Slimzee
Slimzee | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Slimfast[1] |
| Born | Dean Fullman 20 June 1978 |
| Origin | Bow, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1994 to present |
| Labels |
|
| Website | djslimzee |
Dean Fullman (born 20 June 1978), known professionally as Slimzee, is an English DJ, radio broadcaster, record producer and record label founder from Bow, London. He co-founded Rinse FM in 1994 and became known for pirate radio broadcasts that combined unreleased instrumentals, exclusive dubplates and live performances by MCs who became central to the development of grime.[2][3]
Slimzee was a founding member of the Pay As U Go Cartel and was closely associated with the early careers of Wiley, Dizzee Rascal, D Double E, Riko Dan and other East London MCs. He received a gold disc in recognition of his contribution to Dizzee Rascal's debut album, Boy in da Corner.[4][5]
After a period of reduced broadcasting, he returned to regular radio through NTS Radio in 2014 and later resumed programmes on Rinse FM.[6][7]
Career
[edit]Early DJ work and pirate radio
[edit]Fullman began DJing during the development of London's jungle and pirate radio scenes. He initially used the name Slimfast, which was later shortened to Slimzee.[1]
In 1994, Slimzee co-founded Rinse FM with Geeneus.[2][8] During approximately three years of the station's early operation, its studio was based in Fullman's home.[9][5] Rinse initially concentrated on jungle before increasingly broadcasting UK garage and darker instrumental music developing in East London during the late 1990s.
Pay As U Go and the emergence of grime
[edit]Slimzee became a founding member of Pay As U Go Cartel, a UK garage collective that included Wiley, DJ Target, Maxwell D, God's Gift, Plague, Major Ace and Geeneus.[4] The collective's movement from UK garage towards darker, more sparse and MC focused music formed part of the transition towards grime.
From the late 1990s, Slimzee began introducing darker garage productions into his sets. His Sunday afternoon Rinse FM programme became a regular platform for unreleased instrumentals, dubplates and live MC performances during grime's formative period.[9]
Artists appearing on his early broadcasts included Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, D Double E, Riko Dan, Skepta, Jammer, Durrty Goodz, Maxwell D, Scratchy and Trim.[3][10]
The programmes functioned as live performance spaces in which MCs developed bars over instrumentals that were often unavailable commercially. Slimzee's access to exclusive records also allowed particular tracks and producers to be tested through radio before wider release. Writing in 2007, Pitchfork described his influence and vision during 2002 and 2003 and noted that leading MCs regularly appeared on his sets before receiving wider recognition.[11]
Following the success of Dizzee Rascal's Boy in da Corner, Slimzee received a gold disc recognising his contribution to the album and Rascal's development.[4][5]
2005 legal case and broadcasting break
[edit]In 2005, Fullman admitted operating an unlicensed radio station and causing damage while erecting broadcast equipment. He received a three year conditional discharge.[12]
At the request of Tower Hamlets Council, he was also given an anti-social behaviour order preventing him from entering the roof of any building over four storeys without permission. The order was reported as the first of its kind involving a pirate radio broadcaster.[12][4]
The case ended Slimzee's regular pirate broadcasts. He continued to take live bookings and make occasional radio appearances during the following years.[13]
Return through NTS Radio and Rinse FM
[edit]Slimzee returned to regular broadcasting on NTS Radio in April 2014 through Slimzos Sessions with Slimzee.[6][4] The programme focused on dark garage, classic grime, unreleased instrumentals and contemporary 140 music.
Guests documented by NTS included P Money, Jammz, AJ Tracey, Novelist, Trim, Riko Dan, Trends, Mumdance, Capo Lee, Elf Kid, PK, Nico Lindsay and Sir Pixalot.[4] The programmes connected archive material and early grime practices with a later generation of performers and producers.
In February 2016, Slimzee and Wiley reunited for a Rinse FM broadcast that Fact selected as one of the week's notable mixes.[14]
In April 2023, Slimzee announced that he was stepping down from his regular Rinse FM residency after more than twenty years.[5] He later resumed broadcasting on the station. Rinse FM's archive lists programmes and filmed sessions during 2024 and 2025, including appearances with Boylan, D Double E, Riko Dan and AS.IF KID.[7]
In May 2024, Slimzee appeared in the first episode of Rinse FM's Geeneus in Conversation series, produced as part of the station's thirtieth anniversary. The filmed interview covered the pirate period of Rinse FM and the station's early development.[15]
Production and collaborations
[edit]Alongside his DJ and radio work, Slimzee has released productions with Boylan, Trends, AS.IF KID, U.S.F, Uman and SYXX. NTS lists releases including “Sidewinder Style” with Trends, Delta City and No Cure with Boylan, “Log Off” with Geeneus and “Ninety Nine” with Trends and Boylan.[4]
In 2023, Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan released “Mile End” as the first release on a label launched by the London club institution FWD. Mixmag reported that the track developed through Slimzee's regular studio work with Boylan.[16]
In April 2025, Manuka released a project credited to Slimzee and Boylan featuring Oil Gang. The release contained “Trunk”, “Chessle” and “Air Raid”.[17]
Recent Slimzos projects have included repeated work with Uman and SYXX. Slimzee and Uman contributed “Fizz” and “Deep Inside the Mind” to Time Volume 8. SYXX appeared on consecutive compilations with “Psycho VIP” and “Concrete Dub”, and was jointly credited with Slimzee on Disappearing Dubs 029.[18][19][citation needed]
Selected radio and filmed sessions
[edit]| Year | Station or platform | Featured performers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Rinse FM | Dizzee Rascal, Durrty Goodz and Maxwell D | Archive radio session later highlighted by Fact[3] |
| 2013 | Boiler Room | Riko Dan | Live grime session[10] |
| 2015 | Boiler Room | Riko Dan, Maxwell D and Major Ace | Eskimo Dance takeover at the ICA[20] |
| 2016 | Rinse FM | Wiley | Reunion broadcast[14] |
| 2024 | Rinse FM | Geeneus | Filmed oral history produced for Rinse FM's thirtieth anniversary[15] |
Style and influence
[edit]Slimzee's DJ style became associated with rapid mixing, sparse instrumentals and access to exclusive dubplates. Fact noted that some records in his collection were one off tracks made specifically for him and that leading grime MCs regularly hosted his programmes.[3]
His Rinse FM broadcasts placed several MCs together in live sessions and treated instrumentals as a basis for freestyles, clashes and repeated vocal interpretations. This approach connected grime with earlier jungle and UK garage sound system practices.
Pitchfork described the early 2000s as the height of Slimzee's influence and vision, writing that he had access to dark proto grime anthems on exclusive dubplate and that emerging MCs frequently appeared on his sets before wider recognition.[11]
Mixmag has described Slimzee as an influential Rinse FM co-founder whose broadcasts helped bring grime and dubstep sounds forward during the late 1990s and early 2000s.[5] His later work through Slimzos Recordings and TowerBlock Radio has continued his emphasis on independent distribution, new artists and underground broadcasting.
Documentaries, exhibitions and oral history
[edit]Slimzee has appeared in documentary and oral history projects concerning grime and pirate radio. He appeared in 8 Bar: The Evolution of Grime, directed by Ewen Spencer and broadcast through the BBC's Storyville strand.[21]
London Museum's public history material identifies Rinse FM, Slimzee and Geeneus within the infrastructure through which grime artists developed audiences before mainstream radio support.[8]
In 2024, Rinse FM's Geeneus in Conversation series recorded Slimzee's account of the station's pirate period as part of its thirtieth anniversary activity.[15]
| Year | Title | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Riko and Slimzee OG grime session | Boiler Room broadcast | DJ |
| 2022 | Grime Stories: From the Corner to the Mainstream | Museum display | Archive subject |
| 2023 | 8 Bar: The Evolution of Grime | Documentary film | Interview contributor |
| 2024 | Geeneus in Conversation with Slimzee | Filmed oral history | Interview subject |
| 2026 | I'm The Frequency That Built Grime | Long form podcast interview | Interview subject |
Discography
[edit]Mix albums
[edit]- 2002: Sidewinder Studio Mix, with Dizzee Rascal and Wiley
- 2003: Street Beats, with God's Gift
- 2004: Bingo Beats Volume 3
Live recordings
[edit]- 2002: Sidewinder Live, recorded on Rinse FM with Dizzee Rascal
- 2007: FWD and Rinse Live at The End, various artists
Slimzos Recordings releases involving Slimzee
[edit]| Year | Release | Artist credit | Type | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Slimzee vs AS.IF KID EP | Slimzee and AS.IF KID | EP | SLIMZOSDIGITAL005 |
| 2017 | Judgment Day EP | Slimzee and AS.IF KID | EP | SLIMZOS011 |
| 2017 | “Rattle Snake” | Slimzee and AS.IF KID | Digital single | Not stated |
| 2018 | Judgement Day: The Remix EP | Slimzee, AS.IF KID and various remixers | Remix EP | SLIMZOSDIGITAL009 |
| 2018 | SLIMZOS 013 | Trends and Slimzee | Single | SLIMZOS013 |
| 2019 | “MindGames” | Slimzee and Trends | Track from Time | SLIMZOSDIGITAL013 |
| 2020 | The USB 3 EP | Boylan, Slimzee and U.S.F | EP | SLIMZOSDIGITAL020 |
| 2020 | “Try Not to Die” | U.S.F, Slimzee and Boylan featuring Kiara | Track from Time Volume 3 | Not stated |
| 2025 | “PumpUpTheJam” | Boylan, Slimzee and DOK | Track from Time Volume 7 | Not stated |
| 2026 | “Fizz” | Slimzee and Uman | Track from Time Volume 8 | Not stated |
| 2026 | “Deep Inside the Mind” | Slimzee and Uman | Track from Time Volume 8 | Not stated |
| 2026 | Disappearing Dubs 016 | Slimzee and Uman | Limited digital EP | Not stated |
| 2026 | Disappearing Dubs 029 | Slimzee and SYXX | Limited digital EP | Not stated |
Selected releases on other labels
[edit]| Year | Release | Artist credit | Label | Catalogue number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Bingo Beats Volume 3 | Slimzee | Bingo Beats | BINGOCD005 |
| 2018 | Delta City | Slimzee and Boylan | Nomine Sound | Not stated |
| 2018 | No Cure EP | Boylan and Slimzee | Nomine Sound | NS007 |
| 2020 | “Log Off” | Geeneus and Slimzee | Dump Valve Recordings | Not stated |
| 2020 | “The Mould” | Boylan, Slimzee and U.S.F | Sentry Records | SEN014 |
| 2022 | LDNMSV EP | Boylan and Slimzee | Nomine Sound | NS018 |
| 2023 | “Ninety Nine” | Trends, Boylan and Slimzee | Sneaker Social Club | SNKR045 |
| 2023 | “Mile End” | Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan | FWD | Not stated |
| 2023 | “Mile End: Zero Remix” | Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan | FWD | Not stated |
| 2023 | “Mile End: Tsuki Remix” | Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan | FWD | Not stated |
| 2024 | “Mile End: Soukah Remix” | Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan | Independent remix | Not stated |
| 2025 | Slimzee and Boylan featuring Oil Gang | Slimzee, Boylan and Oil Gang | Manuka | MNKXX3 |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Target, DJ (2018). Grime Kids. Trapeze. ISBN 978-1-409-17951-1.
- 1 2 Sawyer, Miranda (29 September 2012). "Rinse FM: 'Radio, not the internet, gave me my break,' says Katy B". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Grime kingpin Slimzee hits Soundcloud, uploads 2002 radio session with Dizzee Rascal, Durrty Goodz, Maxwell D". Fact. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "DJ Slimzee". NTS Radio. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Ross, Gemma (26 April 2023). "Rinse FM co-founder DJ Slimzee steps down from show after 20 years". Mixmag. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Legendary grime DJ Slimzee joins NTS Radio". Fact. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Slimzee". Rinse FM. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "London's grime stars". London Museum. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Slimzee Interview". NTS Radio. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Watch London legends Riko and Slimzee's OG grime session for Boiler Room". Fact. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Grime / Dubstep". Pitchfork. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Asbo bars pirate DJ from the rooftops". Evening Standard. 12 April 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Interview: 10 or so texts with Slimzee". Fabric. Archived from the original on 18 August 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 "The week's best mixes: Wiley and Slimzee, Pure Joy and a five-hour history of hardcore". Fact. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Geeneus In Conversation with: Slimzee". YouTube. Rinse FM. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ Heskett, Tibor (24 October 2023). "FWD launches record label with new Slimzee, Boylan and Riko Dan collaboration". Mixmag. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Slimzee and Boylan featuring Oil Gang". Bandcamp. Manuka. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Time Volume 7". Bandcamp. Slimzos Recordings. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Time Volume 8". Bandcamp. Slimzos Recordings. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "Slimzee, Riko Dan, Maxwell D and Major Ace". YouTube. Boiler Room. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
- ↑ "New grime documentary, 8 Bar, explores the genre's early years and evolution". DJ Mag. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
External links
[edit]| Authority control databases: Artists |
|---|
