# Ghetts
**Ghetts** (born Justin Clarke, 1984) is a British rapper from Plaistow in [East London](https://www.edgepedia.org/east-london) whose career in grime (fast-tempo UK rap/electronic genre from East London) spans from 2003, first under the name Ghetto and from 2009 as Ghetts.[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) • [2](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d) A founding figure of the genre, he spent roughly fifteen years with a cult reputation for rapid delivery and wordplay before mainstream recognition arrived with his 2021 album *Conflict of Interest*, which reached number 2 on the [UK Albums Chart](https://www.edgepedia.org/uk-albums-chart) and earned [Mercury Prize](https://www.edgepedia.org/mercury-prize), BRIT Award and NME Award nominations.[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage) • [4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | Justin Clarke, born 1984, Plaistow, London; performed as Ghetto until early 2009, then Ghetts[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) • [2](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d) |
| Collectives | Started in NASTY Crew; formed The Movement with Wretch 32, Devlin and Scorcher[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662) |
| First release | Mixtape *2000 & Life* (2005), released after his release from prison[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) • [4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) |
| Breakout album | *Conflict of Interest* (19 February 2021), number 2 on the UK Albums Chart for 3 weeks on the chart[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) |
| Latest album | *On Purpose, With Purpose* (23 February 2024), number 29 on the UK Albums Chart[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) • [1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) |
| Awards | Ivor Novello nomination (2019); Mercury Prize, BRIT and NME nominations for *Conflict of Interest*; 2024 MOBO Pioneer Award[6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370) • [4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) |
## Early life and beginnings
Justin Clarke was raised in Plaistow, in the [London Borough of Newham](https://www.edgepedia.org/london-borough-of-newham), in a single-parent household during grime's formative years.[7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview) • [4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) He was a teenager when grime emerged in the early 2000s, and by 2003 he was performing under the name Ghetto, before the music was widely called grime.[6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370) • [8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45549565) The name came from his friend, the grime artist Stormin, shortly after Clarke's release from prison; GQ dates that release to 2003, when Clarke was 19, while AllMusic places the prison stint at age 18.[7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
His schooling in the genre came from tower-block pirate radio boxrooms, underground raves and kerbside MC battles, as he put it at the 2024 [MOBO Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/mobo-awards), "before legal radio would play us".[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage) He started out in the grime collective NASTY Crew, where he rhymed alongside Kano, and left to form The Movement with Devlin, Wretch 32 and Scorcher.[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662) • [7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview)
## Career and discography
**Mixtape era.** Following his release from prison, Clarke released his debut mixtape, *2000 & Life*, in 2005 under the Ghetto name.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662) Grime historians regard it as an early classic of the genre, arriving alongside seminal 2005 releases by fellow East London acts including Kano, Ruff Sqwad and Roll Deep.[7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview) It was followed by *Ghetto Gospel* (2007) and *Freedom of Speech* (2008).[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
**The name change.** Up until early 2009 he performed as Ghetto; [MusicBrainz](https://www.edgepedia.org/musicbrainz) records his first release under the new moniker as the single "Sing 4 Me" in 2009, while AllMusic dates the switch to *The Calm Before the Storm* (2010).[2](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662) He explained the change to GQ: "Ghetto is the wild flame... Ghetts is the blue flame, more controlled and precise."[7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview) A dance remix of "Sing 4 Me" was picked up by the UK label All Around the World, giving him mainstream exposure.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
**Albums.** His first [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) album was his debut studio album *Rebel with a Cause* (2014), which peaked at number 23.[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) MusicBrainz lists *Momentum 2 (The Return of Ghetto)* (2016) and *Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament* (2018) before *Conflict of Interest* (2021), his major-label debut featuring [Ed Sheeran](https://www.edgepedia.org/ed-sheeran) and [Emeli Sandé](https://www.edgepedia.org/emeli-sande), which reached number 2 and spent 3 weeks on the chart.[2](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d) • [1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) *Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament* had peaked at number 19.[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) In January 2021 he issued "Skengman" with Stormzy, which amassed over a million streams.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
## Style and influence
AllMusic characterizes Ghetts as a grime MC who brings "sinister intensity" even to pop-friendly tracks.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662) Ghetts himself claims a foundational role in the genre's sound: he says he was the one who brought "darkness" into grime, pointing to his 2008 release *Freedom of Speech*. "Before Freedom of Speech, grime did not sound that way. The people cannot argue with that," he told [BBC News](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-news).[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45549565)
His reputation rests on delivery and technique. For about fifteen years he held a cult standing for his lickety-split delivery and dextrous wordplay with little mainstream reward.[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage) Warner Music describes "razor-sharp, crystal-clear rhymes with smart humour and creative, intelligent wordplay".[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) His later work broadens the palette: *On Purpose, With Purpose* incorporates soul, R&B, gospel, [Afrobeats](https://www.edgepedia.org/afrobeats) and amapiano elements while addressing politics, war, knife and gun crime, parenting, abortion laws and postnatal depression.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) • [6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370)
## By the numbers
His chart record traces the gap between underground standing and commercial recognition. *Rebel with a Cause* reached number 23 in 2014; *Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament* number 19 in 2018; *Conflict of Interest* number 2 in 2021; and *On Purpose, With Purpose* number 29 in 2024.[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) His first UK Top 40 single came only in March 2017, as a featured artist with [J Hus](https://www.edgepedia.org/j-hus) on Stormzy's "Bad Boys".[1](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/) "Skengman", his January 2021 collaboration with Stormzy, passed a million streams.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
## How he compares with his peers
Ghetts's career is intertwined with the other founding figures of East London grime. His NASTY Crew rhyming partner Kano became a longtime collaborator, appearing on *On Purpose, With Purpose* alongside [Wretch 32](https://www.edgepedia.org/wretch-32) and Sampha.[6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370) • [4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) The Movement, the group he formed with Devlin, Wretch 32, Scorcher and Mercston, entered a war of words with [Boy Better Know](https://www.edgepedia.org/boy-better-know), the crew of Wiley, JME, Skepta and Frisco, one of the era's defining lyrical rivalries.[7](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview) [Sky News](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-news) describes him as one of the UK's most influential rap artists and a trailblazer in grime.[6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370) The Guardian's 2024 review calls him a founding father of grime whose overdue recognition, including the Mercury nomination, makes him "the perfect embodiment of grime's own trajectory": a long cult career followed by late mainstream acknowledgment.[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage)
## Awards and recognition
Recognition arrived in sequence. In 2019 he received an Ivor Novello nomination.[6](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370) *Conflict of Interest* then earned Brit Award, Mercury Music Prize and NME Award nominations, along with a DJ Mag Best of British honor.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) In 2022 he performed "In the Fire" with Dave and Giggs, backed by a full choir, at the Brits, where The Guardian judged that he arguably stole the show.[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage) In 2024 he received the MOBO Pioneer Award.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/)
## What has changed since 2023
**New albums.** *On Purpose, With Purpose* was released on 23 February 2024, three years after *Conflict of Interest*, with guests including Sampha, Kano, Wretch 32, Skrapz, Unknown T, Lancey Foux, Pip Millett, Tiggs da Author and Moonchild Sanelly.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) His official site sells it on CD, cassette and vinyl formats.[9](https://www.ghetts.co.uk/) MusicBrainz also lists *Forbidden Frequencies*, a 2024 release with the producer Rude Kid.[2](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d) The Guardian's review of a March 2024 London show, headlined around the album's release, described a founding father of grime commanding the stage.[3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage) At the 2024 MOBO Awards he collected the Pioneer Award and credited his pirate-radio and rave schooling.[4](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/) • [3](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage)
## References
1. [GHETTS songs and albums | full Official Chart history, Official Charts Company](https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/22010/ghetts/)
2. [Ghetts - MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/62ffd9ee-13a1-49ed-8721-d07fd0b2f07d)
3. [Ghetts review – a founding father of grime commands the stage, The Guardian](https://theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/30/ghetts-review-a-founding-father-of-grime-commands-the-stage)
4. [Ghetts Releases New Album 'On Purpose, With Purpose' - Out Now, Warner Music Ireland](https://www.warnermusic.ie/news/2024/ghetts-releases-new-album-on-purpose-with-purpose-out-now/)
5. [Ghetts — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ghetts-mn0001649662)
6. [Ghetts on standing up for women, street politics, and pioneer recognition, Sky News](https://news.sky.com/story/ghetts-on-standing-up-for-women-street-politics-and-pioneer-recognition-peace-is-not-too-much-to-ask-for-13087370)
7. [Ghetts: the definitive origin story of a British rap icon, British GQ](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/ghetts-interview)
8. [Ghetts: I used to feel rage 24/7 but now I'm happy, BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-45549565)
9. [Ghetts - Official Website](https://www.ghetts.co.uk/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › Transnational genre scenes › Hip hop scenes worldwide › Artists, groups, and people: Hip hop scenes worldwide › United Kingdom rap (grime, drill, road rap, boom bap)*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license