It is easy to forget the progress Niyi has made in the past six years. Shy and softly spoken, he isn’t your typical rapper. After dropping out of Central Saint Martin’s (twice), he started the seminal club Gauche Chic which The Sunday Times said kick started the "New Rave" dressing up craze.
The club was attended by the likes of Björk and Gareth Pugh. Carri Mundane (Cassette Playa) worked the door. In 2005 this was the club to dress up in and be seen at. The word regarding Niyi’s genre defying, tempo switching and generally odd style of djing quickly spread. Perfectly beat matching surf rock with hardcore-gabba, Niyi's anything goes approach to djing once even managed to clear the dancefloor at Fabric. However, his (infamous) dj sets didn't stop him being offered half hour guest slots on Radio 1 and XFM.
Niyi has also been interviewed on Steve Lamacq's show and featured in a short BBC2 documentary. More recently he can be seen as a regular contributor on Big Brother’s Little Brother on E4. Other credits include remix duties for artists such as The Puppetmastaz and Crazy Girl. Last year Niyi released his debut single ‘Your Mummy/808 Clap’ to a rapturous reception. Despite being released on a bank holiday, it sold out within the week, and several European shows with Adamski soon followed. That period was a big one for Niyi. He graced the front cover of SuperSuper Magazine, and following a shoot with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac an 11 metre high image of Niyi hung alongside one of M.I.A outside the Paris’ Musée de la Mode for a year (between April 07 – 08), which could be seen from the top of the Eiffel Tower. The picture can now been seen at JC-DC's flagship store on Conduit Street, W1.
In addition to all this, he also runs a weekly Tuesday night at London’s Punk called ‘I Heart Niyi’, and several 16+ Parties across the capital.
His album is due out spring 09.
In his own words:
.."Music is my life. Everything I do starts with music and ends with music. And I mean all music.. from electro to gabba to country & western. This album will have it all. Sometimes all in one song. If there is one BPM range I have missed out, then I would have failed. I hasten to add, Parappa the Rapper is also my life. Without him, none of this would be possible."..
quotes:
"very quirky!!!"(IDJ)
"Amazing" (Popjustice)
"timing is perfect" (Mixmag)
"LOVE IT" (i-D)
"Quirky Bastard" (ARENA )
"I wasn't expecting something so dymanic. When I got hold of a copy of Niyi's CD I was really impressed." (Erol Alkan)
"Londons latest enfant terrible" (Rough Trade)
".. twisted Neptunes style" (Inertia Music)
"Niyi's jacktastic mixes should do the business " (DJ Magazine)
"Today.. was playing Niyi Can't Mix in my flat all day." (Lulu Le Vay, The Observer)
"Niyi- the boy that can do no wrong!" (Jim Stanton, promotor who gave Scissor Sisters their first London gig)
"My favourite.. really good stuff." (Essential Mix, Radio 1)
"I think it rocks." (Larry Tee)
"One of the highest profile performers to emerge.." (Jonty Skrufff)
"Sounds good to me, nice." (Neil Tennant)
"Really diggin those tracks" (Tim 'Love' Lee, Tummy Touch Records)
"Marvellous tracks. Niyi Cant Mix is Superb." (Mark Moore)
"Playing the buggering knickers off this holy rollin mega track." (Kiss 100)
"We've all stumbled upon something special here." (Dee Ryding, BBC Television)
"Something is bubbling in London." (Steve Lamacq Documentaries, Radio 1)
"Not feeling this." (Phat Phil Cooper )
Final word from the man himself?
"I read in a magazine once that girls like guys in glasses........ HIGH FIVE!!!!"
Niyi - twitter.com/iheartniyi's Friend Space (Top 24)
showing love Thanx for beening apart of my 1st 10,000 friends this is only the beginning remember this message if you like music add me to your top friends and let me know
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