The BBC is facing a probe after promoting the music of convicted murderer Jake Farhi, who has songs which reference his 2008 murder of schoolboy Jimmy Mizen.
Fahri, 35, was recently freed after serving a life sentence for the 2008 killing of Jimmy, 16, who bled to death after Fahri threw a glass dish that smashed and severed an artery in his neck at a bakery in Burnt Ash Hill, south London.
Fahri now raps under the moniker TEN and his lyrics involve your standard UK drill bragging points about drugs, money, weapons and gang violence.
He appears to reference Jimmy’s death in one of his tracks, saying: ‘Stuck it on a man and watched him melt like Ben and Jerry’s. Sharpen up my blade I’ve got to keep those necessary. Stay alert and kept it ready, any corner could be deadly. Judge took a look at me, before the trial even started he already knows he’s gonna throw the book at me.’
Another song’s lyrics include the line: ‘See a man’s soul fly from his eyes and his breath gone… I wanted more, it made it less wrong. Seeing blood spilled same floor he was left on.’
In fairness to the BBC, they had no idea about TEN’s true identity before they played two of his tracks on 1xtra. The two tracks they played were also NOT the tracks that appear to reference Jimmy Mizen. Even still, it’s not a great look for them to promote a convicted killer who glorifies and romanticises this sort of lifestyle in his music, is it?
The BBC said in a statement:
‘The song lyrics you have put to us have not been played on the BBC. Decisions on music are made on a case-by-case basis and we have strict editorial guidelines in place before any content is broadcast or posted.
‘BBC 1Xtra does not glamorise violence and this individual does not feature on any playlists.’
Jimmy’s mum Margaret Mizen, awarded an MBE in 2013 for her work with husband Barry helping young people fleeing violence, said:
“It’s very difficult to comment until I have read it but if this is true, I am very saddened as it will be a shock to the rest of my family. However Jimmy’s legacy of forgiveness, peace and hope, which we share in schools, will not change.”
Tory justice minister Robert Jenrick demanded the BBC apologise to the Mizen family:
“Licence-fee payers will be horrified the BBC is promoting music from a man who committed a murder which shocked Britain. By playing his music the BBC are helping him make money from his crime. They must do more to ensure that they know exactly who they are promoting in their shows, because impressionable children will hear this and it might make them think these people are role models, when they are a scourge on society.”
Since his release from HMP Long Lartin in 2023, Fahri AKA TEN has moved into a flat in Deptford, where he lives with his dog. He wears a tag, follows a curfew and is barred from entering Lewisham where the Mizens still live.
So yeah, might be a good idea for the BBC to vet any rapper who insists on wearing a balaclava from now on, before they decide to play their music to thousands of people on the airwaves. Honestly I checked out a couple of this guy’s tracks out of curiosity and I don’t understand why they chose to play them in the first place. There’s nothing particularly unique or good about his music, compared to the huge number of UK rap artists out there already. Sort it out, BBC!
For the rapper who was sentenced to five years in Dubai prison after making a rap song about robbing people in Dubai, click HERE. Smart guy.
