Episode 2 Fazer's Urban Takeover

I'm Fazer. I'm a rapper, musician and multi-platinum music producer.

but last year, I got to play with

It was like the most overwhelming

that I've had because it was like, "Wow." It's all live instruments.

like this through a computer,

'But I think they're missing out

beats to Beethoven and I'm giving them a classical crash course.

They'll listen to it... This needs to stop getting in my ears, really.

..learn about it... Mosh the beat.

'I'm going to challenge this group

In under two months, we're going to be playing at this year's BBC Proms

the stereotypes of young people

'and the classical world...'

When I walked in there, like,

It's an emotional experience.

'..so they can learn to appreciate classical music and hopefully,

The job that I have with this project and what I'm taking on

Shevelle, Samara and Benji,

I know that my eyes were watering

It was actually overwhelming.

Do you listen to rap music, mate? Er, yeah. I mean, no question.

..and we wrote a track together that works for both the pop

It's a big risk because you never

..all in a bid to see if I can

So far, the challenge hasn't

When the orchestra first came out,

I can't think. I feel like I'm letting everyone down here.

The question is, will they accept classical music like I did?

And will they be ready on the night?

Do you reckon that's good enough

for the band's first rehearsals

Last time, The Chapters were here, rapper Curtis was struggling

with his bars and some of the group

the pressure is on to step up.

still don't seem to get it...

Benji's walking up and I'm leaving Benji. Can't we just react there,

interact there? Yeah. It looks dead.

First and foremost thing for me is making sure the vocal is tight.

That will come natural anyway.

I'm going to be doing my songs which I know back to front, inside out,

Wretch ain't going to be messing up. Maverick ain't going to be.

I don't want you guys to look silly in front of everyone. I want you lot to smash it just as much as we are.

Get some discipline and really

'so we keep running the track

'But after only a few minutes

'I noticed Samara's getting upset.

about their parents and stuff

coming to the Proms and that.

Yeah, my mum's not going to be

..she's not going to be there

shouting my nickname, embarrassing me in front of all those people

because to be honest, I'd do anything

her than not have her there at all.

Fazer's been quite supportive.

like a big brother. "Look, you can do this. Your mum's there in spirit.

I'm quite thankful, otherwise I don't know if I'd be able

Samara's been incredibly brave to put herself forward for my project

while she's still grieving.

After a few moments away from the group, she rejoins rehearsals.

# Here are Seven chapters...

# We're turning the page. #

For me, this project is about more than just performing on the night.

I really want to see if I can break down some of the barriers

that stopped The Chapters from

Samara and Sin-Seer down to leafy

the Thames Youth Orchestra.

That's it because, like, this is

Although a lot of young people don't

there are some that do prefer

a thing or two on some instruments and see if you guys can learn

My hope is that if they can understand classical instruments,

Sin-Seer has chosen the oboe,

I'm going to try and teach him Swan Lake which is quite ambitious.

and then put all the fingers down.

the natural concept of the violin.

So, where you put your hands,

I'm actually really impressed.

I didn't expect someone to pick

HE PLAYS THE BEGINNING OF SWAN LAKE

Before coming today, I didn't know nothing about this instrument.

Now I can play Swan Lake on it so I think that's progress.

..learning a brand-new instrument is proving to be more of a struggle.

I'm still doing it too tight. OK.

I've got it but my hands don't work.

groups get to know each other

So, what is it that made you pick up

Well, when I was about four,

at my older brother's school

and I just saw like a flute being played and I thought,

I wish I'd not got kicked out of school in the first place,

how much you've been exposed,

They are from, like, different end of the stick kind of thing,

but performing in front of people

a tune which I just learnt,

It's now time for us to see

so we start with Hermione who's

I'm actually really scared.

SONG: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

You played it so well. Thanks.

It definitely makes me think that

I would have liked to have had

I think anyone would say yes

to learn a classical instrument

and gives it his best shot.

I wouldn't have given them a chance.

they'd have hid their handbags

or run a mile down the road

He's a G. We were just busting jokes. He was making me laugh.

It's more about giving people

Don't let a stereotype stop you from getting to know someone.

Jesus taught me how to play

so I'm going to have a try.

after making a great start,

and the orchestra got on so well

to posh Richmond. He lives in

You won't see no-one who plays

Sin-Seer turned down a place

But this decision has caused

no interest in education whatsoever.

I do feel pressure to succeed.

they don't get encouraged to do

stuff like music. Their parents

Be a lawyer, doctor, whatever.

Adil's parents are sceptical about him making it in the music industry,

cutting off financial support while he tries to pursue his dream.

to let him stand on his feet.

I said to him, "You have to go out and do things for yourself."

HE RAPS: I want to be a master

So I spend my days at home alone

Despite this lack of support,

Sin-Seer's still keen to prove his dad wrong and win his backing.

when I make it into a career.

like they might have thought I was.

HE RAPS: No need to picture the past

'It'd be a good feeling if my parents

cos they've not really told me

I think this lack of support has had an effect on Sin-Seer's self-esteem

and confidence in the group.

So it's a priority to get him pumped

I decided to meet up with him

so he knows I'm backing him, even if his family aren't yet.

Is there anything you're worried

like, confidence might be a thing.

everyone thought I was BLEEP

but now they've got a lot to prove

Wicked, man. Well, I've set up something for today to maybe

The idea of today is to give Adil an experience of being on stage

and giving him an idea of what it's

and you feel good standing and the places that actually, you go,

'The first thing Polly needs

'body language and stage presence.'

I feel comfortable anywhere.

Ooh! There you go, very good.

proper weird me doing this.

You throw it back to him. All right?

Can we add a little sound effect?

You can kind of tell that he's not used to this at all and it's

completely out of his comfort zone

'With Sin Seer finally letting down his guard, Polly decides to

Fantastic. Ah, look at your face!

really, really exciting. You look

I'm finding it weird. That's good.

# Made a promise till death

# Heading towards the open doors

# I don't mind, just let me

'I realise the benefits of just

and there's nothing to really be

You've got to try it to overcome it and, like, I did that today

I'm really glad that Sin-Seer has got his lack of confidence in check

because tonight I've arranged for the Chapters to play their first

some of the professional musicians from the Symphony Orchestra.

Yeah. What? Yeah, tonight. Oh, yeah.

No, I just carry this around with me for fun when I go out.

With less than a week to go

at the Royal Albert Hall with

it's the perfect opportunity

and urban are coming together

and how the Chapters cope with the pressure of a live gig.

Tonight's probably going to be a rehearsal for the real thing

but we've still got to get it right.

Except, on the night there'll be 90 of you and 7,000 people there.

While this is the Chapters'

players that they were coming down

from the Symphony Orchestra, I know

they were like, "OK, we are going

of the BBC Symphony Orchestra

are used are used to playing in the world's finest concert halls

so they're well and truly out of their comfort zone tonight, too.

It's kind of like the polar opposite of any concert hall.

The staging is minute down there. Yeah, it's very, very small.

can't lie. I'm actually scared today.

'whilst me and my production partner Pete Ibsen look on.'

'an idea of whether my project is going to succeed or not.'

# Here are seven chapters... #

go hard or go home so if we can

'win them around, we should be able

# You'll never know the paths

an underwhelming performance.

What do you reckon? Do you reckon

If they came offstage doing that at the Royal Albert Hall,

they'll be disappointed. Yeah, I think they would be, too.

How did you guys feel it went? It went good but that's as far as I go.

I don't think it was the raps that was the issue, tonight.

I think everyone was on point

I'm just going to say it how it is.

It was a bit messy in the chorus and it was partly because when the

lead comes in, you guys still felt

But that's only for that little part and then you guys take over

so you have to learn - "Ah! I'm

"Oh, I'm back on." That kind of

Not everyone's got the whole tone and key thing on point. Yeah.

at all through the monitors.

'At the moment, the singers are competing with each other

'and belting out their parts

'But they need to think more like orchestral players, who know

discovered her musical roots

I joined the first gospel choir that I've ever joined in Jamaica.

See, boy, I thought you knew. #

ever connected with is classical.

I think classical music is for rich, uptight people. It's boring.

But I think Shev could learn

which could really help not just her performance on the night

a more versatile singer, too.

Up until now, Shevelle's been

sending her to see opera singer

and experienced Prom performer

she needs to nail it on the night.

I'm really looking forward to

I'm looking forward to hearing her sing something a bit more classical

just to see how her voice sounds when she's singing more like that.

The first thing Rebecca does is get Shevelle to warm up.

Can you feel a stretch? Cool.

Her classical techniques will help

over her voice, which will, in turn,

the other vocalists in the group.

Did that feel like hard work? Or did your voice just keep climbing up?

Oh, my God, you've got a massive range, a really even voice.

I'm beginning to hate you already,

Classical favourite Ave Maria is poles apart from Shevelle's

Let nobody tell you that you can't sing classical music,

It opens up a whole new way of doing things, you see. Yeah. Cool.

And she was like, "Oh, you're hitting

And I was like, "Is that me, yeah?

to dawn on her that she's got

and to be able to do all kinds

isn't something that had perhaps occurred to her before today.

'This has given me the confidence

It's never really occurred to me, like, joining a classical choir but

now, like, I might just have to jump on that, you know what I mean, like?

first rehearsal with the full

for the Urban Classic Prom.

who are playing on the night

'And I've asked the Chapters to listen in on my rehearsals

'so they can get an idea of

here, yeah? And Fazer's down there.

'I'm so excited to see my band

The Chapters have never rehearsed with in-ear monitors before

# We're turning the page. #

# Yeah, yeah, I'm used to being on my own when I didn't know no-one

# I remember them times... #

Thankfully, the group make it to the end of the performance.

I mean, like, doing it with the orchestra is something different.

Then having in-ear monitors - like, we're legit nowadays.

pleased with the end result

is still seriously concerned.

'It was a bit of a mess, actually.'

themselves and they shouldn't be.

about Benji, who has the huge

the opening bars of the track.

I mean, I've just gone on camera

I know in-ears and all that stuff is all new and stuff, so...

Pete's constructive criticism is given for all the right reasons

but, for Benji, the journey from singing in his home town

to singing at the Royal Albert Hall

which has not a lot going on. There's not really much of a music scene.

from the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

'I go and visit the elderly in their homes and make their lunch,'

'they have no-one visit them in the day apart from their carers.'

It's just nice to be able to bring a smile to someone's day, I guess,

When he's not caring for the elderly and those in need, Benji puts on

his own nights in his hometown

the only way to sort of get

yourself out there is sometimes by putting on your own shows.

classical music in one word,'

'Living in, like, little towns like Calne, I haven't had much

passionate about performing,

his ambitions remain modest.

'If I can sort of pay the rent

are cool but in a few days' time,

he'll be playing the Urban Classic Prom with Wretch 32, Laura Mvula

So he needs to get used to the idea of playing on a bigger stage.

a feel for what it's like to play to a packed Royal Albert Hall.

on their classical journey,

they will be experiencing a purely

classical event without beats

Tonight, I'm expecting, like, proper, like, surround sound.

Do you get me? Like, beautiful music. Like, not no MP3 ting.

Like, something legit, you get me?

I don't even know what to expect.

I really can't believe this. Like, oh, my days, this is amazing.

MUSIC: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

It was amazing. It was epic,

It definitely converted me.

my own money to come hear it

it takes you away to another place.

If you go, like, to where I'm from and you tell people about classical

music, they'll tell you to get out of here, basically, innit?

Eventually, the length of some of the pieces it did get to

But at least everyone stuck

I've been converted. Give it

some of the guys talk about classical music with such passion.

But while most of the group

Vic still remains a classical

really click for me at times.

and the sacrifices he's made to pursue his musical dream,

would appreciate classical music.

but I'm originally from Portsmouth.

Music student Vic is trying to make it as a session musician.

But the decision to make it in

Vic was a high achiever at school.

there has to be other options.

about what's going to make me happy

what's going to make me money.

Finally, the pressure of making big life decisions so young

led to Vic having a breakdown.

I didn't even talk to anyone

Vic's mum and dad were very

as he figured out what he needed to do to make himself happy.

At the time, they were worried

leave school to try and make

But not everyone understood.

I think my mates at the time

People are going off to have

and I think I'm going to be happy

but so far, I've still not managed to convert him to classical music.

A lot of classical music that

on the piece you're hearing,

it's dependent on the interpreter

They might play it like this. HE PLAYS A STRAIGHTFORWARD TUNE

That's what it's all about for me. How have you got this good?

Although I've sort of specialised

is the influence of Spanish music

Vic decides to give it a go.

It is literally just twitching to get back up every time I move!

it was way better than I expected.

Something that I've somehow missed from classical music

It's now Friday and it's the final rehearsal for the Chapters

before the Urban Classic Prom.

Any issues that they have inside,

and they need to get over it.

Our level was here and yet,

Fair enough, everything was going on, but when it comes to things

that shouldn't be a problem.

Do you understand? The day before the show, innit? That's the thing.

That's why it's called rehearsals,

Because anything can happen,

It's best for it to happen now than it happen on stage and we don't know.

We had a group chat, really.

I found that that was so much better because we didn't really feel we could speak to each other before.

Now, we've got into that zone where we're comfortable and we can say,

Or, you're stepping on my toes here.

trying to fight for the top crown.

One person trying to reach up

We just need to blend together instead of trying to compete

If we didn't have that talk today,

I think we still would have been

and now we're able to move on.

It's really satisfying to see

realising that they need to

The pressure is on now. It's like the final hours now, really.

This time tomorrow, the guys will be getting ready to go on stage.

They all want to get it right.

But will Pete think they've done

Just remember what you've just done.

Are they ready for tomorrow?

I guess tomorrow will tell.

the day of the Proms has arrived

we've got here in one piece!

The last couple of days have been

really gruelling but amazing,

I felt good after rehearsals

I think the vibe is back. I think we're ready to go and do our thing.

Today is the day. We've been preparing all these months, yeah?

there are very personal reasons why this day means so much.

Sin-Seer seems to finally have got his dad believing in him.

shows I've had in Manchester,

I know he's proud of me because he told me for the first time

Since when does MY mic go under Laura Mvula's? That's happy times, right?

The Chapters are getting excited.

We're at the Royal Albert Hall, we're

And so they should be because today these young musicians

who previously knew nothing

with the BBC Symphony Orchestra

Showdown time, do you know what

Nervous. I really want to perform

I paid the Chapters a visit to check on the mood in the camp.

How's everyone feeling in their heads, man? Where are we at?

Weird feeling, man. Excited.

Different feelings. Excited. I wouldn't even say nervous.

Listen, everything we've been

It's all leading up for this.

Let's just go out there and kill it.

opportunities don't come every day.

it's time for my sound check.'

so it's time for the 7 Chapters

and take to the Royal Albert Hall stage for the very first time.

HE RAPS: Used to be at home

Where I didn't know no-one...

because the sound engineers

Blud, it's my turn, I'm rapping and I'm not hearing nothing.

because we're going to have another chance to talk about it in a minute.

If anyone needed some reassurance,

It's actually going to be all right?

By the end of it, it was working.

You can hear it in your ears,

..because now all they need

I just heard the Tannoy say that the doors were opened a minute ago.

People are coming in, getting ready

and we're going to give them

Welcome to the Urban Classic Prom

the other artists rock the Proms.

Samara and Shev see what performing

Fireflies. He's doing us proud, man.

so we've got to step up to that

It's nearly time to take the stage

This is everything, after all these weeks that we've been going through,

for and it's crunch time now.

'6,500 people are waiting to hear The Chapters perform in the venue,

'as well as many more at home

'I just hope that all the weeks of hard work will pay off for them

off the performance of a lifetime.'

I've never seen that before in my life. It's just amazing.

'I've not performed on a stage in a venue like this so....'

It's like my vocab's limited and I can't even get the words out,

in the goodist way possible.

# Turning my dreams into reality

I was looking from left to right, up and down. I was looking...

My head was everywhere. I was just

I can't run off. I was BLEEP.

# Here are Seven Chapters...

# Here are Seven Chapters...

SHE RAPS: # My heart's ambition

# For the music I make... #

'It was more than what I expected.'

I couldn't see one empty seat,

# We're turning the page. #

Thank you so much. You've been

I'm so proud of them but they should be proud of themselves too.

Over the last two months, they've learned so much about a genre

they hadn't given any time to before this and it's opened

their minds to a whole new world of music and hopefully, opportunity.

You guys just stole the show.

I thought you were going to say

I'm proud of you guys, man.

They've done it. They've done it.

Amazing feeling, better than I've ever felt before in my life.

Can't believe it. I'm buzzing.

Back in the Chapters' dressing room,

to choose music has payed off.

how big this is in my life.

You know, taking music when I was 16 was the best decision I've ever made.

I want to do now and I can do it.

I saw my mum in me tonight,

and chopped it out to everybody else

It's taken 21 years of my life

and I'm representing everyone that

or ever was discouraging in any way. I'm representing those people.

For Curtis, his classical experience

The whole experience was incredible.

It's made me think of music

It's made me think of everything

Classical music, it's a great genre, man. It's great music, man.

For me, it's mission complete.

working with a bunch of guys that had no interest in classical music

and tear down the stage, man,

about the future of classical music.

and the experiences I've had

for classical music and the history

Taking people like Sin and Curtis

to them actually saying to me

"I would love to come next year

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