Grime Kids – Meet Yus Jamal Crookes (Dane)

What is the premise of the story?

It follows five young boys and their transition from garage into grime and seeing how they kind of intertwine into the grime world without being kids that are traditionally from grime.

Why do you think people will be able to relate to Grime Kids?

Everybody has a different story in Grime Kids and it’s one that someone who’s watching will be able to relate to. Whether it be that you’re having trouble at home or that you want to achieve something but everyone’s telling you ‘no’, or whether you don’t fit into a certain group. There are a lot of different themes, so a lot for people to relate to. I also think it’s important to tell this story. It’s never been told in the way Grime Kids is telling it!

What can you tell us about your character, Dane?

Dane is a bit of a dreamer. He seems to have more of a motivation I’d say because he’s got so much going on – he’s got his family life and then he’s got Genevieve to deal with and then he’s got his own dream to keep alive all while trying to keep his friendship group intact. He lives in a fantasy world and sometimes he gets snapped out of it but he always tries to get back into the dream.

What was it like shooting in East London?

I’m from East London as well so filming there was integral to me, knowing where the actual landmarks are of grime because grime is a very East London thing. It gives us that extra feel that we are there and living it. You can’t fake authenticity.

We also spent a lot of time together as a cast outside of work. It strengthened everyone’s on-screen performance and we all became really close. Target would come down and see certain set builds and say ‘this is what we used to do’, so it really felt like the story was told correctly.

Which character do you think has the best wardrobe?

It has to be Kai man, it has to be Kai.

What was your favourite location while filming?

The rooftop was my favourite location while we were up there because Aaron Williams, who had written some of our raps, was showing us where so many legends of the early 00s grime scene used to come to the community centre. It was sick to be there and to look down and see all of East London and where everything was and how close it was.