Players Views
Shystie
England
Emcee
Emcee Shystie is one of Britain's rising stars since she hit the music scene in 2003 with her debut album Diamond In The Dirt. The 22-year-old, real name Chanelle Calica, also stars in her own Channel 4 show Dubplate Drama in which she faces issues of gun crime, drugs, sex and street life.
You grew up in Hackney where there are people from many different nationalities. What were the benefits that you gained from that experience?
In the estate I lived on there were so many different races. I hung out with black boys and white boys. My best friend use to live on the ground floor and he was white, he'd come over to my house and vice versa and there was no problem. Things like that helped me be open-minded and mature into a well brought-up young black lady that has respect for other races as well as my own.
What would be your advice to a young person suffering from racism?
To speak out about it and tell somebody who you can trust, this way you won't feel alone. This situation happens to a lot of people so you don't need to feel like you can't turn to anyone for help.
What would be your advice to a young person who may feel pressured into joining in with racist abuse against another person?
Definitely stay away from it and the uneducated species that have no brain whatsoever; thinking there 'Cool' because that idiot was racist to another person.
Your mum is from Barbados and dad is from Grenada. Can you tell us some of the things you love about the islands?
Awww man, I love them both. I've been to Barbados more and it's so relaxing. Everyone out there is so polite, even people that don't know you, greet you and it's a really nice community where my family live. Down there its like the whole street is family and look out for one another, no questions asked.
Which living person do you most admire and why?
My parents because they have raised me and my other siblings up right and well mannered. To me that is important because, as they say, your attitude determines your altitude in life.
Fact file
Favourite music: Soca, revival, slow jams and hip-hop because I grew up listening to these genres so it's in my blood, ha ha.
Favourite food: West Indian food because I've grown up on it and there's nothing like mummy's cooking, he he.
Favourite book: Of Mice and Men. I read this in school and loved it ever since. The movie was really good too.
Favourite film: Haha, (embarrassed), The wizard of oz
Favourite country: Barbados
Watch out for the new Channel 4 TV series Dubplate Drama
