Grime artists bring new hope for Croydon pupils

Krept and Konan. Pic: John Bownas

Krept and Konan. Pic: John Bownas

A South London MOBO award-winning grime duo have launched a scheme to run song-writing and music production workshops in five Croydon schools.

Casyo Johnson and Karl Wilson – better known as Krept and Konan – attended a meeting last week with MPs and local councillors in order to discuss their plans for the launch of their Positive Direction foundation.

The foundation’s main goal is to create better futures for local young people who are interested in careers within a creative industry.

The duo, alongside their production team and friends, will be giving pupils the chance to take part in workshops, which will focus on creativity and song writing, graphic design and music production.

Before the council meeting Krept and Konan, who won best hip-hop act and best album award at last November’s MOBO awards in Leeds, spoke with teachers and pupils from the schools they plan to work with about their aims for the foundation.

Krept said: “Growing up around here we didn’t have anything to do after school, so we want to give you lot something to go school for.

“When I wanted to become a musician there was nothing that helped me become a rapper, but we’re trying to create things for you lot to do where we can direct you and help you in whatever it is you want to do.”

The scheme, which will start off in five schools selected by both the duo and council, will run for three months. Konan added: “We hope to be able to spread and go out to more schools.”

The MOBO award winners will be bringing in artists they know to come down and help with the workshops, which means pupils have the opportunity to work closely with other musicians and artists.

Krept said: “People making rap music didn’t really win MOBOs before us; now it’s easier for people to see that this genre can be successful; we can show that rap music can sell if you do it right.”

The programme will end with a ceremony involving all 300 students, the duo, friends and family to showcase the pupils’ work.

The workshops are expected to start in February.

Rebekah Stanicliffe

One Response

  1. Barbara Alleyne February 23, 2016

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