Funky Dee

Initially known to listeners as Firmer Dee, Dean Smith first carved a name for himself in the grime scene from the genre's infancy, around 2004. An early member of Lewisham crew Fatal Assasins alongside the likes of [a220187] and Little D (4), he quickly drummed up a cult following, enthusing audiences with his iconic catchphrases and light-hearted ad-libs. It was in 2009, however, that the Deptford resident found his big break – as a standout figure of the then-fledgling UK funky genre. Changing his stage name to Funky Dee to reflect his new direction, he achieved viral success with the Universal-signed "Are You Gonna Bang Doe?", which remains in heavy rotation at international clubbing destinations like Ayia Napa and Ibiza to this day. Smith has always continued to make grime, even alongside his more commercial ventures. He mentored Grim Sickers prior to their 2018 fallout, which saw him release two diss tracks on the 'Best of Both Worlds' EP alongside new collaborations with the likes of Wiley (2) and Rawza. In 2019, he was heavily involved in curating Jammer's Lord of the Mics VIII series of clashes, and he himself had a showdown with Hertfordshire's Mischief Artist for the DVD. This spawned a new sound effect that's been earning him wheel-ups ever since: "Kooong"!