Budding Bermondsey musician works to inspire young people’s sense of expression

A musician from Bermondsey is aspiring to use his budding music career to help other young people express themselves via music, writes Morgan Ofori.

Saidu, 19, from Southwark Park Road, is a rising star, having won BBC 3’s Rap Game UK last summer.

The prize for winning the show was £20,000 towards his rap career and mentorship from Krept and Konan who host the show.

Six upcoming rappers were chosen to compete for the prize.

Krept and Konan and DJ Target were so impressed with him they crowned him the winner.

DJ Target said: “The consistency has been undeniable throughout. Saidu continues to be consistent. In the final he did his thing. It was really hard to not give him the prize.”

Saidu believes it was a process which led to growth for him.

He told Pie Radio: “I met two of my biggest inspirations on that show. I met Ghetts and I met Chip.

“I can recite everything they have ever written and produced, being able to perform in front of them was a dream come true.”

The artist is a practicing Muslim and uses his faith to fuel him.

It was especially challenging that filming for The Rap Game took place during Ramadan, when Saidu would have been fasting.

He has been working with teenagers and other young people to write lyrics for Mixtape 22, an initiative by the National Citizen Service (NCS).

Saidu believes that music can be joining force for youngsters to express their thoughts.

He said: “Community used to be where you’re from, what your background is, but now we can decide where we belong.

“There are so many people just like you out there in the world and you can all come into one.

“This Mixtape allows that to happen, young people from different walks of life coming together to express what’s important”

Saidu was one of the artists selected to take on a topic in his specialist genre of music.

Miriam Jordan Keane, chief brand officer NCS said: “Music is an incredibly powerful tool to not only share your own feelings but also spark emotion and discussion among others, and that was our real motivation behind Mixtape 22.

“Working with such inspirational young, rising artists in the music industry while recording this campaign continues our commitment to giving the next generation who have arguably suffered the most during these past two years, a platform to not only get their voices heard but also to use that voice to comment on the world around them and bring people together.”

Saidu’s latest single, Gara Statement can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXRK_ixsQOE

Mixtape 22 can be viewed on NCS https://wearencs.com/connect/mixtape-22 or via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/embed/cDZ-jlSIaaE