A controversial rapper known for his influence on the UK grime scene is set to perform in Colchester.
Wiley, often described as the Godfather of Grime, will appear at Trilogy nightclub on High Street on October 3, for a live show.
A statement on the Trilogy website said: "Wiley takes over Arena for a live performance.
"Expect the Godfather of Grime to perform all his biggest hits and an exclusive freestyle set."
Born Richard Kylea Cowie Jr, Wiley is an MC, rapper, songwriter, DJ, and record producer from Bow, East London.
He first found chart success in 2001 with the UK garage group Pay As U Go and later formed the crew Roll Deep, which included future stars Dizzee Rascal, Tinchy Stryder, Skepta, and JME.
Wiley went on to achieve solo success with commercial hits like Wearing My Rolex and scored a UK number one with Heatwave in 2012.
He was awarded an MBE in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to music and has also received the NME Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music and the Ivors Inspiration award from the Ivor Novello Awards.
However, in 2024, a list published to the Cabinet Office website said the MBE had been forfeited.
In 2020 the musician was banned from X, still known as Twitter at the time, Facebook and Instagram for antisemitic comments.
He was widely condemned for his posts on social media, including anti-Jewish posts on X and an Instagram video where he said “crawl out from under your little rocks and defend your Jewish privilege”.
In an interview with Sky News in the days following the backlash, Wiley insisted he was not racist and apologised for “generalising” in his tweets.
On June 29 2023, according to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), he entered guilty pleas at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court for an assault on an emergency worker and for criminal damage to property valued under £5,000.
He was given a one month prison sentence suspended for 12 months for each offence and was also ordered to pay the victim of the assault £470 in compensation, with a victim surcharge fee of £128, the CPS said.
Tickets for the Colchester show start at £6 for entry before 11pm, rising to £8 before midnight and £10 before 1am.
All-night entry with queue jump is priced at £15.
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