RENOWNED rapper Guvna B dropped in on a North-East academy to help students celebrate a successful year in style.
The contemporary gospel rap artist, who has supported Tinie Tempah, made a return visit to St Aidan’s Academy, Darlington, for a family summer celebration.
Students were joined by family and younger children from the academy’s feeder primary schools for the special performance by the 26-year-old east Londoner.
The MOBO Award winner told the crowd: “You are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. You have shown me nothing but love and love is a good thing. I know at St Aidan’s we have a policy of love.”
Guvna B told the audience how he had grown up on a deprived council estate in the Eastend of the nation’s capital.
“It was too easy to get in with the wrong crowd because their lifestyle looked cool and glamorous,” he said.
“I decided I wanted the same but I wasn’t cut out for it. I was a good kid deep down but I got into a lot of trouble. Then I met a Christian and he was a proper cool guy.
“He told me that every single person has a purpose and potential, that we can all make something of ourselves. So I decided to try my best to be the best. Anything is possible, be positive and never give up.”
The summer celebration also featured musical performances by St Aidan’s students Lavinia Bude, Chloe Morris, Helen Lochrie and Emma Harland.
Other students described their work with the charity Fairtrade and in the intermission Fairtrade refreshments were served and products sold.
Principal Nicole Gibbon said: “It was fantastic welcoming Guvna B back to the academy. His brand of music is an incredibly powerful means to convey some very important messages to our students about aspirations, commitment and enjoyment of life, ideals that we work hard to convey through their learning.”
