tower block dreams ep1 - spittin' and shottin'
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- Thanks for taking such an interest in TBD, a series I produced and directed eighteen years ago. Interest has grown significantly of late, so here’s a brief summary of how it was made:
A friend and I started Raw TV in ’01 and we were looking for ideas. I was held up at gunpoint for my motorcycle, which sparked an interest in the lives of young people growing up in touching distance, but with a very different set of values and culture.
You can’t gain access to that world through the front door, so agreed that musical ambition was the better route. There was a Garage and emerging Grime scene bubbling away in London. The BBC commissioned a pilot. I filmed some young promoters putting on a Heartless Crew gig. Heartless turned up three hours late and the crowd nearly lynched the promoters. It was strong stuff. We got the green light for a three hour series.
I directed two of the episodes and the lovely and talented Adam Smith made the middle film, which did indeed inspire ‘people just do nothing’. We wanted each episode to feel very different in tone, to reflect a wide range of young people, determined to move out of their situation through music. It took a lot of searching to find the right stories and artists. I’d read an interview with Skinny, but he was still banged up. Access was difficult. On his release there turned out to be someone else filming him too.
I met Sloth at a pirate station. He was such a unique and bold character, totally uninhibited by the camera. I didn’t quite believe his story, then he phoned me to say he was in trouble and that’s when I decided to focus on him.
I spent a lot of time with grime pioneers NASTY Crew. I filmed early material with the likes of Kano, Sharky, D Double, Stormin’, Flirter and even a brilliant street freestyle from Crazy Titch, just before he went away. I became a regular visitor to the tiny basement studio at Jammers family home. Sadly, I just couldn’t find a strong enough narrative arc to make that work as an episode. A few months after I finished editing, I heard Marcus had returned to the scene in a dramatic way. This would’ve given me what was missing. But that’s film-making for you.
A huge thank you, to all those who took part in the films. It is great to see how well some have done over time. I hope the documentary was part responsible for pushing Skinny to finally get his one and only album together. It is brilliant, and there should have been so much more. Enjoy.
Davidoneilldirector.com
New found respect for Charlie! If only his younger self could tell his older self that less is more with the sound effects.
*effects*
@@ashb702 not all heroes wear capes. Bloody did it again 😂
@@mrp9597 😜😂😂😂
sound effects are part of his brand.
@@progressivelife841 totally get that and I’m a big fan of his but in my opinion doing less sound effects would be far more effective for listeners rather than over doing and risk it become repetitive.
Mad. Council estate of mind is one of the best records this country has produced. The grind is real.
couldnt agree more. A biopic of London inner city living from late 90s to early naughties
Skinny rapped at my friends night. He was only paid £100 because that's all we could raise. Skinny man done the night anyway, the guy is awesome person as well as a great rapper
It was literally a biography of what me and my friends life was like growing up on the estates
shout out to errybody who got this pop up in ya recommend
✌️Random right...
ma mann
👊🏽
I doubt there's anyone who typed in : tower block dreams or spittin n shottin
You know
Skinnyman is one of the most genuine and humble artists you will ever meet. A bonafide UK legend, I can't take people seriously when they don't mention Skinny when it comes to UK hip hop/Grime history.
Absolute legend. From my ends up Leeds ways.....HPC4life 💯👊🏽
Skinnyman deserved more success. Council estate of mind is an awesome album.
He got locked up for harassing his ex girlfriend, that’s not too humble to me...
@@squintydoodoo I have no knowledge of his convictions. I am merely talking from my experience of speaking to him on a couple of occasions. He helped me get a load of artists to sign stuff for a friend who was in a bad place and another time I saw him put in a 100% show despite the small venue having been undersold. He has always come across as a genuinely kind person.
@@onionman2117 fair enough man, I’m not writing him off and that’s good he’s helped you and I’m not disputing how vital he’s been the scene - just remember that popping up a couple years back and making me challenge my perception
Skinnyman is extremely articulate for someone who had a relative lack of formal education, mad respect
trust, always said this even 20 years ago
Never, ever, will I look at Charlie Sloth in the same light again after this! Respect! 👊🏻
U R RACIsT!!!!!!! HE IS ASiAN MANFROM CHINA NOT CHALI SLOT!!!!! SON OF A LOSER !!!!!!1 I AM CHINA U ARE DELETED
@@buy-gbl-online Mate!! GTFOH please! 🤨
@@buy-gbl-online Wtf 😂
@@buy-gbl-online hibalywhooooblah, mate STFU,
I thought the same thing I can't believe it hahaha
Mad to think that's THE Charlie Sloth. Large up Skinny man, spittin fire wiv a spliff in his hand.
spittin fire with a flicky in his hand lol
He had respect for his mom and dad, appreciated the house he was in and how his pals didn't have that. Word. These man came across humble
I have a new found respect for charlie. His fire in the booth with wretch and avelino was insane but as a man he under represents himself. his parents actually raised him well. he should let people see edit of this with modern interview.
Yet he brought mad beef to them so naaa no respect on that
@@dontplay3088 mad beef it’s a council estate u weirdo what do u think will happen 💀.
@@shanelyons6266 considering I grew up in em. Yh odviuosly. I'm.sayn y give him extra respect for bringn drama to his parents...ya fkn maggot choke on a fatty ya wrongan..
@@dontplay3088 exactly he ain’t a saint, talks himself about how he beat people up in front of their mrs. But at least he has the honesty to see where he went wrong and fix his ways
Not sure why I’ve been recommended this, but Skinnyman was a major throwback 🤯 forgot how humble my man was as well. Also forgot that Charlie Sloth hasn’t always looked like a Mexican drug Lord, he used to look like a car dealer from Slough lmao.
Hahahaa
That description is so accurate 🤣
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆 True tho!!!
Legit used to pick draws up of skinny in cally he's probably still there today real g 👌🏼
Oh how hilarious. You're are all gimps.
Skinny man got the lyrics!! Council estate of mind was a wicked album
No it wasn't
Best UK hip hop album of all time.
One day in summer 2005 (I was 15), visiting London for a day out with my family, my mum bought a copy of the Big Issue. It had a Fabriclive mix cd attached to the cover, mixed by Scratch Perverts. Features I'll be Surprised by Skinnyman and an Akala tune. I still have that CD - that and skateboarding videos opened my mind to 'urban' music that I would never have got into otherwise.
Awe, fair-play.. Can't fault the Fabriclive compo's/mixes etc.👍
How have we all only just found this?! It's been out for years 😂
Yoooooooooo 4 real tho
Love it
Same here G .
Get me can't believe dis has passed me by,mad how Charlie sloth has progressed since early
Same, mental. Been looking for it for 10 years
Brilliant - hats off to both Skinnyman and Sloth - sloth really reached his potential - feel Skinnyman should have achieved so so much more with such a likeable personality and raw talent
Great bit of U.K. nostalgia / cringe right here...
The contrast of mentality & talent of these 2 guys is like night and day yet the 1 promoting positivity & raw talent always struggled to make the living he deserved from music, that’s sad man,
Big up Skinnyman U.K. legend!
The man who carried on dealing drugs and released one album and a few singles in his entire career. Didn’t make a long lasting successful career in music? wow this shocks me. Lol
I love skinny but come off it he never put the work in to “make it”. If he’d been around at his peak 10/15 years later he’d have been a star.
Sloth did put in the work, he grinded like a madman to get where he is. Regardless of what you think of him.
@@XavierJAlexander Tbf you’ve got a point, I can’t disagree with that whatsoever I just think it’s a shame as skinny always had such a positive demeanor and unquestionable talent,
I’m not knocking sloths work rate but here just spews arrogance & negativity and kinda continued to do so, that awards ceremony for example.
Still respect how far he came from these days, I mean he’s hardly an outstanding talent, respectfully.
@@grayzisamyth Yh I agree, but work rate beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Skinny is a great guy overall and I agree with all you said. It’s just goes to show how working hard matters in creative pursuits.
@@XavierJAlexander 💯
@@XavierJAlexander But no one wanted to sign skinny so what choice did he have.
this is no knock on Charlie, but he could be seen as a "sellout" of sorts. even the difference in the music they were both making in the doc is night and day, charlies had that up beat catchy radio feel, and skinny had a rawness that speaks to people but doesn't always have mass appeal and I'm sure if labels asked him to change this or that to give himself a broader appeal he would have told them to do one
Like charlie says, he had the ability to put hard graft into his music because he had his family to fall back on, skinny did not have this luxury
hard work and talent are both things you need, but talent should be the main thing that labels look for, but unfortunately that often isnt the case
Skinny man will forever live on as a legend.
So many bangers listened to as a kid
48:45 might be the hippie in me but see the difference between how sloth kept on saying “I am going to make it blah blah” but skinny man “kept saying no one is going to sign someone like me” and look where they both are. Not saying this as a diss but the power of your words are strong. Be careful with your words. Great documentary.
casting spells bro 🪄🧙♂🪄
I havent seen this programme since it was aired in early 2000s, and im just thinking that if it werent for this then we wouldnt have a Council estate Of mind, a Fire In The Booth, or People Just Do Nothing. Mad
Charlie’s voice on his verse 😂😂 loving the real ness in his story but fully see why he chose djing lmaoooo
Sounded like a grandma 🤣
Init 😂😂
@@vp922 ua-cam.com/video/qXJCO1EunoY/v-deo.html
Retire in the Booth.... Had Had Doooouken
Love Skinnyman "Council Estate of mind" is a banger i also listened to Taskforce,Jehst and Braintax loved that era nice1 for the upload ✌
same bro, good times
Yeah man, all that stuff soundtracked most of my late teens/early 20s. Proper vibez.
Jehst still putting out fire to this day, guy never runs out of lyrics lol
Braintax stole all Skinny P's offa that album, man's a c**t
Yessss love all of those names used to bump them years n years ago living in London :)
Skinny man council estate of mind is one of the few albums I’ve listened to every month since it was released, best uk hip hop album to date!
Thank you so much for this documentary and putting it up on youtube. I remember watching it way back when and assumed it had unfortunately been lost to time. The Skinnyman LP was eventually released, and it has been a favourite of all time for me until this day (2025).
I was there. Dope night. Skinnyman smashed it. 41:01 Scorzayzee spitting on stage. 42:13 S.Kalibre on stage behind Skinnyman. They all smashed it.
i saw Skinnyman supporting RZA at Subterranea in this period and Heartless arriving late for a NYE gig with door rushes, magnum champagne bottle wrapped around someone's head and a cs gas inspired stampede. can't believe it's 2 decades ago.
Sloth looks like working class Dom Jolly
thanks for including the description. wicked read mate & this is a brilliant, seminal & historic film you have here!
Big up David O’Neill for capturing this and giving the people this important film 👏🏼
Skinnyman was properly gifted. Council estate of mind was such a clever and great album. None of this mumble shit now a days he said stuff to be heard.
IS and always gifted n safe guy too:))
Loving it at 33:09 A great snapshot of being a youth in those times. I wonder if those 2 are still together or if they had a kid, how life turned out for them both, etc?
When sloth offered him some food as a kick back. Lmao. He must of been thinking, 'this dude is so cool and he wants to reward me with a box from the food bank...did I miss something'.
You should be rightly proud of your work Mr O'Neill.
Man cook 36 burgers on a small instant grill the man is a modern day Jesus
lmaooooo
I'd be your follower, Mr Messiah.
Does it work
Funny how it's often the case that the people with the least are the most generous.
36 frozen burgers
I got tingles when he said they won't let you on 1 extra. I can't believe Sloth fuckin did it. Inspirational shit.
It’s MAD how far Charlie Sloth has come since this video! (Good on ya Charlie) 🎧🎤🔥✌🏾
Oh shit it actually is him wtf haha
@@MyKuL1990 bro I was lean af watching this then only clocked later later that it's sloth
@@Wvffles init when I started watchin it I heard of skinnyman but I was like who tf is this sloth bredda...didn't clock til I seen da comments
I don't rate criminals who do bad but change cause they nearly died due to their lifestyle.
That's because its bullshit, just a video to get him into the limelight
Charlie from the tower block to the penthouse 👏🏼
He never lived in a towerblock
I see why BBC has swept this under the carpet for so long. Entertaining anyways
To think this is the same sloth that constantly smashes the glass shattering button every second.
and you listen and love it 🤣
He really is a prat.
Thats not really Charlie sloth is it
@@bpower2431 better believe it
@@critique9997 nah he sucks and so does 90% of the artists he gets on there.
Ever since Charlie left thee beeb finally this comes out remember looking for this in the kurupt fm days no where to be found and now hey presto, even the beeb was looking out for their own . Jah bless
Why has this all of a sudden come up in recommended now?
Skinnyman UK legend.
Same as.
The algos bro lol.. got us all.. bbc blocked it for years as well
Skinnymans album Council Estate Of Mind is up there with some of the best hip hop albums ever!!!
might be the best UK hip hop album tbh
And skinny didnt make a solitary penny for it 😤
@@Dog-talesUK alot of that hoes on!!!
@@lukethegardenman3747 its criminal mate and even now the vinyl makes people profit and still skinny dont get nothing
@@Dog-talesUK I believe they under produced the original vinyl then never did a repress, they should press now a lot of people would buy, a mint copy can push 400
I remember watchin this series at the time. BBC 3 used to make some good documentaries. Deffo the best UK rap album ever. Shame he made no p’s off it but it’s getting re released this year. 20 year anniversary! Imma buy another copy 👌🏻🔥👑
The fact he realised his potential from early and is now where he is , is incredible.. i never knew he had been about this long.🤯 im shocked because im the same era , age and was still living in london and essex these times
skinny man was a g. never celebrated for his work but damn did he deserve it
Skinny and Klashnekoff ....two of the best 90s/00 artists...facts
& jehst
@@AKLFC89 💯💯
Chester P and farma
Bro everyone in the comments only talkin about sloth.
Put some RESPECT on Skinny’s name. Man is one of the originators of the UK Urban scene
Yeah exactly man.
Too real
RODNEY P !!
@Liam Mackenny what do you mean
Yea but sloths a millionaire and skinny ain’t made hardly no music unfortunately
That's my old estate, De Beauvouir Esate. The garages got blocked off by Hackney Council over 10 years ago
Was always around there in the 80’s, De Beauvouir square behind it is so nice, always been arguably the nicest bit of Hackney
Never was one to grow up on skinny man but looking back he actually one of the realist writers our country could have seen ngl..
Chester P & Farmer G = realists
Very Interesting watch 👍🏴
Sloth giving it the big~un about being in a magistrate court. 😂😂😂
That reminded me of MC Grindah man. lmao ✌️ 👍
@@jugsy7305 lol the show was inspired by this documentary. Pure kuruption everything else is irrelevant
@@jugsy7305 two stretch
@@akmedia8206 yeah a two stretch, that's like two weeks init... 😂
@@parlay-music each and every
I remember watching this as a kid. Mad.
This is hands down the best Doc on Inner City stuff. So sooo good. Blessings and shout out to all who helped make it! ✨✨👌🏻❤️🙏🏻
People just do nothing is one of my all time favorite shows (I’m in Texas) and it’s gold and it’s cool to finally see the backstory and like history. Will be watching part 2 & 3.
Hate to break it to you mate, this isn’t to to with PJDN.
@@dylanpaterson7549 Part 2 though is full of scenes ripped by PJDN. Even the names were taken from PT 2.
@@dylanpaterson7549 this is obviously the inspiration for PJDN so it has a lot to do with it. but I get what you mean.
@@dylanpaterson7549 PJDN used this as the basis for pretty much the entire show.
A yank, how can you even relate to that program I don't know.
O my days I always knew Charlie had another side to him. Big respect to Charlie and skinny. This was a real good insight to there younger lifes.
Id Still rather have these days back than the drill scene now
Without this music there would be no drill scene bro.
It's coming my bro.
shut up old man
@@Johnycum 😂💀
Why to scary for ya now?
5 years later and this video is only just blowing up.
5? This is from 2002 mate lol
@@bbb-mo6fz 🤣
💀 😂
😂😂😂😂
48:41 I remember that dude with the stella....i swear he was missing a finger and called himself "johnny fingers"...he was a classic charachter from back in the day in Camden
Johnny four fingers
Kitkat
both of the geezers featured talked good sense. great to see them both knowing the score and taking control of their own music careers .impressed.
top vid. thanks
I searched for this episode with Skinny on years ago and never found it, nice one for the upload
Sick documentary. Can’t believe I this has only just surfaced. Would love to see a follow up episode on Skinny man and Sloth current day
Sloth is a millionaire now
@@Henry-b3j yeah I know he blew up after all this but I’d be interested to see what he has to say about where he’s come from since this doc was made and what’s changed
@@oskarwedlake-hatton8774 that would be very interesting
@@Henry-b3j sloth a bullshiter fact
Crazy only just found this. Big up Charlie Sloth 🏆💯
Big up both of them for their love of music. 👍 ✌️
Big up skinnyman too he's quality
When Tim Westwood used to play the last 10mis of his show London emcees they blew my mind to pieces they are extremely talented thankyou London emcees for expressing your hearts utmost respect from Brumtown Peace
Can’t lie just got this recommended didn’t even know Sloth was about that life, madness!
Jesus Christ died for our sin,if we turn from our sins we will be saved
He wasn't.
He chatting bare shit
This documentary was so sick! Didn't have a clue that Charlie sloth was like that back in the day !
Yo bigups David for your work capturing this era and topic. If you have the other two episodes of Tower Block Dreams it would be amazing if you could upload them. The third episode Grimetime to Primetime doesn't seem available to watch anywhere on the internet as far as I can tell!
yeah, where is it and what's the story with its lack of availability I wonder?
Ever find them?
@@jose45077 the second episode is out there, but the third still isn't
I genuinely feel like one big thing these young gents could do to get out of this life is actually to speak different.
Just the words they use, the slang and the phrasing, I feel has a big impact on the way they see the world around them, aswell as how other people see them too.
I wish them the best of luck, although this doc is quite old, I wonder how they are doing nowadays.
Bloodclart this took me baaaack ! Classic program right here. Never realised Leo Gregory did VO !
Thanks for sharing. PJDN could have easily made a spinoff series based on these two mensa candidates. 'Sloth's speech about "focus and dedication" while he's intently focused on rolling up a fat one is too funny.
PJDN is a spin-off of another tower block dreams episode, the one with killa (grinder)
If you don't think you can be focused and blaze you only see one sid eof something.
Realistically the proof is in the pudding. Charlie is a bigtime radio DJ with multiple revenue streams. All of that takes focus and dedication.
@@mrtoad1408 Fair enough, the guy is more successful than I am. When watching this, I didn't realize he went on to have a career. Still funny though. Also, it's true some people can smoke everyday and still have focus, but none of the daily blazers I've ever known.
@@SrD1D0 It's crazy how far he's gone. Lots of ppl smoke and get their stuff done as well. It's just how it's viewed by greater society.
If he was in the pub with a pint in hand and said the same thing would you think it's funny as well?
Just to be clear im not being argumentative at all, got no time for that stuff and obvs tone doesn't translate over text, just genuinely curious.
@@mrtoad1408 Your point is well taken, I think alcohol is a much more destructive drug. Personally I smoke but I rarely drink. However, I still think chronic cannabis use can have a stronger demotivating effect than alcohol. But whether you agree or not, it wouldn't have made for a funny scene if he was nursing a pint.
Mad that you got the realist and the hardest mc England has produced and the biggest meme in the scene in the same video. Skinnyman is Englands 🐐
Charlie seems more like an overgrown, overactive child that got involved in a world he wasn't really from and was able to get out of it because he had a stable and supportive family.
so tru haha
💯
Those early Sloth Grimey Limeys tracks are sick. Shame you can't find 'em anywhere nowadays
They gotta be out there on UA-cam somewhere man.
Bbc hid his past for so long. Now he’s out of favour they’ve not taken this down.
This popped up in my feed I had no idea that a Charlie Sloth was in this.. ngl I’ve always seen him as a fake who puts on the accent to appease younger audiences, but the fact that he has actually been around that life.. I can’t lie this video’s earned my respect for him
This is here to remind us that Skinny has always been a G, and Sloth has always been an utter tool
Charlie's mum popping up with the pictures at 46 minutes in might be the funniest thing I've ever seen
I remember watching this on TV back when it first aired, never knew that was Charlie lol
This is going to do numbers! Respect to Charlie for such a huge glow up.
Lol at the chav getting excited about getting confused when Sloth mentions food. 😂
Little fume piece in the back there. 👌🏼😍
Charlie done his thing big respect💯
Was looking for this documentary for timee n then found it on some reddit thread under a link to someones google drive lool. They really tried hard to take this one down. Finally released the real 🔥
Sloth sounds like he’s doing a limp bizkit impression when he spits.
Lol was thinking the same
This is a great mockumentary! Very funny!😂👍
😂😂😂
I never saw this, only ever saw the other episode where Killer and his muggy little mates made pirate radio look bad.
Good to see Sloth and Skinny Man go onto bigger things since this.
They based people just do nothing on the other 2 episodes
Charlie Sloth/Charlie Rouillion origianally from the Ossulston Estate, Somers Town, London. Skinnyman/Alexander Graham Holland is from Andover Estate, Hollyway, London.
Charlie talking about that spliff like it's crack cocaine 🤣😂
Back then it was a bit more of a bigger deal
Yup 20 years ago was different
Yeah back then weed had more of a stigma
The only things they had before that was the Thai weed lol
@@jackptolomey3713 haha I remember those days. I don't know if I prefer the old days of smoking weed or the new days
Amazing to see Council Estate of Mind being recorded, timless!
Nothing’s changed except the fashion
And the music, the “accent”, drinking a San Miguel atm
@@EggGames the musics similar, these are before the UA-cam days when we had to record pirate radio over our sisters Britney Spears tapes. The good old days
Man like Charlie Sloth having people to ropes back in the day. Its good to see he's turned his life into ways to help other people now tho Bless Up Charles.
Second the shout from downstairs, big shout and bless to you who is passing through. Scrolling and rolling a zoot 2021
Gassin music kept me alive 10 years Homeless. Biggups skinnyman
Honestly been looking for this for ages 👌
Me too bro and I'm glad I've found it. 👍 ✌️
One of my fave docs ever
I take it Sloth was one of those guys who wouldn't let Truth get in the way of a good yarn..:-)
Great throwback this. Skinnyman is performing at the council estate of mind at the Jazz Cafe next month
45.35 charlie sloth realising remembering he's supposed to be at court is one of the funniest things ive ever seen
Skinny man is so intelligent. The way he can articulate himself in conversation and song and get people to listen is pure talent.
You have to think if people like him had grown up in a decent home with a nice family who supported him...would they turn out well?
after watching this I have a new found respect for mr sloth, anyone coming outta nothing like that is to be rated imo
Did you not see his parents house? People from nothing gift motorbikes?
Big up Charlie man, who'd a thought it!!!!
Skinny Man always been up there, some people just never get the break, he definitely should of.
Still can recognise it's Sloth, his head just got bigger along with his body 😅
He's gone so far aswell man, good for him. 👍 ✌️
Still got skinnyman first album this was just class to watch proper blast to the past ✌ the old channel U days image of skinnyman had what today youth have got he would have absolutely smashed it
Skinnny made the best UK rap album ever...
Lowkey
Council estate minds is banging..
Loved his fuck the hook song..
@@mykal666myers Fuck the Hook is so good... The whole song is flawless.
Don't have to look for trouble, trouble it'll find ya
Don't turn around it'll be right behind ya
Then September the 11th will remind ya
Nobody ain't too major nor minor
And didn't make a single penny from album sales!
Mad seeing this. I used to DJ with Charlie a lot before he blew up. I remember the Grimy Limeys 😅 Had no idea this existed
The one lad with the black snapback still had the clothing store alarm tag on his coat😭
Thanks David. Still enjoying this in 2021!