Not Taking The Rap For Knife Crime

After years of criticism over its violent lyrics and links with knife crime, rap music is fighting back.

A young MC and a breakdancing market stallholder are among artists showcased in a new UK hip hop documentary. Film-maker Teddy Nygh spent two years interviewing some of Britain's leading hip hop names and visited more than 40 estates across London in a bid to capture "the real side of hip hop".

Clash A'Da Tight 1's is set for release in July on DVD and has already won nominations at eight film festivals worldwide.

Nygh said: "I set out to show the art of hip hop, the rapping, the dancing and graffiti but also the entrepreneurial side. But I also saw the film as a way of addressing people's misconceptions about hip hop."

The film features 18-year-old MC Chipmunk, real name Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, who weaves in lyrics about his high-scoring exam grades while keeping his art "real". Last year he was named Best UK Newcomer at the Mobo Awards.

He was filmed for the "rapumentary" behind the scenes on the shoot for his video Beast. Chipmunk often references how well he did in his exams. When he was in the studio, his dad used to pick him up so he could go to do his homework.

Other artists featured include the three-piece Heartless Crew, so called because of the "hearts in their music", rapper Sway, and the Don Desperados, a three-piece grime group, one of whom is also a youth worker.