{{short description|British DJ, producer and TV presenter (born 1981)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} {{Use British English|date=April 2014}} {{update|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Charlie Sloth | image = Charlie Sloth Silver Hayes (cropped).jpg | caption = Rouillon in 2016 | image_size = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1981|08|20}} | death_date = | origin = Camden, London, England | instrument = | genre = {{flatlist| * Hip hop * trap * grime * political hip hop }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * DJ * hype man * record producer * radio host * TV presenter }} | years_active = | label = Grimey Limey | website = {{URL|https://charliesloth.com}} }} '''Charlie Ian Paul Rouillon''' (born 20 August 1981), known professionally as '''Charlie Sloth''', is a British DJ, hype man, producer and TV presenter.
== Early life == Charlie Rouillon was born on 20 August 1981, from Seychelles and Irish heritage .<ref name="ch">{{cite web |title=Charlie Ian Paul ROUILLON personal appointments – Find and update company information – GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/jy0Uq30h0LtlCABx4UQjezBSh_Q/appointments |url-status=live |website=Companies House |access-date=2022-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229122549/https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/jy0Uq30h0LtlCABx4UQjezBSh_Q/appointments |archive-date=2022-12-29 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite twitter |number=898953076849201154 |last=Rouillon |first=Charlie |user=CharlieSloth |title=With tomorrow being my birthday come party with me tonight in Brighton @coalition_btn ITS GONNA BE A ZOO!!!! 🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾🍾 |access-date=2022-12-29 |language=en}}</ref> He was raised in the London Borough of Camden and attended Haverstock School.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Review music: Bring Charlie Sloth {{!}} Web show {{!}} Haverstock school pupil {{!}} hip-hop|url=https://www.thecnj.com/review/2009/120309/music120309_01.html|access-date=2020-11-22|website=www.thecnj.com}}</ref> He is an avid supporter of Liverpool F.C.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40904592 |title=Premier League predictions: Do these Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJs know their football? |website=BBC Sport |date=11 August 2017 |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>
==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<ref name="noisey" /> and his weeknight late show ''The 8th''. He was previously a presenter on the weekday drivetime show on BBC Radio 1Xtra.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-41508629|work=Newsbeat|title=Charlie Sloth gets new late night entertainment show on Radio 1 and 1Xtra|date=5 October 2017|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116081347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41508629/charlie-sloth-gets-new-late-night-entertainment-show-on-radio-1-and-1xtra|archive-date=16 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref name="noisey">{{cite web | url = https://www.vice.com/en/article/which-mc-recorded-the-best-ever-fire-in-the-booth/ | first = Paul | last = Gibbins | date = 1 March 2016 | access-date = 22 October 2016 | work = Noisey | publisher = Vice | title = Which MC Recorded the Greatest 'Fire in the Booth'? | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161023055539/https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/which-mc-recorded-the-best-ever-fire-in-the-booth | archive-date = 23 October 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref> 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.''<ref name="noisey" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45927344|title=Charlie Sloth leaving Radio 1 and 1Xtra immediately|date=2018-10-20|access-date=2019-11-19|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408012820/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45927344|archive-date=8 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
===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".<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110708140131/http://ftp.chartattack.com/news/44271/alexisonfire-and-thom-yorke-fare-well-at-cravefest-awards Chartattack: Cravefest awards, 21 September 2007]}}</ref> He also created a weekly online video series ''Being Charlie Sloth'', which was picked up by WorldStarHipHop.com. The show ran for 59 episodes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhATA2A52xQ3Uy3gG4|title=Being Charlie Sloth #34 – Need More Hour In A Day (Life of an Independent British Rap Artist)|access-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
In 2008, Sloth won Best Rap/Hip-Hop/R&B Unsigned Artist at the CraveFest awards in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=CraveFest 2008 Music Video Award Winners! |url=http://www.cravefest.com/crave08/winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915071903/http://www.cravefest.com/crave08/winners/ |archive-date=15 September 2008 |work=cravefest.com}}</ref> He released ''Hard Being Good'' in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |author=Administrator |title=- Charlie Sloth – Hard Being Good [Audio] |url=http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/downloads/audio/charlie_sloth_-_hard_being_good_audio.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401031247/http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/downloads/audio/charlie_sloth_-_hard_being_good_audio.html |archive-date=1 April 2012 |access-date=3 October 2015 |work=britishhiphop.co.uk}}</ref>
===2012 – present=== Sloth presented the daily drivetime show on BBC Radio 1Xtra from September 2012<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/25/tim-westwood-xtra-drivetime-show|title=Tim Westwood 'sacked' from Radio 1Xtra drivetime show|work=the Guardian|date=25 May 2012|last=Sweney|first=Mark|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055735/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/may/25/tim-westwood-xtra-drivetime-show|archive-date=7 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-41508629|title=Charlie Sloth gets new late night entertainment show on Radio 1 and 1Xtra|date=5 October 2017|work=Newsbeat|access-date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116081347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/41508629/charlie-sloth-gets-new-late-night-entertainment-show-on-radio-1-and-1xtra|archive-date=16 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45741140|title=Charlie Sloth to leave BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra|date=2018-10-04|work=BBC News|access-date=2020-02-12|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45927344|title=Charlie Sloth: Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJ leaving station immediately – BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408005548/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45927344|archive-date=8 April 2019|access-date=23 October 2019}}</ref> This followed Charlie Sloth controversially "storming the stage" at the Audio and Productions Awards show on 18 October.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/10/charlie-sloth-leaves-the-bbc-early-after-stage-rant/|title=Charlie Sloth leaves the BBC early after stage rant|date=20 October 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsn6D1BlQUf/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bsn6D1BlQUf |archive-date=24 December 2021 |url-access=registration|title=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…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2019-01-15}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/04/charlie-sloth/|title=BBC's leading hip-hop DJ Charlie Sloth joins Apple Music, following in Zane Lowe's footsteps|last=Lovejoy|first=Ben|date=2018-10-04|website=9to5Mac|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115181935/https://9to5mac.com/2018/10/04/charlie-sloth/|archive-date=15 January 2019|access-date=2019-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46864293|title=Charlie Sloth joins Apple's Beats 1 radio station|date=2019-01-14|access-date=2019-01-15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132435/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46864293|archive-date=15 January 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46864293|title=Charlie Sloth joins Apple Music's Beats 1 radio station – BBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115132435/https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-46864293|archive-date=15 January 2019|access-date=15 January 2019}}</ref>
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.<ref>[https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/roc-nation-signs-british-hip-hop-dj-charlie-sloth/ Roc Nation signs British hip-hop DJ Charlie Sloth] musicbusinessworldwide.com</ref>
In November 2025, Charlie announced he was leaving Apple Music at the end of the year <ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DRQC99hDJVs/?hl=en |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
In January 2026, Charlie announced he was working on his own album, with a different direction away from Grime. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DTI85CMDJ0Y/?hl=en |access-date=2026-01-05 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>
== Personal life == Charlie Rouillon was born in 1981 in London, England. Both of his parents are originally from Liverpool, as are his siblings, and his mother moved to London while pregnant with him.
Rouillon has spoken in interviews about his black grandfather, who was from the Seychelles, which is where the surname Rouillon originates.<ref>https://www.gigwise.com/videos/96782/charlie-sloth-interview-on-hood-heat-and-self-belief/</ref> He has said that his grandfather later settled in Liverpool after serving for Britain during the Second World War.
Rouillon was educated at Haverstock School in Camden Town, London.. <ref>https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/charlie-sloth-from-homeless-to-fire-in-the-booth-to/id1291423644?i=1000587666331</ref>
=== 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.<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite news|date=25 November 2019|title=Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|url-status=live|access-date=1 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125144040/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|archive-date=25 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="theguardian2">{{cite news|last=Gayle|first=Damien|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|title=Stormzy backs Labour in election with call to end austerity|work=The Guardian|date=25 November 2019|access-date=1 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191125144040/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/25/musicians-backing-jeremy-corbyns-labour|archive-date=25 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''The Plug'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-plug/1239434814|title=The Plug by Charlie Sloth on Apple Music|work=iTunes Store (GB)|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125094149/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/the-plug/id1239434814|archive-date=25 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Respect">{{cite web|url=http://respect-mag.com/2017/08/charlie-sloth-plug|title=Stream Charlie Sloth's Debut Album 'The Plug'|work=Respect|last=Powell|first=Jon|date=21 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021154318/https://respect-mag.com/2017/08/charlie-sloth-plug/|archive-date=21 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Mixtapes=== * ''The Big Boot'' (2004) * ''Secret Society'' (2006) * ''Hard Being Good'' (2008) * ''The Black Book'' (2010) * ''Hood Heat Vol. 1'' (2014)<ref name="Respect"/> * ''Hood Heat Vol. 2'' (2015)<ref name="Respect"/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sloth, Charlie}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:English hip-hop musicians Category:English record producers Category:Grime music artists Category:BBC Radio 1 presenters Category:British hip-hop DJs Category:DJs from London Category:People from Camden Town Category:BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters