Meet the Directors
Baby J
Managing Director
Baby People’s managing director Baby J is an experienced music producer who has worked internationally for the last sixteen years. Since been discovered in 1995 by a Wu-Tang Records A&R in New York, Baby J has carried out production work for Plan B, Gravediggaz, Jamelia, Wretch 32, Amy Winehouse, Dead Prez, Skinnyman, India Aire, Sway, Mark Ronson and Estelle.
His music has been daytime playlisted on BBC Radio 1, 1xtra, Galaxy, Choice, BBC Radio 6 and Kiss FM. Baby J has performed two renowned BBC Maida Vale sessions (for Huw Stephens and Ras Kwame) and Record of the Week for Zane Lowe, Trevor Nelson and Edith Bowman. He has received awards from BBC 1xtra and UMA and has toured with Jay Z, Mark Ronson and Gravediggaz.
Baby J’s remix of Amy Winehouse’s ‘Valerie’ was no.2 in the national charts and stayed in the top ten for 11 weeks earning him his first gold disc. Other businesses include recording studios in Birmingham and Derby, Baby Knotted Films, which at its peak was the UK’s leading urban music video supplier to Channel AKA and MTV Base, Big Promo, a radio promo company and work as a national organiser for Love Music Hate Racism promoting national events including festivals for 20,000 people.
Rukus
Artistic Director
Rukus, Baby People’s Ambassador is a producer, DJ, rapper, musician workshop facilitator and artist born and bred in Birmingham, now residing in Derby. Coming from a musical family Rukus has been performing since the age of 8. A multi-instrumentalist, radio and club DJ, MC and all round performer Rukus is one of the UK’s most passionate and competent Black music performers.
‘Rukus was responsible for setting up the ‘Trinity’ collective consisting of DJ’s, MC’s, breakdancers (including UK B-Boy champions Trinity warriors) and producers all residing in the Midlands area. The Trinty brand is now one of the most known and respected brands by young people across the region.
Rukus’s first release ‘Let It Go’ was produced by ‘Baby J’ and has achieved nationwide success. ‘Let It Go’ was also daytime play listed on ‘Galaxy FM’, ‘Kiss FM’ and A Listed on ‘BBC 1xtra’ as well as various local and national radio stations across the UK.
Rukus’s talent was also evident with the introduction of his debut mixtape which was released in 2007 titled ‘Originality Stands Alone’. The mixtape featured artists such as ‘Wretch 32’, ‘Pyrelli’, ‘Def 1’, ‘Skepta’, ‘Suncycle’, ‘J2K’ and ‘Skeme’. The mixtape launch event was broadcast live from Derby by 1xtra.