A RAPPER has ditched the capital to study for a qualification in the North-East.

Potential teenage hip hop entrepreneur Mike Prempeh has enrolled on a two-year BTEC national diploma in music technology at Darlington College to expand his musical knowledge.

The 18-year-old has been performing his own brand of music since he was a child, latterly in nightclubs around London.

The diploma examines every aspect of the industry from creating original music, performing using music technology, studio management and organising gigs to marketing and promoting bands and events.

Production and sound engineering techniques are taught alongside a thorough grounding in popular music production styles from the 1950s to the present day.

Tutor Matt Bell said: "It is very much an industry-based qualification which demonstrates the student's ability to deal with everyday real-world tasks, from working as part of a creative team on large scale projects, including the logistics and execution of public performances, to creating their own music and publishing it on the Internet.

"It's a new course and already it is proving extremely popular."

Mike, who specialises in freestyle rap, beatbox and dance, said: "I felt I wanted more knowledge of how to work in the studio. I want to be a hip hop entrepreneur - what is known in the trade as a hustler - and need to be able to produce, look after artists' repertoires and promote. The course is proving to be really great."