Romeo: Don't blame So Solid

A leading member of rap band So Solid Crew today broke the group's silence about gun violence and denied they were to blame for encouraging or glamorising it.

The controversial group from Peckham was singled out for criticism after the New Year shootings in Birmingham in which two teenage girls died.

It was claimed that their music glorifies guns and violence. Speaking exclusively to the Standard at the Brit Awards, MC Romeo, 22, said the claims by government ministers were "crazy". He said: "Pointing the finger at artists that are trying to let younger ones know it's possible to achieve something big in life, and put your heart and soul into it, is crazy."

He said So Solid's music reflected "real-life issues and what's going on on the streets" but was no more to blame for violence than horror movies on television.

He agrees that the Government must act to clamp down on rising gun violence, but added: "People have to realise everyone is an individual and take responsibility for their own actions.

"With me, as a so-called spokesman for So Solid, you can't blame So Solid for all the gun violence out there."

His defence comes after Culture Minister Kim Howells suggested that rap music was partly responsible for the New Year deaths.

The minister reserved his greatest condemnation for So Solid Crew, saying: "Idiots like the So Solid Crew are glorifying gun culture and violence. It is very worrying and we ought to stand up and say it."

So Solid has been linked with violence since they exploded onto the scene in 2001, going straight to number one with 21 Seconds.

The 30-strong collective had to cancel their debut tour amid fears of violence.

Fan Marcus Hall was stabbed to death after going to see the band in Luton and in November 2001 two people were shot and wounded when Romeo's 21st birthday party at the Astoria in turned to violence.

Several members have run into trouble with the law. Ashley Walters - stage name Asher D - was recently released from Feltham youth jail after getting 18 months for pulling a loaded handgun on a traffic warden.

Jason Phillips, also known as G-man, was arrested in November after allegedly being found with a loaded handgun, while colleague Shane Neil, known as Kaish, was remanded in custody over Christmas on charges relating to gun and drug allegations.

But Romeo said: "The way I see it is you can't really link one particular type of music to gun crimes because it (violence) happens all over the world with rap, rock music and lots of other types of music. It's like a football match: the footballer doesn't get the blame for trouble in the crowd."

He insisted that So Solid's urban music just reflected real life. "Eminem represents urban music and that does not get slated: he is like a god now. He walks on stage with a chainsaw and you don't see kids running around with chainsaws like that. If they want to slate us, do it but don't point the finger at us. It is real life and as for what is happening out there, obviously they need to clamp down on it."

As new figures revealed a 35 per cent surge in gun crime and 46 per cent increase in use of handguns, Home Secretary David Blunkett joined the chorus of disapproval, describing lyrics which glamorise the culture of guns and violence as "appalling".

He called for urgent talks with the rap and garage music industry, saying it could not escape its share of responsibility for the rise in handguns as a fashion accessory-among inner-city youth. The Government attacks provoked widespread condemnation from the music business.

The Government has agreed to stage a firearms amnesty but reports today suggest Customs officers are uncovering growing arsenals of grenades, and machine guns as the violence surrounding the drugs trade grows.