A rapping firefighter is asking people to join his crew - a fire crew that is.

Streatham resident Stephen-Remell Coleman works at Brixton fire station, but is forging a hip-hop career in his spare time as rapper Controversy.

Now the former Wimbledon firefighter is using his musical talents to help a recruitment drive by his employers, the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

The 30-year-old has written a new hip hop track, called ‘London Firefighter,’ in the hope it will inspire other Londoners from ethnic minority backgrounds to follow him in to the fire service.

The lyrics to the tune, launched on YouTube, include the line: “Follow me my people this is the way, sign your name for fire brigade open days. Oh what a rush, no job can touch, the job that I got, this job is too much. We need more brothers and sisters let’s go, don’t matter if you’re x or y chromosome”.

It follows the success of another tune "Got Mine Got Yours?" which he penned in 2007 to raise awareness of the importance of smoke alarms.

Mr Coleman, who has been rapping since the age of 14, said: “As a black man I don’t fit the usual stereotype of a firefighter. I really hope with this new track I can show people there is no stereotype to conform to.

“There are too many stories about young people in trouble with the police. I hope young people from ethnic minority backgrounds can look at firefighters like me and see the fire service as an opportunity put something back into their communities and save lives”.

In LFB's 6,000 operational staff, there are 648 ethnic minority firefighters and 239 female firefighters.

Mr Coleman added: “The lyrics are clear, the fire brigade is a fantastic career choice for everyone, men and women alike. It doesn’t matter what your background is, we live in a diverse city and our firefighters need to represent that diversity."

London Firefighter has been released to coincide with the LFB's recruitment campaign week which runs from Wednesday November 25 to Tuesday December 1.

For more information visit london-fire.gov.uk.

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