A 12-YEAR-OLD from Warrington, who is supported by a social care charity, will have the rap song that he created with one of the UK’s hottest hip-hop producers performed at Friday’s Rugby League World Cup Wheelchair final in Manchester.
Adam Miller (AJ) is a member of Community Integrated Care’s RLWC2021 Inclusive Volunteering programme. The project gives people who access support in their daily lives the platform to develop new skills and grow in independence through personal development projects inspired by the tournament.
Community Integrated Care’s mentoring team identified that AJ had an overwhelming passion for rap music and was looking to develop new talents. They supported him to work with Nutty P, a top London producer whose credits include features on the soundtrack of the EA Sports FIFA, Love Island, and Netflix series Top Boy, and has worked with leading musicians; Krept and Konan, Wretch 32 and Busta Rhymes.
Over two exclusive masterclasses, he supported AJ to create a song inspired by his beloved Warrington Wolves, a team he plays for in the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League (LDSL). Nutty P broke down different ways artists can find their ‘flow’ and develop their rhymes, giving AJ a unique insight into the craft that he loves and enabling him to go from rap enthusiast to rapper.
AJ had an incredible surprise when Nutty P produced a special backing track for AJ’s song. Community Integrated Care arranged for AJ to record his vocals at a professional recording studio with Cheshire-based Producer Steve Millington (who has worked with Rick Astley).
AJ’s journey continued when he had the opportunity to produce and star in his own special music video.
The video sees AJ perform his song alongside his teammates from Warrington Wolves’ Community Integrated Care LDSL team.
Every performer needs an audience, and few artists have had a more exciting artistic debut than AJ, whose track was first played publicly at the Super League Grand Final fan zone. With his track being played to a huge crowd at the iconic Old Trafford stadium, it was a debut to remember.
The success continued with his video being debuted at the final of the Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup tournament, which was played at Warrington Wolves' Halliwell Jones stadium. Now the song is set to reach an even bigger audience, being showcased by the Rugby League World Cup 2021 at Friday’s Wheelchair final and presented at a Warrington Wolves fixture next season.
AJ says: “This whole experience has been incredible. I never dreamt that I could have the opportunity to work with a famous music producer and to write my own song. Nutty P has worked with so many famous people and I really like his music, so it was unbelievable to create a track with him.
“I have loved the experience of producing my own music and video. It has been so exciting to see the song performed at the Super League Grand Final and at the Rugby League World Cup 2021.
"I’d like to thank the team at Community Integrated Care for making this happen, and Nutty P for supporting me to write this song.”
Kurtis Marsh, Sports Inclusion Specialist at Community Integrated Care, says: “Our charity exists to support people to live the Best Life Possible, and that is certainly the case with AJ.
“When we recognised that he had a passion for music, we pulled out all the stops to arrange this special experience. His creation of his own anthem for Rugby League represents a unique way for a tournament to change lives and enable people to share their talents.
“Nutty P was an exceptional mentor for AJ, giving him the belief that he could follow in the footsteps of his heroes and become a musician in his own right. The Media Club helping to produce his music video was a special way for others to offer their talents and benefit from this project too.
“Our thanks go to our partners for Inclusive Volunteering, the Rugby League World Cup and Sport England, and Super League and Warrington Wolves for delivering this special performance opportunity. Above all we’d like to thank Nutty P and Steve Millington for giving AJ the opportunity to create a brilliant song.”
Nutty P says: “Music changed my life, so it was a privilege to help make a difference to AJ’s life by helping him to write his own song. It was brilliant to see him grow in confidence in our sessions and produce something that he is very proud of.
“To create his own track at such a young age is a real achievement. I hope that whatever he chooses to do in the future, AJ continues to follow his passions and believe in himself.”
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