Rapper Giggs has revealed he "didn't know" why he faced a decade-long ban from performing on UK television and radio during the early stages of his career. The 42-year-old artist suggested that the mainstream music scene in Britain was deeply uncomfortable with his lyrical focus on gang culture when he first emerged.
The 'Fear' in Mainstream Music
Speaking at Advertising Week Europe, Giggs explained his perspective on the industry resistance he encountered. "Obviously, I was coming from like the gang culture, rapping about that when I brought that into the UK mainstream," he said. "Now I'm older, I know there was a lot of fear. It was on their doorstep now, like it was alright to watch it in America and stuff like that, but now it was like, 'no, no we don't (want that).'"
Police Involvement and Performance Restrictions
The rapper detailed how law enforcement played a role in his exclusion from mainstream platforms. "And then there was a lot of the police getting involved and saying, 'yes, stay away from him', so it was hard," Giggs continued. "I was banned from a lot of stuff and I didn't know why, like it was a lot of radio or TV. I couldn't do shows for like 10 years."
Motivation Through Adversity
Despite the frustration of the prolonged ban, Giggs found motivation in his circumstances. He described the experience as "frustrating at times" but emphasized that it was "better than the streets." This perspective helped him persevere through the challenging period of his career.
"That stuff was nothing to me, if I'm completely honest, it was a bit frustrating at times, but if I failed, no one was going to end up dead or in jail or anything," the rapper added, highlighting how his musical career provided an alternative path.
Career Achievements Despite Early Obstacles
Despite the significant barriers he faced early on, Giggs has achieved notable success in the UK music industry. He has released two top five albums: 2016's Landlord and 2017's Wamp 2 Dem, both of which reached number two in the UK album charts.
His musical catalogue includes several significant tracks that have gained recognition. These include his 2007 song Talkin' Da Hardest, which was produced by Dr. Dre, and 2010's Don't Go There featuring BOB. Additionally, Giggs appears on Drake's 2017 songs KMT and No Long Talk, demonstrating his continued relevance in the global rap scene.
Supporting the Next Generation
In a previous appearance on The Independent's Good Vibrations podcast, Giggs discussed his initial hesitation about sharing his son ML's music online via social media. ML, who is establishing himself as a musician, has been releasing his own tracks and receiving support from prominent British rap artists including Chip and Krept.
"It was a big deal for me, like it took [a long time] for me to actually press send," Giggs admitted regarding promoting his son's work. "[But posting] was me sharing support – 'This is what you wanna do, you wanna show your face now and pursue your career as a grown man? Cool.'"
