A HIP-HOP artist from Derby is finding fame, thanks to his anti-violence lyrics.

Unlike many rappers who have been criticised for glamorising street crime, Neil Olsson – known as Red Tempa – promotes peace and respect for others.

It is not just his message that strays from mainstream hip-hop, but also his image.

Neil, a senior accounts manager, performs his music in a suit.

He said: "I wanted people to see that I could rap but that I was also very smart and cool at the same time."

Neil, 24, has appeared on MTV and his debut album, Both Sides, will be released this summer.

The rapper said he was inspired by finding "another way" for youngsters involved in crime on Derby's streets,

After the murder of Derby teenager Kadeem Blackwood in November last year, Neil posted a song called Broken Britain on the internet.

The rap, that called for an end to gun culture and violence, caught the ear of Marcus Taylor, from Starharbour Records.

Since being signed by the label in January, Neil's music has featured on TV music channels and radio. He has also appeared in music magazines.

"This year has been phenomenal – ever since I got the e-mail from Marcus on New Year's Eve," said Neil, of Maple Drive, Chellaston.

Marcus believes Red Tempa is going to be "the next best thing" in the hip-hop scene.

"He is something very different and good for representing British hip-hop, which is usually about negative lifestyles," he said.

Neil, a former Noel-Baker Community School and Language College pupil, got into rapping when he was 14 – two years after he moved to Sunny Hill, in Derby, from Germany.

Back then, his lyrics did not carry the same message.

He said that as a teenager he was "mixed up in bad stuff" and was heading down a destructive path.

But when he was 18, his best friend overdosed on drugs in a Derby club. His friend survived but the experience gave Neil a wake-up call.

"It made me realise there was no point to it," said Neil, who broke away from his former circle of friends and started to concentrate on his music.

At that point his songs were anti-violence and anti-drugs, but highlighted "how bad everything was".

Then a couple of years ago his mother gave him some invaluable advice and told him to write more positive lyrics which gave people hope.

He said: "Broken Britain talks about a lot of stuff that goes on at the moment – drugs, violence and stabbings, but it talks about how you can get out of it and why you would even want to do it."

Hear Neil at: www.my space.com/redtempaslk