Schoolboy wins recording day with grime artist Tinchy Stryder

A SCHOOLBOY from Barnet was waxing lyrical about his chance to rap with grime artist Tinchy Stryder.

Jake Waksman, 12, was put through his paces by the 24-year-old chart-topper, after winning a Disney XD Aim High mentorship.

Jake, who attends JFS School in Kingsbury, wants to be a rapper when he is older. He said: “Tinchy was really nice. We sat in the studio and he told me about when he was young and what he used to do.

“He gave me a lot of advice and even let me do a recording to one of his beats using my own lyrics. He said I was really good and that I have potential.

“I felt really lucky to be chosen. It was a really good day.”

Jake met the Number 1 singer at a recording studio in Brixton last month, and played him some recordings he had made with his band GAPZ.

He added: “I was nervous at first, but then I toughened up. He liked my music.”

The mentorship initiative, hosted by the Disney XD channel, is designed to inspire children to try new things and realise their true potential.

Jake applied for the mentorship in July and was one of three winners on the day.

Tinchy, real name Kwasi Danquah, said: “I hope that sharing my experiences in the music industry with the kids involved will help them in some way get ahead in this business.”

My original article can be viewed here