So Solid Crew tells today's Independent newspaper that the band are now a brand not a band.

Twelve years on from their chart success, So Solid Crew's Harvey says:

"You look at acts like Tinie and Dizzee but they are just music. We are brands. I've got so many things in so many pies, I could work until I'm 50!”

Havey is referring to fellow bandmate, Megaman's management deals for upcoming talent and SSC's jewellery endorsement contracts.

“We've got video-hosting websites; our own range of clothing is in Top Man now; and we're about to get into legal radio. Always growing, yeah? It's like, if I've got two houses, I want four…”

“Thing is,” says Harvey, “we are British, just like you. So shouldn't you all be proud of us? You love American rappers, and half of them have gone to jail on murder and firearm charges! But still, they come here and they get maximum love.

"Meanwhile, all people here say is, 'Ban So Solid.' Why? Be proud of us instead, man! Because bottom line is this: we've done something no other crew in this country has done.

“You know what that means? It means that when we die, we'll be remembered. We're pioneers.”

The Best Of…' by So Solid Crew is out now. The band's tour continues in Sheffield tonight (November 16), Norwich (November 18) and Birmingham (November 19).

Watch So Solid Crew's official video for '21 Seconds', and the band's at O2 Indigo earlier this year: