A music entrepreneur in New Cross is taking the underground music scene by storm after celebrating more than a decade’s worth of work in the community.

Corey Johnson, 38, has established himself as the go-to music man in south-east London, embracing both mainstream R&B with artists like Kyla and Drake and the urban grime scene where gang-culture sometimes intertwines with art.

News Shopper:
Corey Johnson has been engaging young people with music for more than a decade (c.) Community Youth London

Speaking to News Shopper about his struggles and successes, Mr Johnson said: “Working with people is key, sometimes when you put things in you don’t know what’s going to come out of it, you just do it.”

The Brixton-born entrepreneur has been in music since he was 10 years old after he was signed to Universal.

“It was a great time and a great experience,” Mr Johnson said, “It was my first introduction into the music scene.”

His 15-year-old record label Defenders was launched off his own music, eventually bringing together the big names at the time like north London rapper Too Much, who eventually signed with Grammy-award winning producer Mario Winans in 2005.

News Shopper:
Mr Johnson promoted and signed Kyla’s Do You Mind single as a Defenders’ release

“And after that, history was made, it just built from there,” he said.

“I started releasing other artists, giving them opportunities.

“There isn’t anywhere else that embraces creatives like here.

“At the bigger establishments you have to be at a certain level before you’re welcomed there.

“There’s a lot of support and love that’s here, a lot of community issues, a lot of musical issues, a lot of gang-related issues are able to be resolved because they have a shared interest - there’s a network that supports each other.”

The music tycoon has battled hard to bring the latest grime and R&B acts to the scene, including 17-year-old Myron 'MDOT' Yarde who had been at the studio in the weeks prior to his death on April 3.

News Shopper:
Deptford teenager Myron 'MDOT' Yarde was stabbed to death in New Cross

Mr Johnson said: “It’s difficult even being a young teen in today’s society.

“I understand the day-to-day.

“The peer pressures are there including the social media involvement of it.

“The reason I’ve stayed in south-east is because it’s a base that’s needed.”

For Mr Johnson, music plays an integral role with politics and with no college or university education, Mr Johnson is succeeding in an often unrepresented genre in mainstream culture.

News Shopper:
Corey Johnson: “Do something because you love it" (c.) Community Youth London

For example, the record producer has recently been picked up by Drake after Kyla’s Do You Mind single was sampled in his song One Dance - Mr Johnson promoted and signed the track as a Defenders’ release.

In spite of such successes however, it would appear that the music tycoon still has a sense of humour.

When asked what advice he’d give for emerging young artists he said: “It’s not Tesco, so don’t look for the hourly pay.

“Do something because you love it.

“That’s the reality of it.

“If I had done this to make money, I wouldn’t be here today.

“I’ve come to work many days not knowing how I’m going to buy lunch but I know I’m going to go there and it’s going to work out.”