[3][6] Their debut album, More Fire CV, had failed to chart,[6] and Bizzle partially attributed the album's lack of success to its release during a time when the industry had reacted negatively to violent incidents in the UK garage scene, with major platforms such as BBC Radio 1 and MTV Base effectively boycotting garage and grime music.

features guest appearances from ten other grime artists including fellow Fire Camp members Neeko, Ozzie B and Fumin, Napper and Demon of East Connection, Flowdan of Roll Deep and former member Jamakabi, and D Double E, who had recently left N.A.S.T.Y Crew; four of the most well-known East London grime crews in 2004.

[3] Bizzle hoped that by including members of multiple crews, their DJs – who would often have their own radio shows – would be able to boost the song's airplay.

[10] Bizzle had not intended to feature Jamakabi but he earned his place on the song after showing up to the recording session alongside Flowdan.

[11] Commander B, who recorded the song at his studio in Walthamstow, premiered it on his weekly Choice FM show without Bizzle's permission prior to its release.

[3] The single campaign was initially self-funded, and when director Mo Ali approached Bizzle expressing an interest in filming the music video, he was taken up on this offer.

instrumental at multiple British tour dates in late 2006, including shows at the Wembley Arena and Royal Albert Hall with a live orchestra.

(Forward)" eventually went on to become what music journalist Dan Hancox described in a Guardian article as the "unofficial soundtrack" to the 2010 student protests against a rise in tuition fees.

[17][6] In his 2018 book Inner City Pressure, Hancox details the events of the 9 December 2010 protest, during which the kettling of demonstrators by police evolved into a "spontaneous rave going on in Parliament Square", where "Pow!"

[3][15] Fumin and Demon did not appear at the event but the other nine artists on the song did, and were joined on the night by special guests including Roll Deep, Giggs and Jme.

Notably absent were D Double E, who was replaced with Fire Camp member Face on the remix, and Hotshot, who did not appear on the single version of the song.

(Forward)", features eleven different guest MCs on the original instrumental, including other members of East Connection and N.A.S.T.Y.

The song includes verses from Bruza, Flirta D, Scampz, Shizzle, Ryder, Jme, Ghetts, Kano, Knowledge, Lady Fury and Double O.

Lethal Bizzle's second crew, Fire Camp, released an unrelated song titled "Forward 2" in 2006, featuring fellow members such as Face, Ozzie B, and Knowledge set to a new Dexplicit production.

(Forward)", which again features other grime MCs - Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano.