How staying true to his roots is helping rapper go global

3 hours ago

Holly PhillipsEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

News image — Chiedu Oraka, from Hull, is performing at Music Matters Live in Singapore later

Chiedu Oraka Chiedu Oraka stood in front of a water display, smiling at the camera. He is wearing black glasses, a black and grey vest and white shorts. — Chiedu Oraka, from Hull, is performing at Music Matters Live in Singapore later

Rapper Chiedu Oraka, who found fame supporting Coldplay during their Hull concert last year, says staying true to his core beliefs, seeded on a council estate, has taken him thousands of miles from home.

Later, he will be the only UK artist performing at Music Matters Live in Singapore.

Chiedu says he hopes to show the resilience, talent and ambition of his home city to an audience on the other side of the world.

"It's like a dream," he says.

"How is a rapper from North Hull rapping in Singapore? That doesn't even feel right and normal."

Stewart Baxter A side shot of Chiedu Oraka on stage. He is bald and is wearing black-rimmed glasses. He is also wearing a white short-sleeved t-shirt, a black bodywarmer and camoflauged trousers. He is holding a black microphone with his left hand to his mouth. Crowds of people can be seen in the stadium in the background. The sky is white. — Chiedu describes supporting Coldplay as the "two best days" of his life

While on stage, Chiedu says he will be reflecting what life was like growing up on a council estate.

"The story is about determination, resilience, perseverance, not taking no for an answer," he tells BBC Radio Humberside.

Chiedu says he wants people from all over the world "to know that Hull is actually a good place and there's a lot of talent".

He adds: "I don't mind being the guy who flies the flag but just come and see us, come to The Deep. Come to all the nice restaurants, come to The Polar Bear, come to The Adelphi, we've got a lot here."

Chiedu went from doing shows in some of Hull's smaller clubs to performing in front of 25,000 people while supporting one of the world's biggest bands on tour.

In August last year, he supported Coldplay on the Hull leg of their Music of the Spheres world tour after receiving a personal call from frontman Chris Martin.

Chiedu says he is still on good terms with Martin and they still text each other.

"You might go on like a game show, someone asks you 'who's the most famous person in your phone book?' and I can say Chris Martin," he laughs.

"It just doesn't even feel real."

Chiedu adds: "He's a proper top guy, he's just exactly what you see on the TV and on stage. He's just a proper, top bloke."

A man wearing a white cap, black rimmed glasses and a white t-shirt stands with his arms folded on a street corner. He is standing in front of a road sign which reads "21st Avenue" and a number of red brick houses are visible in the background. — Chiedu says Hull made him thick-skinned, honest and passionate

Despite his achievements, Chiedu remains humble and regularly pays homage to where he grew up through his music, even filming a music video on the estate where he used to live.

Another way he stays true to Hull is by never straying from his accent.

"It's the choice I made when I first started rapping," he says.

"When I first came onto the scene in Hull, there were Hull rappers rapping in a London accent. There were Hull rappers rapping in an American accent, which is crazy to me."

He adds: "I just wanted to be true to myself....Hull is such an honest place.

"Hull wouldn't even let me get away with rapping in anything else than a broad North Hull Estate accent."

Chiedu also highlights the recent successes of Hull City and says he will be wearing the club's colours on stage.

"I get so much love from the people of Hull," he says. "People are always so complimentary. People always want photos. People always want to speak to me.

"I'm so lucky because I know there's a lot of artists that don't get that love from their city. I'm very blessed that I do."

Chiedu praises the PRS Foundation and the International Showcase Fund for helping him with the funds to get to Singapore and play at the festival.

"If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be going," he says.

"I'm just so blessed that I even get to do these things. It's mad that this is my job."

Listen to highlights fromHull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

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