The ascendent South East London rapper on finding inspiration at the top of Telegraph Hill and never wandering north.

Deema, the ascendent South East London rapper on finding inspiration in Peckham, at the top of Telegraph Hill and never wandering north.

Growing up in London:
“I was born in Peckham and have lived in Peckham and Lewisham all my life. It has its flaws and its benefits, but overall it's a good melting pot. My school wasn't completely white and it wasn't completely Black; it was a bit of both. In London, you get to embrace a lot of different cultures. I always found it quite mad how, in my area, the top of the hill is quiet and, I don't know how to say it right, but the bottom is grittier than it is up the hill. 

“There's really nice bars not too far from where we are, some really nice places just ‘round the corner. This difference and this contrast–it’s sort of aspirational because those nice things are just around the corner. If you can see the nice cars and the nice homes, then it's something that’s achievable to you too.” 

Deema’s musical journey:
“My friend used to have a studio in his mom's garden shed; she also owned the cafe at Telegraph Hill Park. She was happy to have people in her house and loads of people used to go to this guy's studio. That’s where I actually met my long-term collaborator, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/domvalentinoo/?hl=en">Dom Valentino</a>. Dom's house really marked my musical journey as that's where I've done a lot of my work, in his bedroom, in Brockley Park.

“Radio stations also had a really big influence on me, especially London-based ones: <a href="https://www.balamii.com/">Balamii Radio</a> in Peckham and Radar Radio, when it was alive. I used to be at Radar all the time, doing different grind sets. 

“The Bussey Building in Peckham was the first place I ever performed. I had my turn on the mic and I brought my boy, and we got a little wheeler, a little reload. I like the area around the Bussey Building a lot. There’s a really nice Afghan food shop round the corner from there, Asian Takeaway, which you can see in the pictures. 

“[When it comes to live music], <a href="http://thegarage.london/">The Garage</a> in Highbury and Islington where I opened for The Underachievers was probably the best show I've done—ever. It had the biggest crowd I ever [had] too.”

Another side of London:
“If I have to leave South, in the East [I go to] Shoreditch. West, I'd say Notting Hill, because of the Carnival. It's the only time I really go to West London. And in the North [...] I don't like North London because it’s so far and by the time I get there, my phone’s dead and nothing's working, but there’s one place I really like: <a href="https://www.alexandrapalace.com/">Alexandra Palace</a>. It’s a nice place with a mirrored view of the city from what I usually see in South London. There’s also a lovely concert venue inside Alexandra Palace where they do a nice little festival.”

First date:
“When I was younger, the obvious one to go to was the River [Thames], like any young kid in London. There's a pasta place on the river that I really like called <a href="https://www.padella.co/">Padella</a>—it's a bargain.

“The other place, where my girlfriend actually took me for the first time, was a comedy club in Greenwich: <a href="https://up-the-creek.com/">Up the Creek</a>. There were like 20 comedians in one night, and they all had five minutes. A comedy club is a great night guaranteed because you don't have to make any jokes or talk.”

Best views: 
 
“For views, I would recommend Dawson Heights where you can see a crazy amount of London. It's ridiculous. It's actually a block of flats and if you go to the top, you can just see everything. In the ‘view’ category, Greenwich Park is lovely as well.”

Deema's selects: 
01. Balamii Radio, Holdrons Arcade, 135a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST London 
02. Asian Takeway, 135 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST 
03. The Garage, 20–22 Highbury Corner, N5 1RD 
04. Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY 
05. Padella, 6 Southwark Street, SE1 1TQ London 
06. Up The Creek, 302 Creek Road, SE10 9SW London 
07. Dawson Heights, Overhill Road, SE22 0PW London 
08. Greenwich Park, SE10 8QY London&nbsp;

Peckham And Beyond With Deema

From 'Awkward Black Girl' to 'Insecure,' the Los Angeles auteur is shifting paradigms through entertainment, collaboration and entrepreneurial activism.

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