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| It seems
that in recent months it has not been possible to open a newspaper
without reading about another young person being shot or stabbed.
Many people are blaming the music that young people listen
to, but UK artists Aggro and Mems have decided to take a stand.
While some MCs spit about "shanking" and "merking",
their new track Corey spells out the consequences of gun violence. |
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I asked Aggro who Corey was. “Every one knows a Corey.
It’s not a specific person, it’s a reflection
of some youths in society today. All of us have had close
friends who have been victims of gun and knife crime.”
Mems told me that he was inspired to channel his energies
into music when a 15-year-old friend of his was fatally stabbed
in Kennington last year. “I had to prove myself to him,
to make it for him. Although I was traumatised by his murder
at first, I turned my depression into motivation. I thought
about what he had said to me: ‘Push hard, better yourself’.
When Aggro presented the concept to me, I thought it was a
perfect time to show how violence affects families and communities”.
I asked what the message of the track was. “Make your
own decisions,” Aggro replied. “Don’t follow
peer pressure. Kids should be taught in school to be their
own person, not follow the crowd.” “There is an
alternative to guns and knives. There’s more to life,
there is a way out. The lyrics portray that,” said Mems.
“What people don’t understand is that ‘beef’
rap is not real,” Aggro points out. “If everyone
who said ‘I shanked a man’ was locked away, the
prisons would be overflowing.” |
 Aggro
and Mems making the video for Corey |
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“Kids listen to me. I’ve got a young fan base.
I want to be a positive influence, telling them the truth.
I think that they will relate to Corey'," says Aggro.
This is echoed by Mems: “Corey is my biggest track to
date. I want my lyrics to change a young person’s mind
to positivity. There are not a lot of inspirational role models
at the moment.” In saying this, Mems recognises that
there is a danger of turning the audience off by becoming
too 'preachy'. The track’s chorus aims to get across
that possession of firearms carries a five-year jail term.
However, the tune was not made in conjunction with Operation
Trident; Aggro believes that this fact makes the track more
credible to young people.
Aggro and Mems were present at an anti-gun crime event that
I helped organise in Clapham a couple of years ago. Despite
strict security, the evening came to an abrupt end when a
youth pulled out a gun and started waving it at all those
present. Aggro told me that he had also been in other situations
where guns had been pulled, including one time at a video
shoot. |
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| Filming
the classroom scenes for Corey |
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 Having
had a number one drives me. Corey has taken my song writing
to the next level. My advice to young artists is to stay focused
on your music, see yourself develop, and be business minded.
I worked in a bar for a year to raise money to make my first
video. I invested in myself — you should do the same.
— Aggro |
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In the video, Corey is played by Foxx. He took on the role
because he recognised that gun and knife crime is a big issue
in south London at the moment. “Corey is an interesting
character. He is on the border line between school and the
street. He is an extreme version of me. When I was in year
seven I was moving with the wrong crowd, but my personal determination
and parental support made me stay on the right side of the
line. Street money is dirty money, it comes and goes quickly.
I want to be legit, making my own money legally.” He
says that many black boys have to walk a tightrope to survive.
“It’s difficult to achieve academically and not
be viewed as a ‘neek’. You’re expected to
stand by friends; people can manipulate you, and that can
cause you to do extreme things to stop being seen as neeky.
Black boys in south London have to walk the line, with good
on one side and bad on the other. Some stray off early in
life, others further on. There’s no respect for ‘uni’
(university) — you can become a target if you want to
get your grades," he adds. |
| Mems
and Aggro in the studio |
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In
life you need someone to guide you — God, parents, friends,
etc. Channelling your creativity, not telling you to do stuff
which is negative. Aggro has mentored me; he put my head straight.
He told me ‘The door is open if you want to walk through
it.’ My advice is to stay motivated, look for guidance,
do it because you want to not because it’s what your
friends want. And remember, there are other ways to express
yourself besides music.
— Mems |
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Got
something to say? Please share your comments. |
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I'm impressed guys... wid the article mainly... finally more n more people are beginning to wake up to the society around us. Have a goal, the clearer you visualise it, the closer it gets. We create the world we live in. Keeping it real is one thing, speaking and acting on the truth is another. Much love n respect.
— Ruby |
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Very positive message. At 18 I love it when I hear people my age or younger speak like this. It shows that not all of us that grow up in rough areas have that gang mentality. If you really want to you can push to achieve what you really want out of life. Nuffin don't come to some of us on a plate so we gotta go get it... cause until you yourself can admit there's a problem you're jus guna be feelin sorry for yourself which is a waste of time. Find out what it is that is stoppin you from movin forward positively whether it be fear, motivation, skill, if you feel you cant deal with it yourself what ever it be. There are people that are linked to what you want to do positive in your life... youth development, E2E programmes, Connexions, family, advice lines, college vacancies (some of which you can apply for all year round). You can help yourself more than anyone ever can. Certain things in life you have to go and get them yourself. You gotta make the change and the rest will follow... believe in yourself, certain people will try n put you down but that's because they don't want you to be in a position higher than them. There are times when you're alone so do things in your life for yourself not for anyone else. Don't let people live your life for you... and if you're into things like Corey you'll either end up dead or in jail alone... 9 times outa 10 your friends ain't no more. I've seen it happen to loadsa people and it's sad you have to go through an experience like that to realise you go it alone in this world. We're born alone, we die alone. I truly believe that saying "in my mind I know what I want to do, but I need to find where I'm goin to" will make it a reality. No time like the present. — Jennifer |
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That's
real talk. Corey is a big tune still, more people need to
be telling the truth in their music, not just saying what
they think will make them popular. — D Gully |
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True
talks. At least some one is ready to take a stand and not
be a majority, spit/rap about sh*t they aint done and will
never do. Stay true to yourself.
— Big D |
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Well...
my boy Eugene aka Fruge got killed in a gang fight and I had
2 see him die get me. Dass dah saddest moment in my life and
yeh bless 4 makein dah track and gettin dah point across but
for me n my guyz it’s came 2 late. Eugene's already
dead get me but still holla back soon bless.
— Mayhem Kiddo |
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By
reading the article about the new video (Corey) I really think
that it will have a positive impact on the youths of the street
but it will only benefit young people that want it to!!!
— Lady Curlz |
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Aggro
makes a lot of sense in his track Corey. This is a really
inspiring track for me, it’s made me think about the
kind of people I run the streets with. He’s right as
well, it isn't easy to get out of these groups. Coming from
your idol telling you it isn’t guns and knives you need
to get by is a big deal and getting through that you shouldn’t
let your friends pressure you into things is a really big
thing. This may also affect youths not to pressure others
doing things they don’t want to do Keep up the deep
tracks! —
Lil' K |
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Yeah
I like the tune still. I don’t actually know anyone
who has been killed but my friend was stabbed a few months
ago over a MC clash and it was f****d up cause I had to see
it all happen too.
— DJ SX |
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I
like the message. Keep that up 4 real.
— Merkz |
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True
say back in the day I use to be on the "gun/knife talk"
when writing lyrics and I thought, yeah I’m a gangsta
blah blah, but as this gun/knife crime got worse and worse
I switched up my lyrics and if you listen to my lyrics nowadays
it’s more against gun/knife crimes rather than for it.
That’s why I made a tune called "Good or Bad"...
listen to the lyrics let me know what you fink, basically
a concept of taking the good or bad side to life! I’m
not gonna lie I’m an amateur mc but trying to progress!
I feel this Corey tune is going to be VERY big! And it’s
a tune I wouldn't be ashamed to play out loud in my car! So
big up to Aggro and Mems for the concept!
— Damage |
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But why is there sympathy for the murderer? He deserves everything he gets! — Someone who has lost a loved one to gun crime |
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It's positive. Simple. Keep it up Agz. — madSABRE |
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London's
Metropolitan Police is adopting an innovative new tactic in
its war against the scourge of knife crime which is ruining
the lives of many young people throughout the capital. Scotland
Yard has produced a video game simulation that brings home
the realities of knife crime.
 Carrying
a Knife: It's Not a Game |
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Kidulthood
is described as a new kind of British film. Set to a blistering
UK hip hop and grime soundtrack, the movie portrays 24 hours
in the life of inner-city adolescents. Kidulthood, a harrowing,
shocking story that finds humour in its narrative, claims
to be based on real kids, real stories, real life.
 Kidulthood |
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Is it
all too easy for politicians and the media to blame 50 Cent
for the fact that young people carry guns and knives? Could
it be that the alienated youths that do so have been far more
influenced by other factors such as poor education or family
breakdown?
Taking
the Rap? |
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So Solid
Crew star Ashley Walters’s career goes from strength
to strength. After bouncing back from a jail sentence for
firearms possession, via roles in a string of movies and prime
time TV series, rapper Asher D is now starring in new British
urban thriller Sugarhouse.
Asher
D: Rising To The Top
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