CountryBoy's Struggle

Contact’s series of storytelling music videos mix hip-hop and comedy to tell the story of Michael Crompton, a man on a journey to become an MC – from the cliffs of Cornwall to the streets of London

Episode One
Episode One
The first chapter of budding MC Michael Crompton's story is told through a mix of hip hop music and animation
DURATION: 6 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Two
Episode Two
Beneath a moonlit sky in rural Cornwall, among a horde of teenage ravers, Michael meets a girl - chapter two of a CountryBoy's Struggle
DURATION: 4 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Three
Episode Three
Follow the journey of Michael Crompton on his quest to become an MC. In this episode he has a big argument with his Dad, but is rescued by MC Vision and MC Tony Salmon (his spiritual guides)
DURATION: 4 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Four
Episode Four
In this episode of CountryBoy's Struggle, after being kicked out of home by his Dad, Michael sets out to find his hip hop community and arrives... in London
DURATION: 4 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Five
Episode Five
In this episode of CountryBoy's Struggle, shortly after arriving in London, Darren, a local youth, offers to guide Michael through the twists and turns of London’s backstreets towards his new flat. Will Michael make it there? And, if so, what will he make of his new flatmates?
DURATION: 6 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Six
Episode Six
In this episode of CountryBoy's Struggle, Michael gets a job at Camden's world-famous Roundhouse Theatre washing dishes. On night, on his way back home, things take a turn for the worse as Michael is stopped in his tracks and challenged to a rap battle
DURATION: 4 SECS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Seven
Episode Seven
In this episode of CountryBoy's Struggle, Michael is in poor spirits having been mocked by a group of MCs. Peter tells him about a night of True School Hip Hop and he makes it his mission to find it
DURATION: 5 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Eight
Episode Eight
The story of Michael Crompton continues - after finally making his way to Lyrical Dexterity, Hackney’s regular night of True School Hip Hop, Michael waits backstage while MC VibeWire hosts the open mic showcase
DURATION: 4 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Episode Nine
Episode Nine
In this episode of CountryBoy's Struggle, Michael finds his Hip Hop community and raps in front of them with confidence and style. Through getting involved with Lyrical Dexterity, he soon finds himself touring and facilitating Hip Hop workshops across the country including Bude in Cornwall, where Michael reconvenes with his dad
DURATION: 7 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm
Omnibus
Omnibus
This omnibus edition brings together the entire fast, funny and honest story of Michael Crompton a.k.a. CountryBoy MC as he travels from the cliffs of Cornwall to the streets of London in search of his hip-hop community
DURATION: 36 MINS
FORMAT: Video
MusicFilm

Written and starring Maxwell Golden, who plays over 40 characters in this performance, the series explores the tensions between what is meant by ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ and attempts to create a bridge between these two worlds.

Countryboy’s Struggle is directed by Baba Israel, Artistic Director of Contact and Richard Ramchurn of Albino Mosquito with music by Danbeats.