Time Out at 40

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes

What’s it like to be a Time Out hero?
‘It’s such an influential magazine. London’s where I grew up and had most of my experiences. This place has influenced me the most in the world, so it really means a lot.’

Who are your London heroes?
‘Cage – I’ve worked with him these past eight years. My mum and family and that, from when I was little. I really looked up to [Bolton Wanderers footballer] Danny Shittu, too. When I was younger I was a bit wild and Danny Shittu used to look after me, keep me in check and that.’

What’s the biggest thing that’s happened here in your own field?
‘It’s going to Number One because of the history. Making history on my own, releasing myself through my own label, Dirtee Stank. It hasn’t happened for years and I think even then it was a rock band. No urban album, no rap artist, no nothing has ever done it on their own.’ Feature continues

What’s your favourite part of London?
‘It’s really an edgy city and music has taken me through all sides of it. Like now I’m on Tottenham Court Road in these offices. I’ve been going past this building for years but I’ve never been in here. Seeing different sides of life, seeing different sides of society, that’s what London’s all about. When I was young my mum always tried to make me do that.

There’s so much to London, so many different kinds of people and people are the key to life, but my favourite part? It’s got to be Bow, where I come from. I can go anywhere in the world – and I don’t even live there no more – but I always end up going to Bow and seeing people from my past. It gives me that sense of wholeness again. They’re trying to build it up and make it nice. It’s like Hoxton, though. There are two sides of it. It’s not just bijou, it’s more eclectic than that. The hood’s still there, man. You can still get robbed there, but it’s just a bit more balanced. It’s the same in Bow.’

What does Time Out mean to you?
‘It’s the one magazine people take a bit more seriously, the way it’s written and that. I guess the journalists here know what the fuck they’re doing. That’s a compliment.’

London is…
‘…alright, innit.’

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes