So Solid Crew were banned from London's La Scala after the management deemed them a security risk and their promoters have since cancelled their 11-date UK tour. Dan Martin talks to Crew leader Megaman.

Dan Martin isn't scared by the So Solid Crew

"If someone's being rude or if someone hits us or if someone goes really stupid on us, we're gonna have to retaliate. Forget about police; forget about anything else that goes on. Yes we will retaliate."

Two days after a So Solid Crew party at London's Astoria ended with two men landing up in hospital with gunshot wounds, City Life wonders aloud to Crew leader Megaman that the incident might have involved band members.

"You mad? No way. No. Way. And put it in there as No. Way."

In the weeks to come the So Solid Against Violence campaign will have become a national joke. For now, Mega is still fresh in his denials.

"Listen, we used to do that type of stuff back in the day, tell you the truth. We used to be involved and all that crap. And directly, we're just shouting to people now that listen - we are interested in music and only music now. So deal with me on a music level. Look at your crew, get your crew together and deal with shit properly, otherwise you ain't gonna be around for long."

Whether that's a veiled threat or a piece of friendly advice, we're not sure. But So Solid Crew has gone from a loose family of sarf London hoodlums to the most exciting force in UK urban music since, well, ever.

21 Seconds got to No1 in August, their calling card that said black Britain was ready to sell records again. To pigeonhole So Solid within the tardy, London-centric UK Garage scene is to miss the point of So Solid's significance. And to miss the significance in the way pistol-whipper Eminem is troubled and ironic, yet So Solid are a bunch of irresponsible no-marks.

Now, on single and, basically, over the whole album They Don't Know, the 30-strong (and counting) crew attack how the white, middle-class media have totally missed the point of So Solid.

"What we're saying with the single is that a lot of people don't know directly what we're about. What type of people we are and who we are and how we think. D'you get me? Directly, that's all it is about man."

What do people think if they don't know?

"Not sure man, I'm not sure, but I've still gotta find out how people think about us."

But it's wrong?

"What d'you mean?"

They Don't Know about your flow, show, crew and the rest, but you don't know what they actually do think?

"See, They Don't Know like, is just a small exaggeration of how it really is. That's all it's about. I just want people to understand that. There is more behind So Solid than what you see up on TV."

For the moment, all we do seem to know is that Crew member Skat D broke a teenager's face. And that's something that Megaman is sick of talking about, blasting the UK as 'stupid' and admitting that Skat needs to be more responsible for his actions. But, also, that:

"You know what? We're young guys in the business, we ain't gonna hold down any attitude, if someone's being rude or if someone hits us or if someone goes really stupid on us, we're gonna have to retaliate. Forget about police; forget about anything else that goes on.

"Yes we will retaliate; yes we will make the wrong move. But at the same time, knock that on the head, man, and appreciate us for our music. Don't look on one individual in the crew and think, 'he's bad so I'm not buying the album'. That way you might as well just say fucking everyone from So Solid boxed a girl in her face. That's what you might as well say innit?"

That's what most people are saying. And what's guaranteed is that, assuming it goes ahead, the So Solid UK tour is looking kind of tense.

"Directly everyone in Manchester that's supported us," says Megaman, "they know who they are. We've got a lot of links in Manchester, man."

Does that make anybody else feel a little on edge?

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