Ragz-CV has made an EP, with 50% of all proceeds going to the charity.
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An inspirational Croydon rapper is raising money for Alzheimer’s Society with a musical project.
Ragz-CV, aka Ryan Junior Matthews-Robinson, 25, began making the EP ‘Paying Homage to the King’ as a tribute to his Granddad Robbie ‘King’ Robinson’s musical background.
But the cause soon became even greater when he saw how his Nan, Maureen Robinson, was suffering from dementia.
“I want to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s, not just because my Nan has it but because I feel it’s one of the worst diseases with very little mention,” he said.
The rapper promised to give Alzheimer’s Society 50% of all proceeds from the E.P.
Ragz-CV said his Nan’s dementia came on suddenly, soon after she retired from working at a hospital in Croydon seven years ago.
One night, she told Robbie smoke was coming from the ceiling before she went to bed.
When he woke in the night she was missing.
She had left the house and was found and taken to hospital after Robbie called the police.
Before his Nan was diagnosed, Ragz-CV didn’t know much about the disease.
“Once you’ve lost your mind what’s left?” he said.
Robbie was a jazz and reggae musician in Jamaica and is a big influence on the young rapper musically and personally.
He wants people to hear and appreciate his granddad’s music.
He said: “The E.P has a real jazz feel which my granddad brings with his production and with my touch it’s just the right blend of old school and new school which I call jazz-rap.”
On top of caring for Maureen, Robbie also has diabetes.
Last September Ragz-CV and Junior Booker, a comedian, events organiser and host, put on an event called “Positive Influence” at Brixton Jamm to raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.
The event was so successful that it returned in September 2013 at Brixton’s The Dogstar as a free event with all donations going to the charity.
“The EP is very special to me because it’s some of my best music, I’m keeping my granddad’s legacy alive and I’m helping people like my Nan who are suffering with this terrible disease,” said Ragz-CV.
He began selling his CDs at the Co-op where he works, raising £600 in one weekend.
After this success, he took the EP to Co-op stores across South West London and has raised over £4000 for Alzheimer’s Society so far.
He has received nominations for Best Newcomer 2012 at the Official Mixtape Awards, the Croydon Champion Award and a Beffta (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) Award.
Ragz-CV now hopes to establish a Social Enterprise to help young people in the community.
He realized he could be a role model when young people were inspired by seeing him selling his CDs.
“The E.P is a way of turning a negative thing into a positive thing,” he said.
The E.P is available on Amazon, Spotify and iTunes.
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