'I hated everybody but now I want to inspire others'

A rapper who grew up in foster care and experienced homelessness and drug crime is hoping her experiences can inspire other would-be artists.

Musician AJ, from Sheffield, said the challenges in her childhood meant she had gone down a path where she "began to idolise the wrong role models".

The 25-year-old, who features in a new documentary about upcoming talent, said she hoped sharing her story would help future artists from working-class backgrounds feel they belonged in the music industry.

She said: "My purpose is inspiring young people that come from places like I've come from."

AJ was put into the care system at the age of three and despite building a loving relationship with her foster family, it had made her question her own identity.

She recalled being split up from her siblings which "was a lot to take as a kid".

"It's been challenging from me basically being born," she said.

"My biological mum at that time was in a violent relationship, she was quite dependent on drugs."

The musician said she "hated everybody" and would question "why me" and "why didn't my mum want me".

"I had so much hate and rage built up in me. I was always fighting at school. I was smart, a very intelligent kid but I didn't care for that."

"I didn't understand at this point that I had this foster mum that was willing to be 'that' mum."

Growing up in deprived area in Sheffield, AJ said as a teenager she fell in with the wrong crowd and became involved with drugs.

"As a kid growing up from the area, you don't look up to people that are in offices with big cars.

"You look up to people that are on the shops, that are selling drugs. They've got a good name for themselves, they've got a big chain, they've got a nice watch.

"You grow up and see it and think it's easy and quick money."

She recalled having a gun held to her head in a robbery and said it "took long days and depression" until she realised she could no longer live like that.

"If you go into that life... you can't be alright, it ends one way or another," she said.

"In comparison to my peers, I've come out, I'm ok, I'm lucky."

Through her experience of being homeless, AJ, who has used music as an outlet for sharing her experiences, said she was now grateful for her "little ground floor flat".

"I walk in everyday and I see my dog and I think we've done it. I'm thankful everyday that I'm still breathing."

AJ has shared her story in the documentary Slam City, which features four other Sheffield artists who have also had a challenging past.

She said: "It's raw. It goes behind our music, it's who we are as people, where do we come from, what influences our music, what keeps us going."

Film producer Dom Heslop and director Jack Godfrey described the artists as "unearthed gems" and said the documentary dived deeper into the stories behind their music.

Meanwhile, AJ said her ultimate aim was to forge a successful music career and use that to inspire other young people who had been through similar.

"If I'm able to influence young people while I'm on these big stages going around the world, then that's my big picture," she said.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.