Plan B to teach lessons on fame for Hackney Academy

Plan B says he wants teenagers to understand that fame is "hard work".

The musician is one of a number of artists taking part in Radio 1's Hackney Academy which launches today (June 1).

The three-week project will feature coaching sessions aimed at teenagers who live in and around the area.

It is all part of the run-up to Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, which is part of the London 2012 Festival.

Plan B, who grew up in east London, is working with teenagers from the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).

He went there himself after being expelled from secondary school.

His involvement with the academy will see the rapper and singer working with teenagers interested in a career in the music industry.

Together they will produce a piece of music that will be performed at the launch of the academy and on stage at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend which is Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June.

'Work hard'

"They don't understand the hard work that goes into this," said Plan B.

"They think it's like a lottery. They think it just happens like that."

He says one misconception that the kids have, is that the fame and wealth that comes with it happens overnight.

"Any kid I meet that's talented, that's the one thing I tell them," he said.

Plan B says he wants to use his experience to teach them that's not always the case.

"I say, 'Listen. You are talented. You are going to be a star, so make sure you work hard.'"

Leona Lewis, Labrinth, Lethal B and Rizzle Kicks are some of the other artists who will be taking part in coaching sessions.

Teenagers will also be able to get tips on how to start up their business in a Q&A session with Jamal Edwards, founder of SBTV founder.

Underdog area

The web-based viral video site recently celebrated reaching 100,000,000 views.

"I love things like this," he said. "I wished it happened when I was younger."

The 21-year-old started the company after receiving a camcorder on his 15th birthday.

Bafta award-winning actor Adam Deacon will answer questions and take part in acting workshops with budding actors at the academy.

"I grew up around here," he said.

"For me Hackney has always been one of those areas that I felt people didn't care about."

The Anuvahood star still lives on the housing estate in east London he grew up on and says he hopes to teach teenagers that where you are from shouldn't limit where you can end up in life.

He said: "It's always been a very underdog kind of area.

"So the fact there are all these eyes on the area is a good thing.

"I just hope the new generation sees Hackney in a different light now."

The academy, which will run from 1 to 22 June, has been organised by Radio 1 and 1Xtra, BBC Learning and local organisations.

See full details of BBC Radio 1's Hackney Weekend 2012: Academy themes