'Generational talent' crowned The Rap Game UK winner

BBC

After six weeks of intense challenges, clashes and even a live show on the BBC Introducing Stage at Leeds Festival, the winner of the sixth series of The Rap Game UK has been announced.

Layyah beat fellow rappers Haydog, CBliminal and Only Zizou to become the show's first female winner, taking home the £20,000 cash prize during the final on Tuesday night.

"It is a dream come true," she tells BBC Newsbeat.

"I really do hold this title highly and I want to make the absolute best of it."

The winning moment was revealed at the top of a London skyscraper, at the end of an episode which saw the finalists take on the Kenny Allstar Freestyle challenge on 1Xtra.

Layyah's freestyle rap left the 1Xtra presenter "speechless", who went on to describe her as "special".

"She has the potential to be a generational talent," he says.

Immediately after her win, Layyah, from London, says: "Young Layyah would be proud of me. It hasn't been easy to become the version of me that I've become."

She credits the "strong females" in her life as the inspiration behind her big win.

"My mum, my grandma, aunties, even my little sister, she's so strong beyond her years."

And she tells Newsbeat she hopes her win can help drive change in the industry.

"In the music scene, there is a bit of a boys club.

"The guys stick together, not so much the girls. So there should be more support for the females."

She cites US rapper Lauryn Hill and Mercury Prize winner Little Simz as artists she looks up to in music.

"The way I perform is very real. You're going to essentially feel what I'm feeling when you hear me, because it does come from the heart."

DJ Target and duo Krept and Konan were the three judges guiding the aspiring rappers.

In September 2013, Krept and Konan had the highest charting UK album by an unsigned act - with Young Kingz getting to 19 in the top 40 Official Albums Chart.

They think all four finalists have the potential to add something new to a scene that is a "bit samey".

"You kind of hear sounds and everyone starts doing the same thing. Every time we come across new artists that do some completely new sounds it's exciting," Krept tells Newsbeat.

Haydog adds: "It's probably the easiest time to cut through as an up and coming rapper. We have TikTok, people like DJ AG supporting us."

DJ AG and Mak 10 have been out on the streets putting on open-mic sets for anyone to rock up and rap.

It's led to lesser-known artists going viral alongside established ones like Skepta.

DJ Target has been presenting the show since 2019, and feels "it definitely represents a huge part of UK culture".

"It speaks to an audience that often are left out of the conversations."

That's something Only Zizou can relate to.

"Six weeks of solely focus on music. Being able to spit our bars in front of these established artists is just crazy."

But while they were in it to develop as rappers and win the jackpot, many of them were there to inspire others to get involved at a time where social media can change everything for rappers trying to break through, especially outside London.

"I'm putting it on for my city Nottingham," CBliminal says.

"It's nice to be able to have the youngsters within my city look up to it and watch the show and think: 'Well if he's doing it then there's no reason why I can't do it'."

For Haydog, Wirral, Merseyside, it's been a chance to represent his hometown.

"This is a massive opportunity. I do a bit of youth work, it's good to be able to be the person that the youth are looking up to, especially in my area.

"Anybody that's out there who's got a dream. Don't stop until you chase your dream. Never quit and stay focused."