Plan B: I'll be honest and real to Hackney Academy kids

Image caption, Plan B (left) and Leona Lewis (right) will work with R1's & 1X's Hackney Academy
  • Author, Interview by Nesta McGregor, words by Emma Brant
  • Role, Newsbeat reporters

Plan B will be "honest and real" when working with teenagers involved in Radio 1's Hackney Academy.

The singer is one of a number of artists involved in the three-week project aimed at teenagers up to 19 years old in the area.

Leona Lewis, Labrinth, Lethal B and Rizzle Kicks are some of the other artists who will also be giving coaching sessions at the academy.

It is all part of the run-up to Radio 1's Hackney Weekend, which is part of .

Plan B says he wants to connect with teenagers from Hackney in the same way he was inspired at his Pupil Referral Unit (PRU).

"It was a place you went to when you got kicked out of school," the singer said.

"Those individuals really helped me and shaped my life."

The academy, which will run from 1 to 22 June, has been organised by Radio 1 and 1Xtra, 91热爆 Learning and local organisations.

There will be music classes with the likes of Leona, Plan B and Dizzee, Q&A sessions and script writing workshops.

'Role model'

Also, for some of the 10,000 academy pupils, there will be a chance to perform on stage at Radio 1 and 1Xtra's Hackney weekend on 23 and 24 June - the stations' music festival to celebrate the 2012 London Olympics.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Lethal B will run coaching sessions for Radio 1's Hackney Academy

Plan B is positive about the project.

"If these kids feel confident enough to perform their songs then we are seeing instant results," he said.

"If you have lived a sheltered life, I'm not the best role model because I'm too real and I'm honest.

"When talking about sex or drugs or crime, I'll speak like I'm speaking to an adult, those things can't be dressed up or watered down."

"Yeah I will go in there and swear. I'm not their teacher, I'm not going to get fired over it."

Rihanna and Jay-Z will both headline Radio 1 and 1Xtra's Hackney weekend. See the full line-up of Hackney Weekend