Rapper Layyah: ‘Instead of crime, use music to tell your story’

Layyah, the first female winner of the TV talent show The Rap Game UK, gave an exclusive interview to Billy Scott, Editor of our Inside Rap page

Layyah, the 23-year-old south London rapper, is proving she isn’t just here to make music: she’s here to make history. After becoming the first-ever female champion of BBC Three’s The Rap Game UK last December, she has wasted no time dropping her groundbreaking debut single Respect & Power.

Released on International Women’s Day (8 March) with an all-female cast and crew, the music video isn’t just a statement, it’s a crowning moment for a rising queen of UK rap.

Described as a “generational talent” by BBC 1Xtra’s Kenny Allstar, Layyah’s release proves why. Her delivery carries a rare emotional weight, with rhymes stretched and delivered in a raw, deliberate cadence that recalls the greats of rap. But she’s more than just a rapper: Layyah’s commanding, soulful vocals on the hook set her apart.

Speaking exclusively to Inside Rap, Layyah revealed the personal inspiration behind her hard-hitting single.

“My mum and my grandma inspired me to write Respect & Power because they are important female role models in my life,” she explains. “I didn’t grow up with my dad, so they were always significant in my life. The loss of my grandma only a few weeks before I was on the show was far from easy. I wanted to write something that would make her proud. I also have a younger sister so I wanted to write words for her that I didn’t have growing up.”

When Layyah became the first woman to win The Rap Game UK it was not just a personal triumph, it was a step forward for representation in UK rap.

“It feels amazing, and I am humbled and honoured to be named the first female winner of The Rap Game,” she says. “I hope to have a powerful impact not just on the UK, but the entire world.”

Her advice to aspiring artists, especially young women hoping to follow in her footsteps, is unapologetically empowering:

“Never stop being you because you are the best at being yourself. Stop caring about what other people think because they don’t live with you. You have to live with yourself every day. The opinion you have of yourself matters the most. Remember that you are that girl… period.”

Layyah’s journey hasn’t been without struggles. Open about her past, she reflects, “Growing up, I wasn’t always the best kid, I was very angry and unable to control it. All emotions are good, otherwise we wouldn’t have them; it’s about learning to regulate them. I found myself in trouble and had a couple of dealings with the police, which made me realise that I needed to change my life around.”

For people in prison, especially those who turn to Rap to express themselves, Layyah offers a heartfelt, hard-hitting message: “To those of you that are in the criminal justice system now, make it your last time. Use the time you have to plan the next steps in life. Plan what you’re going to do so you don’t end up back in prison. It’s easier said than done, I know that. I’ve got cousins in jail and it makes me upset every day. If you have a passion for music, never stop. Use it as a form of expression. Use music to tell your story instead of going against the law. It’s not worth it.”