Rapper Jack Kemp has left his ‘life of crime’ behind to make it big in the music industry.

The 20-year-old, of Bolton Woods, Bradford, says music has saved him from getting on the wrong side of the law and ending up in prison like his friends.

The former Titus Salt School pupil, who was kicked out on the first day in year 11, said it was being misunderstood that got him into trouble.

“They just didn’t know how to handle me. I was cheeky but I wasn’t a bad lad,” he said.

But not being at school gave him more time to hang around with a wrong crowd.

He said: “I was bored. I didn’t really care and I needed money so I just followed a bad lot. I did burglaries and stole cars.

“I got arrested and got into trouble but never went to prison – unlike a lot of my friends. I didn’t want to end up there.”

It was after a major fall-out with his best friend that he first started writing lyrics and music.

“I just did it for fun and to take my mind off things but then it really sorted my head out. I’d write about things that had happened to me and how it made me feel and how I’d deal with it and it would help.

“I would do my stuff for people at parties. I’d grab the microphone and do it and notice people were dancing – that was a great feeling.”

It was at this point that Jack got in touch with Bradford music producer James Sammon who has now taken him under his wing.

He has already performed on a video shoot at Mode nightclub and is hoping to get more sets at other clubs soon.

And he has been working with established Bradford MC Jonathan Rawnsley on a new track due out in the New Year. He said: “I’m hoping 2011 will be the year I make it big.”

Mr Sammon said: “JK is a new up coming MC who I am mentoring. When I heard his broad Bradford accent on the demo track he wrote called Bounce On It, I just had to work with him.

“He is yet another young Bradford lad who has walked away from crime to make music.”