Mr Basista was born Tom Basista in 1984 in South East London. The name Basista means bassist in several languages.

He began to rap when he was 15. His first experience of a rap battle was also his first time on stage so the challenge came as a shock. Luckily this just fed his hunger for rap.

A year or so later he was faced with the same opponent and this time he understood the rules and let loose his spontaneous skills to win (in true 8 mile style-long before Eminem’s success). He has been...