Rapper tells Gigwise...
Jason Gregory

09:10 22nd March 2010

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Plan B has revealed that he has written a “hip-hop musical” movie.

The rapper, real name Ben Drew, told Gigwise that he will direct Ill Manors when it goes into production later this year.


Drew, who appeared alongside Sir Michael Caine in last year’s Harry Brown, compared the plot to the Paul Haggis’ 2005 film, Crash.

“It’s called Ill Manors - spelt manors as in where you’re from - and it’s six short stories that all mix into each other, but come to a head at the end,” he told Gigwise.

“It’s a bit like Crash - like the hip-hop musical version of Crash because all the stories are represented by a different rap song.”

Drew, 26, has also written the soundtrack for the film, which will mark his first full-length feature.

In an exclusive interview with Gigwise, the rapper admitted that appearing in Harry Brown had made it easier for him to follow his passion for film.

“People take me more seriously,” he said. “People see me in the films - enjoyed the films - and then find out that I’m directing and they’re like, ‘Wow this guy’s got an album out, he’s been in films, he’s directing films.’

“It just makes people take you more seriously, want to meet you, want to help you.”

He added that it had also helped his forthcoming album ‘The Defamation Of Strictland Banks’, which follows the fictional story of a sharp-suited British soul singer who loses everything when he ends up in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.

The album, which sees the rapper try his hand at singing, is released on April 9.

You can read Gigwise’s full interview with Drew, in which his discusses the album, films and recent anger management therapy, here.

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