Charlie Sloth

Early life

Charlie Ian Paul Rouillon was born on 20 August 1981. He was raised in the London Borough of Camden and attended Haverstock School. He is an avid supporter of Liverpool F.C.

Career

Most of Sloth's career as a radio DJ has been spent on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra, presenting The Rap Show on Saturday nights and his weeknight late show The 8th. He was previously a presenter on the weekday drivetime show on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

His trademark freestyle brand, Fire in the Booth, has been described as "...a real mark of prestige in the scene, especially for newcomers" with MCs from grime and hip-hop coming into the studio to perform. Akala, Avelino, Devlin, Professor Green, K Koke, Lowkey, Mic Righteous, Bugzy Malone, Big Narstie, Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32, Drake, Big Shaq, Migos and others have performed on Fire in the Booth. Canadian rapper Drake's appearance was "...four or five years in the making", with Sloth noting in 2018 that it was one of his favourite moments of the show.

2007 – 2008

Sloth came to notability in 2007, after he won Most Original Video at the CraveFest Awards Canada for music video "Guided Tour of Camden". He also created a weekly online video series Being Charlie Sloth, which was picked up by WorldStarHipHop.com. The show ran for 59 episodes.

In 2008, Sloth won Best Rap/Hip-Hop/R&B Unsigned Artist at the CraveFest awards in Canada. He released Hard Being Good in the same year.

2012 – present

Sloth presented the daily drivetime show on BBC Radio 1Xtra from September 2012 until November 2017

On 6 November 2017, Sloth began presenting a new late-night show, The 8th, which was simulcast on Radio 1 and 1Xtra from Monday to Thursday from 9 until 11 pm.

On 3 October 2018, Sloth announced he would be leaving BBC 1Xtra, with his last planned show being on 3 November. This was however cut short on 20 October when Radio 1 "agreed with Charlie" that he would not be completing his remaining 10 shows. This followed Charlie Sloth controversially "storming the stage" at the Audio and Productions Awards show on 18 October. On 14 January 2019, Sloth announced via Instagram that he would be joining Apple Music and Beats 1 and bringing Fire In The Booth over. He also hosts the Rap Show and curates playlists for Apple Music.

In August 2020, it was announced that Sloth had signed a deal with Jay Z's Roc Nation. The deal is a partnership which sees Roc Nation look after all of his assets on a worldwide deal.

In November 2025, Charlie announced he was leaving Apple Music at the end of the year

In January 2026, Charlie announced he was working on his own album, with a different direction away from Grime.

Personal life

Political views

In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, Sloth signed a letter endorsing Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity.

Discography

Albums

• The Plug (2017)

Mixtapes

• The Big Boot (2004)
• Secret Society (2006)
• Hard Being Good (2008)
• The Black Book (2010)
• Hood Heat Vol. 1 (2014)
• Hood Heat Vol. 2 (2015)

References

References

1. ""Charlie" Ian Paul ROUILLON personal appointments – Find and update company information – GOV.UK".
2. Rouillon, Charlie. "With tomorrow being my birthday come party with me tonight in Brighton @coalition_btn ITS GONNA BE A ZOO!!!! 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾".
3. "Review music: Bring Charlie Sloth {{!}} Web show {{!}} Haverstock school pupil {{!}} hip-hop".
4. (11 August 2017). "Premier League predictions: Do these Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJs know their football?".
5. (5 October 2017). "Charlie Sloth gets new late night entertainment show on Radio 1 and 1Xtra". [[Newsbeat]].
6. Gibbins, Paul. (1 March 2016). "Which MC Recorded the Greatest 'Fire in the Booth'?". [[Vice (magazine).
7. (2018-10-20). "Charlie Sloth leaving Radio 1 and 1Xtra immediately".
8. {{usurped
9. "Being Charlie Sloth #34 – Need More Hour In A Day (Life of an Independent British Rap Artist)".
10. "CraveFest 2008 Music Video Award Winners!". cravefest.com.
11. Administrator. "- Charlie Sloth – Hard Being Good [Audio]". britishhiphop.co.uk.
12. Sweney, Mark. (25 May 2012). "Tim Westwood 'sacked' from Radio 1Xtra drivetime show". [[the Guardian]].
13. (5 October 2017). "Charlie Sloth gets new late night entertainment show on Radio 1 and 1Xtra". Newsbeat.
14. (2018-10-04). "Charlie Sloth to leave BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra". BBC News.
15. "Charlie Sloth: Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ leaving station immediately – BBC News".
16. (20 October 2018). "Charlie Sloth leaves the BBC early after stage rant".
17. "Charlie Sloth on Instagram: "Im soooo GASSED to announce that I'm taking #FireInTheBooth and my Rap show to @beats1official and @applemusic. Listen every week starting…"".
18. Lovejoy, Ben. (2018-10-04). "BBC's leading hip-hop DJ Charlie Sloth joins Apple Music, following in Zane Lowe's footsteps".
19. (2019-01-14). "Charlie Sloth joins Apple's Beats 1 radio station".
20. "Charlie Sloth joins Apple Music's Beats 1 radio station – BBC News".
21. [https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/roc-nation-signs-british-hip-hop-dj-charlie-sloth/ Roc Nation signs British hip-hop DJ Charlie Sloth] musicbusinessworldwide.com
22. "Instagram".
23. "Instagram".
24. (25 November 2019). "Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour". [[The Guardian]].
25. Gayle, Damien. (25 November 2019). "Stormzy backs Labour in election with call to end austerity". [[The Guardian]].
26. "The Plug by Charlie Sloth on Apple Music". [[iTunes Store]] (GB).
27. Powell, Jon. (21 August 2017). "Stream Charlie Sloth's Debut Album 'The Plug'". [[Respect. (magazine).