Talented Marcus Lee is causing a stir in the world of rap - without resorting to the cliches of guns and fast cars that dominate the genre.

Marcus, who is a regular at the Abundant Life Centre in Bradford, acknowledges that there is a lot of unsavoury content in the music of gangsta rap's superstars.

"There is a lot violence in some rap. I like a lot of stuff, people like Will Smith and Puff Daddy," he said.

"I do listen to hardcore rap as well, stuff like Tupac and Notorious BIG but I don't agree with everything they say.

"At the same time I respect the position that they have got."

Marcus believes rap music has played an important role for black people in recent years, even if it has suffered from an image problem at times.

As a performer who regularly performs in a church setting, his philosophy is very different from that of the gangsta rappers.

"Everything I do has got a positive message in it," he said.

At the tender age of 19, Marcus is just setting out on what he hopes will be a successful career of his own in music.

Describing himself as Bradford's answer to Will Smith, his latest demo tape is a joint effort with Bradford singer Paula O'Brien. It features two tracks, the solo number Lost featuring Paula's vocals and Groove, which has lyrics and rapping by Marcus and backing vocals by Paula.

"I have been in the studio for about eight months just doing bits and bats," said Marcus,

"In terms of writing stuff I have been doing this for about five years but it's always been something I've done in my bedroom.

"I have played my stuff to a select few friends and family and the response has always been really good.

"It goes back to my youth. I have always been able to write songs and when I was younger I was really into music and listening to my mum's records, stuff like Marvin Gaye and Whitney Houston. Then I think in the early 1990s you started to hear a lot more rap in the UK. It really grabbed my interest."

Marcus, who will be rapping at another Rock Productions event at the Abundant Life Centre in July and hopes to get the chance to perform at this year's Bradford Festival Mela, spends much of his spare time and cash working on his music.

And now that he's started to make a name for himself, he's determined to give it his best shot.

"If my heart's with it, I've got to run with it," said Marcus.

"I think I'm stubborn and I've gone too far and spent too much money to give it up now."

Simon Ashberry

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.