A rapper from Bolton is spreading his wings as his music is featured in a leading art gallery and played on a major airline.

Superlative, real name Corey Brown, has been included on a playlist celebrating 75 years of Windrush on British Airways, as well as having recently collaborated on an art installation at the Southbank Centre in London, the largest centre for the arts in Europe.

The 27-year-old, who is from Farnworth, has been performing music since he was at school.

Corey is part of the first artists on the Southbank's new talent development programme, REFRAME: The Residency, supported by Apple with partners Factory International in Manchester, Birmingham City University’s STEAMhouse and Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) in Birmingham. 

The Bolton News: Superlative, real name Corey BrownSuperlative, real name Corey Brown (Image: Public)

The free programme supports Black and Black Mixed heritage creatives in London, Manchester and Birmingham and helps address and remove the systemic barriers to career development Black creatives face in the arts and creative industries.

The exhibition started on July 18 and runs until August 27.

Corey said: "Working with Factory and the staff from Southbank has been amazing. It is nice to be in an inclusive completely black and mixed community, it has been really nice."

He spoke about the importance of programmes designed for black people, saying: "Especially in this climate it is imperative. You always hear about struggles being in the industry as a black person.

"For me personally, I have never felt it is an obstacle, I feel the work I do has always been respected correctly, but it is still important because not everyone else has the same experience I have."

The Bolton News: Exhibition participants outside the Southbank CentreExhibition participants outside the Southbank Centre (Image: Public)

He formed 'D-Unit' with five other creatives as part of the programme: fellow musicians David Rey and Iyunoluwanimi Yemi-Shodimu (LINTD), videographer WezLees, photographer Timon Benson and graphic designer SilvaRose.

Corey continued: "It was mad, this was my first exhibition of this kind, I never worked on anything like this before, and to see it in London at the biggest art centre in Europe, it became real when I saw it."

Musician Danni Skerritt, aka Dirty Freud, was tasked with curating a playlist of artists to mark the 75th anniverary of the HMT Empire Windrush arriving in Britain, bringing more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean.

The Bolton News: Reform: The Residency exhibition at the Southbank CentreReform: The Residency exhibition at the Southbank Centre (Image: Public)

The playlist, which was originally played on Manchester-based Reform Radio, features Superlative.

He said: "It is still surreal, I need to see it. Just to be selected and to be part of this, the 75th celebrations of Windrush, I can't believe I am part of it, it's amazing."

Superlative's new single, 'Gangsters', which he produced and rapped on, is out now.

For more information on the Southbank residency, visit: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/art-exhibitions/reframe-residency-exhibition