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Artist
Black The Ripper
12+ albums
GrimeHip-Hopraphip hopUK hip hop
about
Black The Ripper (aka Samson, real name Dean West; 28 December 1986 – 6 April 2020) was a highly respected and favoured hip-hop and grime MC from Edmonton N18, North London. Although previously known on the North London circuit, he made his name in the infamous Axe FM clashes, where he duppied off numerous opponents consistently. Black The Ripper was one of the best emcees/artists in the scene at this time & will be for years to come; setting high levels with his consistent conscious bars and undeniable straight star quality that he brought to the mic. Black remained a solo artist although he collaborated with many of the grime scene's biggest names, most notably his Motivation Music series with Cookie G, Moony and Chipmunk. He several solo mixtapes, starting with Black Is Beautiful (2005) and Holla Black (Samson Samson) (2006). Black's style reflected a sense of self-determination, creative consciousness, and entrepreneurship using subversive style to shock as well as entertain; his work challenged orthodox thinking whilst sticking two fingers up at the establishment. His music and non-compromising lyrics reflected the environment he grew up in; the views expressed in his lyrics are largely a mixture of commentary on issues such as poverty, religion, and racism. Black affluently mixed autobiographical details about his life struggles and mind's battles with emotional honesty creating vivid visual and aural imagery for the mind to reflect upon. Much of his music is political
