AN EIGHT-HOUR open mic event was staged yesterday in an attempt to set a world record.
St Ann's based project Embrace in Community organised the Lyrics of Life event at the Nottingham Contemporary from noon to 8pm.
It was initially set up to oppose gun, gang and knife crime, and to break negative youth stereotypes.
Young rappers and MCs were asked to do this by taking to the stage and performing lyrics with positive meanings.
Nisha Kaunda, 33, of Sherwood, works for the Embrace in Community project.
She said: "Music has a massive impact on people's lives. This event is also about showcasing the talent of people who live here. We hope it will reinforce that all young people aren't bad."
The event, which attracted more than 50 performers from all over the East Midlands, also included a Pass The Mic World Record attempt.
To set the record performers had to deliver 16 bars of music each and consecutively pass the mic as many times as possible in one hour.
Under the Guinness World Record rules, if any mistakes were made the count had to be restarted but the clock would not stop.
Nisha added: "We would feel amazing if we find out we have done it."
The event was hosted by 25- year-old recording artist David Boafo, also known as 2Tone, from St Ann's.
He said: "I started making music when I was around 15. It was a release for me and let me express my life experiences.
"We need to listen to what people have to say and not just judge people." One 34-year-old band member, known as MC Glockz, said he used to be involved in gangs as a teenager.
But during a five year stint in jail he learned to become more positive. He said: "Since I came out of jail my life has changed. You can get out of it [gangs] and there is something more to life and more to music. I distance myself from negative people now."
Participants in the Lyrics of Life event are hoping to find out whether their new world record has been officially registered later this week.
