The surprising career changes of iconic Noughties band revealed: From Net Zero manager and songwriters to the stars to reality TV contestants

They shot to fame in the early 2000s with six top 10 hits, including the iconic Crossroads cover. 

But not everyone from the 10-strong hip-hop band Blazin’ Squad has stayed in the music industry since they disbanded.

Blazin’ Squad released their first album in 2002 called In The Beginning and their second Now Or Never dropped the following year, but poor sales meant a third deal wasn’t greenlit. 

In 2005 the band began to fracture as Strider, Flava and Kenzie signed a separate record deal while Rocky-B, Reepa, Spike-E and Melo-D relaunched Blazin Squad as a four-piece. Four years later, Kenzie joined the four for a Blazin Squad reunion and they released a Greatest Hits album.

Marcel Somerville and James McKenzie, aka Rocky B and Kenzie, are the band’s most well known members – having both ventured into the world of reality TV. 

But several of its members had surprising career changes in the years after the band’s split. 

From song-writers to the stars, to a Net Zero manager and a window fitter, MailOnline takes a look at what Blazin’ Squad are up to now. 

Blazin’ Squad shot to fame in the early 2000s with six top 10 hits, but has not everyone from the boy band has stayed in the music industry since they disbanded

(L-R Back: Chris McKeckney aka Melo-D; Lee Bailey aka Krazy; James MacKenzie aka Kenzie; Marcel Somerville aka Rocky B ; Ollie Georgiou aka Freek; Sam Foulkes aka Spike-E; Thomas Beasley aka Tommy B; Mustafa Omer aka Strider; Front: Stuart Baker aka Reepa; Sam Foulkes aka Spike-E; James Murray aka Flava) 

Window fitter-turned-wifi engineer

Melo-D – Chris McKeckney 

Chris McKeckney, aka Melo-D, still takes to the stage on and off with the band for reunion gigs – but the star also turned his hand to a variety of careers in the years after they disbanded

Chris McKeckney, aka Melo-D, still takes to the stage on and off with the band for reunion gigs.

But the star also turned his hand to a variety of careers in the years after they disbanded. 

First up was as a window fitter for double glazing – and he even set up his own company called Stronghold Glazing Ltd in January 2017.

However it was a short lived venture as in May 2017, just five months later, Chris resigned as the company’s director. 

Another five months after that, in October, an application filed for the company to be struck off the register completely and by January 2018 it had been dissolved. 

But Chris quickly found another profession, as his LinkedIn shows he has been working as a Field Services Engineer for Virgin Media since February 2017. 

Songwriters to the stars  

Strider and Flava – Mustafa Omer and James Murray 

Mustafa Omer [Strider] has remained in the entertainment industry, going on to become a song-writing duo called Mojam, with fellow bandmember James Murray

James Murray [Flava] and Mustafa saw huge success as writers, and have worked with the likes of Emeli Sande, Leona Lewis, Naughty Boy and Professor Green

After forming a tight bond during their time in the band, Mustafa Omer [Strider] and James Murray [Flava] continued working together. 

And they did in fact stay in the entertainment industry, going on to become a song-writing duo called Mojam.  

The duo saw huge success as writers, and have worked with the likes of Emeli Sande, Leona Lewis, Naughty Boy and Professor Green. 

They even co-wrote Sam Smith and Naughty Boy’s hugely successful hit single La La La.

The track went on to be the sixth best selling single in the UK in 2013, even making its way onto the US charts that year.

Net Zero manager 

Spike-E – Sam Foulkes

Sam Foulkes aka Spike-E still reminds people he is a member of Blazin’ Squad on his social media

Sam Foulkes aka Spike-E still reminds people he is a member of Blazin’ Squad on his social media.

And he appears for performances alongside the likes of Chris, Love Island star Marcel Somerville and Ollie Georgiou [Freek]. 

But in the years since the band’s heyday, Sam has turned his attention to a more climate conscious role. 

In August 2014, he started working as a Document Controller for sustainable design company MTT Limited, where he stayed for just over two years. 

Then in 2016 he moved over into the world of green energy and started working for Net Zero carbon company Vital Energi Utilities Ltd as a Document Control Manager.

‘I am an Experienced Document Control manager with a demonstrated history of working in the Construction industry (MEP/ District Heating),’ he says on his LinkedIn.

Reality stars 

Rocky B and Kenzie – Marcel Somerville and James McKenzie  

Marcel Somerville, aka Rocky B, brought Blazin’ Squad back into the mainstream in 2017 when he appeared on the third season of Love Island and recently Love Island: All Stars 

Another Blazin Squad member to take to reality TV was Kenzie [James McKenzie]. At just 19 years old, Kenzie came second on Celebrity Big Brother 

Kenzie jolted further into the spotlight when he began dating former glamour model Jodie Marsh – who was almost twice his age at the time (pictured)

Marcel Somerville, aka Rocky B, brought Blazin’ Squad back into the mainstream in 2017 when he appeared on the third season of Love Island.

He was known on the show for his dating advice, and was quick to write his own book Dr. Marcel’s Little Book of Big Love soon after leaving the villa.

But it was his own infidelity which stunted his TV career after in the time that followed, as he was set to become a love guru on Celebs Go Dating.

Marcel, who is thought to be worth £100,000, lost the gig after it was revealed he had cheated on his then-girlfriend Gabby Allen while on holiday. 

He returned to reality TV in January 2025 when he reentered the Love Island villa for its All Stars series in South Africa – however he lasted just over a week before being dumped from the show. 

Another Blazin’ Squad member to take to reality TV was Kenzie [James McKenzie].

At just 19 years old, Kenzie came second on Celebrity Big Brother and jolted further into the spotlight when he began dating former glamour model Jodie Marsh – who was almost twice his age at the time. 

He went on to appear on TV shows including The Weakest Link, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Celebrity Juice and even published an autobiography. 

In 2014 he took part in ITV’s Big Reunion which featured bands from thew 90s and noughties and he formed part of a supergroup called 5th Story.