Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning intact:
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“When I say ‘Hull,’ you say ‘City’! Hull…” Chiedu Oraka grins, holding his mic out toward the nearly empty recording studio. Silence—for now. But next week, that pause will be filled by 20,000 voices at Craven Park stadium, where the local rapper will kick off Coldplay’s UK leg of the Music of the Spheres tour. And he’s ready to win over the crowd.
“There’ll be people there who’ve never seen me before, so I want to give them everything—new tracks, old ones, and a proper party,” he says. “I’m buzzing for it.”
Last year, Oraka played Glastonbury, opened for Skepta at South by Southwest, and supported Brit Award-winning rapper Casisdead. But these Coldplay shows are his biggest yet—and Hull’s most high-profile music event in years. The gigs reflect Coldplay’s push to connect with working-class audiences, with 10% of ticket sales going to the Music Venue Trust, which supports grassroots venues. By bringing Oraka on board, Chris Martin is staying true to the band’s mission of uplifting local communities.
“Chris FaceTimed me from his studio in LA and said, ‘I’m coming to your city. How can I help you?'” Oraka tells me. We’re sitting in Yankee Land, a Hull fast-food spot famous for its loaded chip boxes. Oraka, a regular, even has his own signature meal: a massive burger with turkey bacon, fries, chilli cheese bites, and popcorn chicken. Today, though, he’s gone for a chicken burger, strips, and a chocolate milkshake.
“I just went for it,” he says. “I told him, ‘Mate, I wanna support you on both shows.'” They announced the news with a playful social media clip where Martin kept mispronouncing “Chiedu” before joking that Coldplay would be “closing the show for him.” The line was Martin’s idea—the name gag came from their earlier chats, where the frontman kept stumbling over it.
Over email, Martin keeps up the bit: “I discovered Chiedu while researching Hull’s music scene. After we talked, I asked if he’d let us close for him there. He took some convincing, but he finally agreed—as long as we don’t look him in the eye.”
At Yankee Land, the 6’7″ rapper wears his local fame with easy charm. Staff keep offering us more food, and shouts of “Hey, Chie!” come with promises to text later. “Suddenly, everyone’s my best mate,” he laughs, recalling the buzz after the Coldplay news. “People were like, ‘Oh, I always knew he’d make it!’”
Oraka grew up on a council estate in north Hull, raised by a single mother. His identity is central to his music—they were the only Black family in the area, and he faced racism from an early age. Some friends even hid their friendship with him from their parents.
“We ate pounded yam, and when mates came over, they’d be weirded out,” he says. “I was embarrassed. I just wanted to fit in.” By 10, he was arrested for shoplifting; in 2007, he went to prison for fighting. “I’ve been through the whole cycle—selling drugs, the stereotypical ‘Black kid’ stuff.” Now, through music, he’s rewriting his story.
Musically, Oraka draws from London’s grime, garage, and UK funky scenes. But on his debut…
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(Note: The text cuts off mid-sentence at the end, so I’ve left it open as in the original.)
This version keeps the original meaning while making it flow more naturally in English, simplifying where needed without losing detail. Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!On his 2024 mixtape Misfit, Oraka explores mental health and race from the perspective of a working-class northerner. In Own Kind, he openly shares his experience of feeling like an outsider in mainstream Black spaces: “At home, I’m way too Black / When I leave, it’s not the same.” On No Need, he echoes his mother’s fears of him meeting the same fate as Christopher Alder, a Black man who died in police custody in Hull in 1998. “I’m trying to northernise the Black experience because it’s more than just inner-city London,” he explains.
Oraka has faced challenges in the London-dominated music industry, from dismissive comments about his accent to a lack of support from Black music platforms. “I really wanted to be embraced by GRM Daily, Link Up TV, and Mixtape Madness—the major Black media outlets—but I just wasn’t getting any love,” he says. “When a Black artist raps about drugs and jail, it sells because that’s the narrative people expect. But there are stories to tell from kids who grew up like me. I just want a fair shot.”
Now, Oraka sees his uniqueness as a strength—embodied by his slogan “The Black Yorkshireman,” proudly displayed on the back of his T-shirt. His upcoming EP, Undeniable, drops in October, alongside a UK tour starting at Hull’s intimate New Adelphi Club, a venue that once hosted Oasis and local legends the Housemartins.
His new music, he says, “will prove I’m serious—I’m coming for the title of king of the north.” He quickly clarifies, “I’m not disrespecting Bugzy Malone—he’s incredible. What he’s done for northern rappers is groundbreaking. He set the blueprint.”
While Hull has become more diverse since Oraka’s childhood, recent events—like last summer’s riots and the election of a Reform mayor in East Yorkshire—highlight ongoing challenges. “The riots were embarrassing and not at all reflective of Hull,” he says. “It’s a small minority. The election result was disappointing—too many people just follow the crowd without thinking. It’s toxic.”
Oraka understands the significance of his rising platform. “This is a chance for young Black kids in Hull to see someone like me sharing the stage with the biggest band in the world. If I can do it, they can too,” he says, smiling. “I feel that responsibility, and I’m ready for it. I was born to do this.”
Undeniable releases on 31 October via Republic of Music. Coldplay performs at Hull’s Craven Park stadium on 18 and 19 August.
FAQS
### **FAQs About “Black Culture Extends Far Beyond London”: Chiedu Oraka Opening for Coldplay**
#### **General Questions**
**1. Who is Chiedu Oraka?**
Chiedu Oraka is a rapper and artist from Hull, known for his authentic lyrics about Black British identity, regional pride, and social issues.
**2. Why is Chiedu Oraka opening for Coldplay significant?**
It highlights that Black British talent exists outside London, challenging the stereotype that Black culture is only centered in the capital.
**3. What does “Black culture extends far beyond London” mean?**
It means Black British experiences, music, and art thrive across the UK—not just in London—and deserve recognition everywhere.
#### **About the Event & Impact**
**4. How did Chiedu Oraka get chosen to open for Coldplay?**
His unique sound, regional perspective, and growing influence in UK hip-hop likely caught Coldplay’s attention.
**5. Why is this important for Hull and other cities?**
It puts smaller cities on the map, showing that talent emerges from all regions, not just major cultural hubs.
**6. What message does this send to aspiring artists outside London?**
That success is possible no matter where you’re from—authenticity and hard work matter more than location.
#### **Black British Culture & Regional Identity**
**7. How does Chiedu Oraka’s music represent Hull?**
His lyrics often reflect Hull’s working-class roots, his Nigerian heritage, and the realities of being Black in Northern England.
**8. Are there other Black artists making waves outside London?**
Yes—artists like Loyle Carner, Kofi Stone, and others are reshaping perceptions.
**9. Why is London often seen as the center of Black British culture?**
Historically, London had larger Black communities and media influence, but social media now amplifies voices from everywhere.
#### **Practical & Fan Questions**
**10. Where can I listen to Chiedu Oraka’s music?**
On streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube—check out tracks like *”Broke Boy”* and *”I Still Don’t Smoke”*.
