Rap Club
Progressive Arts Education
YOUTH MUSIC AWARDS
Outstanding Project & Best Young Leader -Toni Olabanji (2024)
Best Lyrics - TL (2023) Best Live Performance (2022)
Progressive & Inclusive
Music Education Project
CLUBS (IN & OUT OF SCHOOLS) | TRAINING FOR PRACTITIONERS & TEACHERS
CONFERENCES | TALKS | WORKSHOPS | | ONLINE/IN-PERSON COURSES
RAP CLUB is championed as an enabler of social mobility by Teach First, the National Lottery, BBC Children in Need and TES. It is a unique approach to modern music education - embracing young Black cultures - that can be thoroughly embedded within school curriculums and extra-curricular projects.
“Rap Club has changed my life at school I have somewhere I can express myself. And it’s not just us in a room rapping... it’s the only thing that makes me want to finish school at the moment.”
Founded by Benjamin Turner - during a detention - the project delivers bespoke character, creative and industry development for young people through a range of programmes.
RAP CLUB projects have performed regularly at Wembley Arena (audiences of 10,000+), The Royal Albert Hall, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Assembly Hall etc. in addition to featuring multiple times on BBC LONDON NEWS, performing live on Trafalgar Square to thousands and many other exceptional experiences. RAP CLUB has been featured by BBC Radio 4 ‘Rethinking Music’, national education paper School’s Week, the Camden New Journal and South London News. Those aspiring to industry excellence form part of the Spit Game community, working across music and film. Others have been supported to access independent industry careers including being signed to / taking up roles working at major labels (including Universal & SONY).
“I’m still on such a high from Rap Club and I can’t get those incredible young people out of my head.”
“To produce such excellence in creativity and industry-reflective practice shows true creative ability.”
Meet the Team Leaders
In addition to our leaders, there are many members of the Rap Club (and wider Spit Game) family, including our team of Rap Club Leaders, many of whom are alumni from our programmes.
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Founder & Managing DirectorAward-winning educator and youth leader Benjamin Turner has led Music Departments across London, embedding industry-standard practice and learning. Now Founder/Managing Director of Rap Club & The Spit Game UK – leading innovative programmes for learners and supporting teachers to engage progressive practices – Turner manages young creatives entering the industry, launching careers. With his young team of exceptional industry-engaged creatives across music and film, Turner is a champion for youth voice and youth-led social action through creativity.
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Head of Rap Clubs & Associate DirectorGrowing up in Bermondsey, South London, Toni (artist name BANJI) has an unstoppable energy. Whether it’s in front of the camera as an actor or holding the mic as a rapper, he always comes fired up.
Starting his career as one of the founding members of the Spit Game collective, BANJI developed his craft through raw cyphers, in the studio and on the street. At his core a grime artist, BANJI incorporates the sounds around him - from jazz and hip hop to afro - to create a modern sound. His rapid flows and unique rhythms mirror classic artists like Stormzy, Skepta and JME but bringing something young and fresh.
As a community leader, BANJI runs rap clubs across London, supporting young people to take ownership of their cultures and develop their craft, each of them inspired by his passion and energy. In 2024, BANJI was awarded as Best Young Leader at the national Youth Music Awards for the impact of this work.
As an actor and film producer, Toni has starred in/co-produced two BAFTA-qualifying short films, alongside appearing in a range of varied film projects from an upcoming Pinocchio horror film to projects exploring young Black male vulnerability.
