Romeo (English rapper)

Marvin Dawkins[1] (born 30 January 1980), better known by his stage name Romeo, Nigel, or MC Romeo, is a British rapper and MC.

Romeo
Birth nameMarvin Dawkins
Also known asRomeo
MC Romeo
Romeo Dunn
Born (1980-01-30) 30 January 1980
OriginBattersea, London, England
GenresUK garage, grime, hip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, MC
Years active1998–present
LabelsRelentless Records (2002–2003)
Maffia Recordz

Biography

Romeo first found fame in the garage group So Solid Crew, having grown up on and around the notorious Surrey Lane, Winstanley and Badric Court estates of Battersea. He subsequently had a solo career. He got his name Romeo due to his smoothness with the ladies.[2]

Romeo released his solo album Solid Love in November 2002, through Relentless records, the label that So Solid had just left for Independiente.

He enjoyed two top 10 singles, "Romeo Dunn'em" which reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart in 2002, and secondly a duet with Christina Milian, "It's All Gravy", which reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart in the same year.[3][2]

However, only a disappointing 40,000 copies sold of his album, peaking at No. 46 in the UK Albums Chart. In March 2003, Relentless filed for bankruptcy with debts of £3m.[3][4]

In 2004, Romeo appeared in the reality show The Games, and returned to the series to compete in the Champion of Champions contest in 2006. Romeo also featured in a gameshow called Fool Around With... Romeo on Channel 4 in 2005, in which he had to guess which girl out of four was single.[2]

In August 2004, Romeo was charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and violent disorder after slashing the face of Ejay Armstrong with a knife when it was alleged that he joined friends in a dispute after a night out in London's Leicester Square. In June 2005, the jury failed to reach a verdict against him and the prosecution was suspended.[5] During the retrial in November 2005, he told the jury that he had been trying to act as peacemaker and was found not guilty of wounding with intent when the prosecution decided not to continue the case.[6][7]

Romeo appeared in an episode of Don't Tell the Bride on BBC Three on 22 September 2009, as the best man for his brother, Darnell Dawkins.[2]

Romeo is currently signed to So Solid's Lisa Maffia's record label, Maffia Recordz. A second album, announced for release during 2008, has not yet materialised. In 2009, Romeo and fellow members of So Solid Crew attempted a musical comeback with the single "Since You Went Away".

Romeo appeared in Celebrity Big Brother 2012 up until his eviction on 25 January 2012 just narrowly missing out on the final.[8]

Discography
See also: So Solid Crew § Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[9][10]
Solid Love 46

Singles
Song Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[9][10]
"Romeo Dunn"
(featuring Lisa Maffia, Thug Angel & Tiger S)		 2002 3 Solid Love
"It's All Gravy"
(featuring Christina Milian)		 9
Song Year Peak chart positions
UK
[12][13][14]		 UK Dance
[15]
"No Good 4 Me"
(Oxide & Neutrino featuring Megaman, Romeo & Lisa Maffia)		 2000 6
"Nasty"
(AC Burrell featuring Mega & Romeo)		 2000/02 84 10
"I See Girls (Crazy)"
(Studio B featuring Romeo & Harry Brooks)		 2003 52
"Since You Went Away"
(So Solid featuring Lisa Maffia & Romeo)		 2010 82
"Don't Stop the Music"
(Lisa Maffia featuring Romeo & Tyler Daley)		 2012 12

References
  1. Jackson, Jamie (24 April 2005). "A history of So Solid Crew". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  2. Delaney, Zoe (6 August 2021). "So Solid Crew then and now 20 years on from hit single 21 Seconds to Go". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 469. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. Jackson, Jamie (26 October 2006). "A history of So Solid Crew | Music | Observer Music Monthly". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  5. "Romeo Jury Fail To Reach Verdict". Female First. 30 June 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. "UK | England | London | Rapper Romeo is cleared of attack". BBC News. 16 November 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  7. Press Association (17 November 2005). "Rapper Romeo cleared of car park attack | UK news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  8. Sigodo, Melissa (17 October 2021). "Where the main members of So Solid Crew are now". MyLondon. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  9. "ROMEO – Artist – Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. "Zobbel.de: Chart Log UK: The Rabble Army – RZA". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  11. "Certified Awards Search: Romeo". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. "STUDIO B – Artist – Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  13. "Zobbel.de: Chart Log UK: TDJ S – The System Of Life". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
  14. "AC BURRELL FT MEGA MAN & ROMEO | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
  15. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019.
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