A cross-cultural rap

The authors of the Cantle report into race disturbances in Burnley, Bradford and Oldham took the unusual step of including an "example of cross-cultural work by young people of different cultures". The lyrics were written by the group Mystical Crew who meet at the Pakistani Community Centre (PCC) in Bradford.

Hold tight my Manningham raver gonna give you the
mystical flavour
This is the sound of the MC Stinger
Weed or Ganja not my scene
Penningtons Danca got the Sounda
We don't allow no bad behaviour
White asian black them stick together
I'm an MC and your saviour

Where do I live where do I be
Bradford, Manningham, White Abbey
I've lived there since I was a youngster
Don't want to be a drug dealer
Just wanna be a money maker
Dark ryder gonna get you hypa

White black and an asian
Grew up together there is no tension
Mixed raced generation
Bringing you a new creation
Racism we don't mention
In the mystical dimension
Lyrical god's gift creation
It's a pcc invitation

Ma bad boy don't smoke do ganja
Go to school to educate you
Black and white to shake together
I'm on the mic to entertain you
Waity don't judge me by me colour
Just listen to me and I'll be your saviour
If not den I can't please you so deal your ganja in some other corner

Complexion and reflection
In the nation boom boom selection
Somebody answer my questions
I'm gonna give you the abbreviation
Go to school and get education
Speed on the road and pick up a caution
Pay your fine and make a suggestion
Roll with the beats and flow with the motion

I left school when I was 16
And started working for an agency
I soon realised it was not for me
And I wanted to be a garage MC
Stand on stage and cause a rampage
Past first stage on the streets of rage
My disadvantage is my age
It's like I'm locked up in a cage

Now down in the streets or the so called slump
They say we riot to have some fun
We live by the mic, don't use no gun
This is the way my life is run
Give me the mic I love this one
All the media talk so Wrong
PCC I come from
Mystical crew have the fun

Sex drugs and addicts too
People in Manningham don't have a clue
Is the only way out and the only way through
Is to change your heart and be someone new
Today I'm on the mic just to tell you
You know what dey say and you know what they do
Don't need to be a bad boy to be in a crew
Going out to the Bradford youth

This is the sound of the mystical flavour
Started in the pcc centre
Now we're here to meet and greet you
DJ him got the viba
I'm a Bradford 8 manningham westsider
So don't bother dis me by my colour
Give me the chance and I'll give you the flavour
Another MC give them the suga

What do they say and what do they do
Ma ma ma mystical crew passin through
Coming from manningham to entertain you
Listen to us yo listen in now let me begin
Listen to da sound that mystical bring
R P S up on the decks mixin
MC Ryder upon the mic, moving

Big up the tat and the imy
There the workers that helped me
Helped me to be a garage MC
Now I'm showing you my self esteem
I go to college as well as MC
Like to say knowledge is a key
That coming from you to me
But I hope to get a degree

Time have changed and da tables are turned
Any many things have been learned
We've come a long way from back in day
So listen to what I've got to say
To succeed
Is it a want or need
If I do make it I'm bound to succeed
I want a high positive like a gangsat dealer or musician
Don't need no crack or even weed I'm on da m m m mic