Clifford Chance works with Urban Lawyers to advise drill rappers

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Clifford Chance has introduced a “first of its kind musical education scheme” to help UK drill rappers navigate recording contracts. The project aims to combat the commercial exploitation of rappers, while encouraging lawyers to rethink their stereotypes about drill music, such as the association with crime.

The magic circle law firm is partnering with Urban Lawyers to run the project. Urban Lawyers is a social mobility charity with four societies across the UK, which aims to make the law more accessible to marginalised groups.

The charity’s founder, Tunde Okewale, spoke about the significance of the new scheme: “Young musicians face significant challenges when entering into contracts with record labels. [The project will] help shed light on the systemic challenges faced by talented individuals, especially the alarming discrepancy in royalty rates between black and white artists.”

The scheme will focus on both black letter law, such as contractual obligations, and soft skills like teamwork and negotiation. A pilot session was hosted at Clifford Chance’s offices with input from academic experts, community organisations and musicians such as Fuse ODG, Fekky and Ayo Beatz.