Ghetts| Rebel With a Cause| 10.3.14|Disrupt

Renowned British MC Ghetts is set to release new album ‘Rebel With a Cause’ in 2014, following the unveiling of lead track ‘Rebel’ which is available exclusively via album pre-orders on iTunes. RWAC’s identity is born straight from Ghetts’ journey.
A rebellious streak as a young man – which Ghetts describes as vibrant, energetic, and live or die – is tempered by his new Cause, a maturity that comes with age, hindsight, and his daughter’s birth: “It took a fair bit of me growing up; a fair bit of living to get here.”
Warm up single ‘Party Animal’ (supported by DJs Zane Lowe and Mistajam amongst others) was released in November after the recent release of new visuals ‘Definition of a Rebel’ and ‘The Cypher’.
Hailing from a religious, musical family, Ghetts was exposed to gospel music and jazz long before he tapped into the underground garage scene infiltrating East London’s airwaves and backstreets. At just 12, Ghetts locked in to jungle and garage, breathing in PAYG Cartel, Heartless Crew, and the raw mixes of friends and peers destined for the A-list. Before a stint in jail, Ghetts admits his own music had little focus or direction, labelling his efforts “just messing around”.
Locked up, Ghetts embarked on a music and drama course to hone his skills. Friends on the outside assured him there was a space for his music and, on release, he joined local N.A.S.T.Y Crew alongside Kano, Stormin and infrequent guests like Dizzee Rascal, Durrty Goodz, and Wiley.
“I was getting tired of jail, I was in-and-out, in-and-out. I really wanted to change and take music seriously.”
He quickly became synonymous with fast flowing, hard hitting lyrics, and a unique style of ‘syllable rhyming’. With Kano – who was blowing up at the time – Ghetts found a musical soulmate. The two appeared together at the 2004 MOBOs and toured with Mike Skinner (The Streets) in 2005.
With 2005 mixtape “2000 and Life”, Ghetts was – alongside Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Kano and Wiley – attracting major record label interest, but unlike his peers, Ghetts shunned the majors on the basis that the industry wasn’t ready for him – and he wasn’t ready for it. Ghetts progress in the years since mixtape #1 has been all independent, all on his terms.
He has toured the world, played the festivals and collaborated with some of the industry’s biggest mainstream stars. In 2013, after taking time out to be a new Dad, Ghetts was again prepared talk record deals, but rather than courting the majors, he opted for start-up label Disrupt.
“I want to do something more than just chart, I want to leave a legacy – music that changed a demographic; changed the game. When I sat down with Disrupt they just got that. I saw this would be a good relationship. I was always the newcomer, now I see myself as the underdog – it’s where I’m most at home.”
In a landmark move for a UK rap artist, in January 2014 Ghetts released the official RWAC App intended for exclusive first listens and visuals.