Life of Rhyme

1 August 2011

TX: Sunday August 14, 11:20pm, Channel 4

Forming part of Channel 4's Street Summer, Life of Rhyme explores British emcee culture and its unique contribution to spoken word and poetry, through rap, jungle, drum and bass, garage and grime.

Presented by rapper Akala, the film celebrates the incredible flourishing of lyricism and poetry amongst British youth, as seen by the success and popularity of artists such as Roots Manuva, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal, to Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32 and Devlin.

Featuring a mixture of performance, interview and actuality, the film explores the history of how this scene has developed, evolved and exploded in to the mainstream; and the power of words to motivate and inspire.

From an underground "Battle", to a teacher in Folkestone using Grime lyrics to teach an English lesson; Life of Rhyme illustrates that at heart and at its best, the art of UK emcee culture is a poetic representation of modern British life, and not a pale home-grown imitation of an American import.

Including talking heads, features and performances from a range of artists, including Tinie Tempah, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk, Kano, Wiley, Wretch 32, Devlin, Giggs, Lethal Bizzle, Roots Manuva, Blak Twang, Ty, Rodney P, Skibadee, Chester P & Farma G, So Solid, Ms Dynamite, Heartless Crew, Sway, P-Money, Durrty Goodz, Dot Rotten, Ghetts, SBTV's Jamal Edwards, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lowkey, Dr Lez Henry, DJs Logan Sama, Charlie Sloth, Twin B and more...

 

Produced by Vanessa Van-Yeboah,
Directed by Yemi Bamiro,Exec Producers: James Payne & Jaimie D'Cruz
Acme TV / Lemonade Money
(co-production)