Lethal Bizzle, Tinchy Stryder and more have taken to Twitter to share their grief at the passing of one of grime’s pioneers
When the story of grime is retold Channel U will be immortalised (alongside countless pirate radio stations) as one of the most important launchpads for the genre. The channel brought UK garage, hip-hop and grime to a mainstream audience and championed urban culture from the get go. Today, the channel’s founder Darren Platt has passed away. No details have been shared as to the cause of death.
Platt’s Channel U – later renamed Channel AKA – helped launch the careers of rappers like Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, Chipmunk, Skepta and more. MC Ghetts said earlier on Instagram that Platt helped him get signed, “Ahhh man very sad news indeed this guy here initiated my first record deal many years ago.” He wrote, “The man behind channel u the biggest platform for us at the time rip Darren.” While Lethal Bizzle described Platt as a “A visionary and a very kind person.” Saying that he helped with “pushing UK music/culture when no one else cared.”
Many more stars of the UK grime and garage scenes have left tributes to Platt on social media. See a selection below.
RIP Darren Platt 😔🙏🏾 Sad news man. Channel U was so key in my career and many, many others. Good dude.
— Tinchy Stryder (@TinchyStryder) July 14, 2016
R.i.p Darren Platt 🌹 founder of Channel U now known as Channel AKA.
That channel was the debut for many of us to the music industry. ❤️
— NOLAY (@OfficialNolay) July 14, 2016
Rip Darren platt! great guy opened a lot of doors for young musicians in the UK & a big help in my music career ❤️😔
— Kayne Raime (@kayne_r) July 14, 2016
R.I.P Darren Platt, the man who founded Channel U & AKA 🙏😔
— JAMALWOON (@JamalWoon) July 14, 2016
