In the early 2000s, So Solid Crew took the music scene by storm with chart-topping tracks like “21 Seconds” and “They Don’t Know.”

Despite their musical success, the group faced criticism for allegedly promoting gun culture and violence, with government minister Kim Howells famously calling them “idiots.”

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, MC Harvey, now 46, shared his thoughts on the backlash, voicing his irritation over the group’s association with violence.

He remarked, “Whenever we entered a venue or attended a premiere, we could sense the fear because of the typical stereotype of young black men from inner-city areas.”

Harvey continued, “I used to dislike hearing people say, ‘you’re actually a really nice guy.’ Romeo and I would often think, ‘how many times do we have to hear this nonsense?’ We’ve always been good people, raised by incredible women.”

So Solid Crew were plagued with reports of criminality, with the 30-strong collective having to cancel their debut tour amid fears of violence.

MC Harvey has claimed So Solid Crew were stereotyped because they were ‘inner city black boys’ – after group were accused of glorifying guns

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, MC Harvey, 46, reflected on the backlash, expressing his frustration that the group were ‘stereotyped with violence’ (L-R Carl Morgan, Romeo, Lisa Maffia, Megaman, Ashley Walters and Harvey at the 2002 BRIT Awards) 

One fan was stabbed to death after going to see the band in Luton, while two people were shot and wounded at Romeo’s 21st birthday party.

Ashley Walters – who has since left the band and launched a successful acting career – was jailed for 18 months in 2002 for carrying a loaded Brocock air pistol modified to fire live ammunition.

On the public perception of the group, Harvey continued: ‘It was people being like, “oh, stay away from them or apparently they’ve got guns and drugs”. All this rubbish that goes with every rap group.

 It happened to N.W.A. It happened to Run DMC. It happened to Public Enemy, Wu Tang clan, in every black collective.

‘It’s recycled and boring. We were blacklisted from the day we came out.’

Despite the negative perception of his group, Harvey looks back on their heyday fondly. 

He explained: ‘ I don’t ever look back on my career with any regret. 

‘Without the negative and positive I wouldn’t be here today, I wouldn’t be a family man. I wouldn’t have learned from my mistakes. This is who I am, take it or leave it. Simple as that.’

On the public perception of the group, Harvey continued: ‘It was people being like, “oh, stay away from them or apparently they’ve got guns and drugs”. All this rubbish that goes with every rap group’

Harvey is happily settled with fiancée Mia Poole, who he described as his ‘saviour’ and with whom he shares three children. 

The rapper was previously married to Alesha Dixon from 2005 to 2006, but they split after it emerged he had cheated on her with singer Javine Hylton.

He was later wed to his pregnant girlfriend of five years, Ghamzeh Mahdizadeh, but they split just months later after it was claimed he had been secretly seeing American actress Elarica Johnson.

Harvey shares daughter Angel, 17, with Javine, while he has daughter Persia, eight, from his relationship with Ghamzeh. 

In December 2021 he popped the question to psychiatric nurse Mia but he revealed they are in no rush to walk down the aisle just yet. 

‘My Mrs. is not fussed about all that, the bright lights and pressure of people,’ Harvey explained. ‘We’ll do it when we feel comfortable. 

‘We’ve got three kids in our house under 10 years old, our house is crazy! 

‘There’s no pressure. It’s [Mia’s] my best friend. We’ll do it when the kids ain’t killing us with a million ballet and football classes, the children just keep us busy.’

Harvey is happily settled with fiancée Mia Poole, who he described as his ‘saviour’ and with whom he shares three childre

One thing is for certain, however, that they’ll go abroad for the big day in order to escape the ‘depressing’ British weather.  

For now, Harvey is making do by watching sunnier climes on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 

He revealed he is rooting for Aitch – who lives down the road from him – to do well and has been voting for him to do the Bushtucker Trials.  

‘He’s my boy, I love him,’ Harvey mused. He’s a nice kid. He calls me Uncle legend. I want him to do well because I think he’s a good kid. I think he carries himself very well. I think he’s funny. He’s got charisma.

‘Good to see Kelly [Brook] on there too. I know Kelly well and Jack Osborne I was good friends with his sister Kelly.  So this one’s quite nice because there a lot of people I like. 

‘I just love seeing Aitch’s relationship with other people because you have these perceptions of rappers, don’t you?

‘When I went on Big Brother, no one expected me to be close with Julian Clary. I love Julian.

‘I treat people how they treat me, I don’t care from what walks of life you come from or your sexual preference, that’s nothing to do with me. As long as you’re a good human being it doesn’t bother me.’ 

Harvey is launching the Wrapping Rappers Christmas Experience at Westfield London which will see Westfield’s gift-wrapping station set to become a festive rapping booth

Talented musicians will deliver personalised verses as they package up shoppers’ gifts

Harvey has teamed up with Westfield London to give Christmas gifting an unexpected twist with the arrival of Wrapping Rappers – a playful new experience where rap meets ribbon and festive stories are turned into live freestyle performances.

Across two December evenings, shoppers can hand over their purchases and watch as performers wrap each item while creating personalised verses inspired by the gifts, the recipients and all things seasonal. 

Discussing the initiative, Harvey said: ‘It’s a great project by Westfield. It’s good to see families coming in and they’re going to be entertained by a So Solid performance at the same time, which is very positive.

‘I always said when I got to my mid 40s it’s good to be doing these types of positive campaigns – whoever thought you’d see me doing Christmas campaigns with a Christmas hat on! 

‘It’s going to be so crazy when people are going to walk in there, think they’re going to be just getting gift wrapping and they’re going to see me in there.’

So Solid Crew’s Harvey will treat shoppers to a live set as he takes over the Wrapping Rappers booth at Westfield London on December 9 from 6–8pm, before packaging up shoppers’ gifts as part of the festive experience.