‘ it’s a motherly relationship’

Ebi Sampson, 28 Act: 67

One year ago, Ebi co-founded management consultancy Leo Sounds after a career in fashion saw her work with music acts. She manages PR for 67 ( pronounced six seven), explaining that most of the group, from Brixton, ‘came from single parent homes. Their mum was the strongest figure in their lives, they have the utmost respect for women’.

67’s videos feature lots of macho posturing, yet Ebi bosses them around, telling them where to sit, admonishing them if they go off-script. During a recent interview, she cut in to correct Dimzy for going off on a tangent. He apologised meekly before refocusing his chat. She says that, in her experience, ‘ The guys find it easier to work with females, to be honest and open with us. We’re friends and managers. It’s a motherly relationship.’

UK rap has become more socially conscious as grime has reached a wider audience, she says. ‘[Artists] are so aware that people listen to what they say. You’ve got so many young kids that look up to these massive UK artists now. It’s a worldwide platform, so they wanna share and be so much more conscious about what they say. People look up to them; you feel it more now than ever.’