DEADLY: THE COME UP

Raised in Birmingham, Deadly was immersed in a musical environment from a young age, shaped by his older friends & his brother Ox, a rapper. Absorbing his brother’s music, Deadly mastered the lyrics & flows, fuelling his musical ambitions. Surrounded by multi-talented individuals, he was drawn to carving his own studio path. A pivotal moment occurred when he skipped a science class to hit the studio with a friend, who crafted a beat & pushed Deadly to pen his first lyrics. This initial foray into writing & recording laid the groundwork for his musical career.

Joining his brother’s Rap crew, DSQ (Disaster Squad), Deadly performed at local events like carnivals & under-18 parties. While he contributed as a Rap artist, Deadly was deeply drawn to Grime, inspired by figures such as Wiley. A pivotal moment occurred at a house party when he adapted his Rap lyrics to Grime’s faster tempo, winning the crowd’s acclaim & marking his transition to an MC. This shift led him to practice Grime intensively with his friends Mayhem & Miles at local youth clubs.

Recording his first Grime track during a spontaneous session at the Custard Factory studios, Deadly received encouraging feedback, fuelling his ambition. This led to the creation of N.O.D.B, marking the beginning of their ascent in Birmingham’s Grime scene. N.O.D.B quickly gained a reputation, even crashing other crews’ sets to showcase their talent, a move that was both controversial & a testament to the competitive nature of Grime.

Deadly’s buzz caught the attention of Big Mikee, a significant figure in Birmingham’s Grime scene. Under Big Mikee’s mentorship, Deadly refined his skills, leading to live shows & radio appearances that further established his presence in the scene. A milestone came on his 16th birthday when Big Mikee brought him to his first Sidewinder event in Milton Keynes, where Deadly performed to an enthusiastic crowd that eagerly learned his lyrics.

From that point, Deadly solidified his status as a key artist in Birmingham & to this day continues to energise audiences with his dynamic bars on radio shows & live sets nationwide, embodying the spirit & resilience of the Grime scene.