Smoke Boys (formerly Section Boyz and before that Squeeze Section) were a British hip hop collective started by British rapper Ghost in 2010. On 25 September 2015 the group's second mixtape Don't Panic[1] entered at number 36, making their first UK Albums Chart entry.[2] On 4 November 2015, they won Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards. They were considered to be highly influential in the UK drill scene.[3][4]

Smoke Boys
OriginCroydon, London, England
Genres
Years active2010–2020
LabelsSection
MembersGhost
Littlez
Inch
Sleeks
Knine
Swift
Deepee
Past members
  • Reeko Squeeze

History

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The collective began in 2011 as a loose association of individual rappers from Croydon in South London. First the group called themselves ‘Squeeze 4 P$‘, and then ‘Squeeze Section’.[5] The group released their first mixtape titled Sectionly in 2014 as ‘Section Boyz’. With the second mixtape Don't Panic, the group made it into the “Top 40” of the British Music Charts in 2015 and were subsequently honoured as best newcomers at the MOBO Awards. The group was also chosen to be on the list of the “Sound Of 2016” at the BBC.[6]

In 2016, the group was awarded as the best hip-hop act of the year at the MOBO Awards. This was followed by further mixtapes every year. In 2018 the group changed their name to ‘Smoke Boys’ and released their fifth mixtape Don’t Panic II. The tape brought them into the charts once again. In October 2020 the group released their sixth, and final mixtape titled All The Smoke.[7]

Discography

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Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK UK
R&B
UK
DL
Sectionly
  • Released: 3 August 2014
  • Label: Section
  • Format: Digital download
- - -
Don't Panic
  • Released: 18 September 2015
  • Label: Section
  • Format: Digital download
36 3 15
Attack the Block (with Chris Brown & OHB)
  • Released: 28 October 2016
  • Label: OHB, CBE
  • Format: Digital download
- - -
Soundcheck
  • Released: 24 March 2017
  • Label: Section
  • Format: Digital download
- - -
Don't Panic II
  • Released: 19 October 2018
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
- - -
All the Smoke
  • Released: 30 October 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
- - -
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
  • Delete My Number (2016)

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "Section Boyz debut 'Don't Panic' album hits Top 40 Charts". Whatsgoodonline.co.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  2. ^ David Gilmour scores second solo Number 1 album with Rattle That Lock: “I'm delighted”, Officialcharts.com
  3. ^ "When The Smoke Clears: Section Boyz Reflect on Their Legacy - VICE". www.vice.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Smoke Boys: 'We've influenced the whole world but people act dumb'". inews.co.uk. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ HERITAGE: BEFORE THEIR NAMES CHANGED TO SECTION BOYZ AND SMOKE BOYS, SQUEEZE SECTION WERE DOING THE MOST WITH HARD FREESTYLES LIKE THIS (2011), Trench, 28. März 2019
  6. ^ Sound of 2016: Section Boyz, BBC, Januar 2016
  7. ^ Smoke Boys Announce Last Ever Project ‘All the Smoke’, Courtney Wynter, GRM Daily, 21. September 2020