'I rap about what I know about' ... Lethal Bizzle tries not to get involved in a lovers' tiff
It seems David Cameron did actually listen to what I was telling him. The Tory leader is back, trying to heal his "broken society" and he's finally realised that musicians can help him to do that.
Last year, Cameron had a go at the kind of music I make saying it helped to create a violent culture in our country. My response then is my response now: I rap about things I've seen, real things I've experienced. I rap about what I know about. And anyone trying to persuade artists to talk about something else is facing a hard sell - in my part of town, anyway.
But what I do accept - and what I said at the time when Dave was doing all his finger pointing - is that artists have a responsibility. They have a responsibility to themselves, but also to the people who listen to their music; a responsibility to be honest. I wouldn't talk about things I don't know about, and I've got no time for people who do. But for me there's a difference between talking about violence and promoting it. A lot of us haven't lived a positive life - we know what it's like to have to watch your back 24/7 and that's what we talk about.
I think Cameron has realised that people from council estates relate to what people like myself and Tim Westwood say, and not what David Cameron says. He knows that wagging his finger, blaming the artist and telling people not to say certain things is not going to work. Who's the doughnut now?
The difficulty will come in trying to change the way the industry works. We all know the industry just wants to make money and that it all boils down to sales. There are certain labels that will sell anything if it makes them money - it doesn't matter what people are saying if they think it can sell a million, they'll put it on the shelf. It's going to be difficult to change that mindset, particularly with sales on the drop.
Cameron also shouldn't underestimate the importance of going out and meeting people. Some of these record label schemes may not be great, but I know that when I go out to talk to kids in schools, give speeches, that sort of thing, it makes a real difference. Reaching out to the people who can relate to your music, telling them that violence doesn't have to be the way - that's the best way of making a change. And perhaps, at last, that fruitcake Cameron has realised this himself.
