It has been over two decades since the ten-strong, gelled-haired force of Blazin' Squad first stormed the UK charts. Bursting onto the scene in August 2002 with their debut single 'Crossroads', the hip-hop collective from Chingford secured six Top 10 hits and two Top 40 albums before their split in 2005.
All alumni of Highams Park School, the group enjoyed sold-out arena tours, a headline set at Wembley, and two gold records. But when the music stopped, the former teen heartthrobs embarked on wildly different paths, spanning reality TV fame, corporate banking, and even window fitting.
Reality TV Regulars and Personal Transformations
James 'Kenzie' MacKenzie leveraged his Squad fame into a prolific television career. He finished second in Celebrity Big Brother in 2006 and his high-profile relationship with glamour model Jodie Marsh kept him in the spotlight. Further TV appearances followed, and in 2014 he joined the supergroup 5th Story for ITV's The Big Reunion.
Today, Kenzie is almost unrecognisable from his boyband days. He has reinvented himself as a personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder, showcasing his physique on social media. He also works as a DJ and is a father to two daughters with his long-term partner.
Marcel 'Rocky B' Somerville found a new audience on reality TV, finishing fourth on the 2017 series of Love Island with Gabby Allen. He later penned a dating advice book. Marcel returned for the Love Island All Stars series in January 2025 but was eliminated after little over a week.
His personal life has seen public turmoil; he married Rebecca Vieira in August 2022 and they share a son, but the couple separated in 2024 after revelations of her infidelity and are now divorcing.
From the Music Industry to Corporate Life
Other members stepped away from entertainment entirely. Ollie 'Freek' Georgiou initially built a career in corporate banking after the band split. He has since returned to music as a manager for new artists and made a brief reality TV appearance on Tattoo Fixers in 2017.
Chris 'Melo-D' McKeckney took a more hands-on career turn. Alongside occasional band reunions, he worked fitting windows for a double glazing company and even launched his own firm, Stronghold Glazing Ltd, in January 2017. The venture was short-lived, dissolving by 2018. Chris now works as a Field Services Engineer for Virgin Media.
Stuart 'Reepa' Baker remains in media, working in a managerial role at the BBC, while Sam 'Spike-E' Foulkes is believed to work in import/export. Lee 'Krazy' Bailey and Tom 'Tommy-B' Beasley have both maintained low profiles, with Tom moving into arts leadership roles, including at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
Lasting Musical Success Behind the Scenes
Two members have found significant, sustained success in the music industry. James 'Flava' Murray and Mustafa 'Strider' Omer formed the production and songwriting duo Mojam after the band's split.
Their achievements are impressive; they co-wrote Sam Smith and Naughty Boy's 2013 chart-topper 'La La La', which became the sixth best-selling single in the UK that year. Their portfolio includes work with major artists like Emeli Sandé, Anne-Marie, David Guetta, Aitch, and Khalid.
While their paths have diverged dramatically—from glamour model flings and Love Island villas to double glazing and Grammy-winning production—the legacy of Blazin' Squad's early-noughties reign continues, with each member writing a unique next chapter far from the crossroads of their youth.
