DRIVEN underground by the nanny state UK authorities, Goldie Lookin Chain have been bravely flying the flag for Welsh rap and winning fans in unlikely places.

These tracksuit-loving draw enthusiasts’ latest alliance is with none other than classical baritone Aled Jones. The clean-cut former choirboy met up with the eight-strong hip-hop collective at Cardiff’s massive Tsunami gig earlier this year, and has just recorded a duet with them.

"It’s top secret, I can’t say any more, but you heard about it here first. Aled is a good lad but he can’t drink! There’s talk of him joining the Welsh Assembly, but he should just stick to the singing," explained Maggot, the group’s artful dodger who's also known affectionately as the hip hop vampire.

His unlikely band of Newport sonic warriors have whipped up a devoted following in double-quick time. As the shady MC from the valleys revealed, their rise to fame has been nothing short of madness.

From virtual unkowns in 2003, their overly-optimistic titled Greatest Hits album stormed to the top of the charts and spawned the hilarious singles Half Man Half Machine and Your Mother’s Got a Penis.

Though their debut gig in Kent at the Leas Cliff Hall last year in support of The Darkness may not have gone to plan, it’s certainly one they recall well.

"People didn’t know who we were and were just going who are these idiots. But we got some good feedback from it. People were e-mailing us saying they thought we were rubbish, but that they had actually changed their minds about us."

Eighteen months on and they’ve no such worries. Several sell-out tours have boosted both their confidence and bank balances. With their critically acclaimed second album in the bag the lads could easily afford to sit back on cruise-control.

But recent weeks have seen them play the role of rap mentor to CDUK’s Myleene Klass, do a Children in Need show and film a cameo in Channel 4 soap, Hollyoaks. They have even secured one of the Chester-based series’ babes, Gemma Atkinson for the video of their latest single, R and B.

In a surprising move, the band don dapper white suits in the accompanying video. Does this herald a new Armani influence over their favoured Argos-style jewellery and Addidas tracksuits? "It’s all a learning curve, but I am not into R and B myself, I’ll stick to the hip hop and leave the suits to people like Usher."

If you had to describe this highly alternative outfit in one word it would surely be bonkers. Mashing up samples of everything from Grange Hill, Paul Hardcastle to the much-missed Taxi TV series has assured them a deserved cult status.

But it’s their hazy, exaggerated recollections of a miss-spent youth that really raises a laugh. Outlandish tales of dropping bricks on trains, romancing girlfriends down the local chippy and bingeing on Tizer and Space Raiders crisps while watching the A-Team form the core of their lyrical obsessions.

"It’s just the stories that we remember. We always say that we met in 1983, but it was more like 1993, but what’s a few years. Some of the kids who see us wonder what the heck were going on about as it means nothing to them!"

For any who may be struggling to get down with GLC’s valley lingo, there’s now a handy phrase dictionary on their website.

As you might expect, one of their favourite pass-times has a decidedly old-school flavour, know as the A-Team game. This cheap yet cheerful thrill involves standing round in a circle drinking bottom-of the-rack Lambrini wine while singing lets get on the A Team van.

"It’s a bit mad as it can be messy. It’s a bit like flying, you are only supposed to do four long haul flights in a month or it will wreck you!"

Getting off their trolleys is clearly a crucial part of the eight-strong group’s agenda (their ninth, dancer, Roscoe P recently departed to work on a cruise ship). "White wine helps with the shows," added Maggot with a chuckle.

"I haven’t really got a clue about hip hop, but I remember the first tune I heard. It was The Beastie Boys Fight for Your Right to Party when I was in my nephew’s car. I also knew a lad who was into Public Enemy. It was great that a kid from the valleys was into some cool stuff."

As he freely admitted, signing on would have been his most probable fate had the group not found fame.

When quizzed by a local careers adviser in his home-town on how youngsters might get into rapping, he was a little non-plussed. "I had no idea what to say, these things just happen. I never would have thought I’d be doing this as a profession two years ago."

But from their somewhat shambling beginnings in Dwain P Xain’s bedroom over a few exotic cigarettes, they have done themselves proud. Their latest UK tour sees them take to the road with fellow Welsh native Grant Nicholas of Feeder.

Though Maggot is a tad nervous about their very differing sounds, he felt it would be a good crack. That’s if they can survive the pain of the tour bus lifestyle which is "like being in a submarine, you just have to go in standby mode".

Despite such traumas, it seems the seasonal good vibes are building in the GLC camp. Plenty of food, drink and merriment will figure in their plans this December. But as he added, the one thing the hip hop vampire fears the most is the prospect of getting flu. "My festive message is don’t get ill for Christmas, that’d be rubbish."

* Goldie Lookin Chain play with Feeder at the Brighton Centre on Friday, December 2 - box office 01273 290131 - then the London Hammersmith Apollo on Monday, December 5 and Tuesday, December 6 - box office 0870 606 3400.