An ex-criminal who turned his life around to become a successful rapper has signed a record deal with music mogul, Tim Westwood.
Jack Rowson, 29, was born and raised in Wythenshawe, and used to think nothing of robbing someone at gunpoint.
But whilst behind bars, serving a seven-year prison sentence for robbery, Jack had an epiphany, and pledged to make something of the rest of his life.
The dad-of-two who is now engaged, changed his name, moved to Salford, and set up his own music label in a bid to escape his delinquent past.
That was nearly five years-ago.
Now the rapper, who goes by the stage name 'Black Jack,' has 1.2m views on his Youtube channel and has over 40,000 followers on Instagram.
And last month, he signed a contract with DJ and radio presenter Tim Westwood.
Since his release from prison, Jack has also starred in a BBC Three documentary called 'How I went from guns to god,' which follows his conversion to Christianity whilst behind bars.
"The whole thing is mind blowing," Jack said, speaking to the Manchester Evening News.
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"When I came out of prison four and a half years ago, I never thought this would be possible.
"I want people to look at my music and see where it gets you, because Tim Westwood is a huge name in the industry."
Jack's latest song, The Moment, is in keeping with his music mantra; which aims to portray powerful messages rather than glamorising crime.
Set in Wythenshawe, the music video is encouraging kids to 'lay down their weapons' and features families clutching photographs of loved ones lost to knife or gun crime.
One of those photos is of Jack's own friend AJ, who was stabbed to death in Wythenshawe when the pals were just teenagers.
"I have witnessed a lot of young teenagers die as a result of gang violence," Jack said.
"I knew most of the people that were killed from the photos in the music video.
"I wanted to make a music video which had a positive message to speak out rather than what you usually get in music now which is promoting gun crime, and talking about money and sex."
Growing up on Shawbury Road in Newall Green, Jack's life of crime started at the age of 13, when he was found with cannabis at school.
By 14, he was doing time for burglary, and at 16, he got two years for robbery.
When his best mate Anthony James Goodier, 17, was murdered, Jack's mother even bought her son a bullet proof vest.
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He became known on the estate as 'bullet proof Jack.'
His final, and most serious stunt in prison, came at the age of 21, when jack received a seven year sentence for robbery.
It was while serving time for this offence, that Jack realised his life needed to change drastically.
"Time is too precious, don't waste time chasing something is going to destroy you," Jack said.
"It took me until the age of 23 to realise that, and once I had, it hit me harder than anything has ever hit me before.
"It was like someone had switched a light on in my head and I was in shock.
"I remember thinking, I’m 23 years old and I’m never going to be 23 again. I was sat in a prison cell and From that moment on I realised how precious time was.
"I’ve never looked back since”.
