I don't stand in your face and floss
I don't boast or show off in your presence

I'm easy, I wear a Casio watch
I am laid-back, wearing a inexpensive Casio watch

I'm sorry you lost your wifey
I apologize that you lost your girlfriend

She still looks strong with chung lip gloss
Despite that, she still appears confident with her shiny lip gloss

Still actin' innocent when you're guilty
You are still pretending to be innocent when you are actually guilty

Me I'm still makin' the beats and they're filthy
As for me, I am still producing powerful and intense beats

Warin' MC's everyday, I'm guilty
Engaging in battles with other MCs on a daily basis, I am responsible

For the street wars I'm built, they wanna kill me
I am prepared and strong for the conflicts in the streets, others want to harm me

I react quick though, face any challenger
However, I respond swiftly, ready to confront any opponent

New to this racket like Slazenger
Relatively new to this industry like a Slazenger racket

Don't wanna manger
I don't want drama or conflict

Back in the day I was a scavenger
In the past, I had to scavenge or search for opportunities

Street kid Roman Road back to Latimer
Growing up as a street kid, from Roman Road to Latimer

Listen, you wanna know a bit about about fallin' off?
Listen, if you want to understand what it's like to lose success or status

I couldn't tell you cause I've never fallin' off
I can't provide that insight because I have never experienced that decline

There's the bridge, all you've got to do is walk across
There's an opportunity for you to overcome that challenge, you just have to take it

I'm a wizard my talent's got no cost
I possess exceptional talent that is invaluable

You ain't a boss like Wiley
You are not a leader or influential figure like Wiley

There goes Kylie
Referring to Kylie, possibly as someone inferior or unimportant

Still havin beef today like I'm 19
Continuing to engage in conflicts or disputes as if I were 19 years old

I know it's my fault quietly, I'm too safe
Deep down, I acknowledge that it is my own fault, but I prioritize my safety

So when you see me in the streets walk past me
Therefore, if you encounter me in the streets, it's best to ignore me and keep walking

If you've got a question don't ask me
If you have any questions, don't bother asking me

I've never left the hood
I have never departed from the neighborhood

You won't outlast me
You won't surpass or outlive me

As for those who want to bad mouth me,
Regarding those who wish to speak poorly of me

you know revenge is sweet like candy
They should be aware that revenge can be satisfying, akin to sweet candy

Girls make boys turn stupid
Girls have the power to make boys behave foolishly

Don't be angry just be even, try to understand me
Rather than being angry, just seek balance and attempt to comprehend me

Cause settin' me up is no good
Because attempting to deceive or betray me will result in negative consequences

I could have my eyes closed and I can still see
I am perceptive and aware, even with my eyes closed

And you ain't got one over me
And you haven't gained any advantage or tricked me

Naw, I won't let you run over me
No, I won't allow you to manipulate or overpower me

Pull a gun out at me, crews come out from me
If you threaten me with a gun, my supporters will emerge to defend me

I must be someone you all wanna be
I must be someone that all of you aspire to become

I'm a baller from east
I am a successful individual from the eastern part of the city

Never had a day of peace where I didn't want to sort out beef
I have never had a calm day where I didn't desire to resolve conflicts

You think that I don't want to get you back, you're wrong, man
You may think that I have no desire for revenge, but you're mistaken

Mental state is still street
My mindset is still influenced by the street environment

But I'll just wait 'till the day I wake up, come to your house and show you 'bout beef
But I'll patiently wait until one day I become aware of your location and confront you about our conflict

As I kid I had a knife in a sheaf on a mountain bike shottin weed
When I was a child, I carried a knife concealed in a sheath while riding a mountain bike, selling marijuana

No, I ain't a chief
No, I am not the leader or authority figure

I was slippin' in southwest London
I found myself in a vulnerable situation in southwest London

No strap, no 'chete, on my ones with the gash
I had no weapon or protection, alone with my romantic partner

I had to splurt from southwest London
I had to escape from southwest London abruptly

Wrong place, wrong time, no you can't have a stripe
Being in the wrong place at the wrong time, you cannot gain prestige or reputation

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