Grime star Novelist today called on more artists to be vocal about youth violence— and said visits by inspirational figures should be part of the school curriculum to help guide children on the right path.

The 21-year-old from south London, speaking out ahead of tonight’s Mercury Music Prize ceremony, said his album was about his “reality” growing up, and he wanted his music to make a difference to young people on estates blighted by gangs.

His debut Novelist Guy is up against new material from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Florence + The Machine, Lily Allen and Noel Gallagher.

Its tracks include Gangster and Stop Killing The Mandem, which recall his own experience of life growing up in Brockley, and his response to the global Black Lives Matter movement.

Mercury Prize Shortlist 2018 - In pictures 12 show all Mercury Prize Shortlist 2018 - In pictures 1/12 Florence and The Machine - High as Hope Getty Images 2/12 Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino AFP/Getty Images 3/12 Lily Allen - No Shame Getty Images 4/12 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built the Moon? Getty Images 5/12 Sons of Kemet - Your Queen is a Reptile Rex Features 6/12 Richard Russell's Everything is Recorded Rex Features 7/12 Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination 8/12 Novelist - Novelist Guy Daniel Hambury 9/12 Wolf Alice - Visions of a Life EPA 10/12 Jorja Smith - Lost & Found Getty Images 11/12 King Krule - The Ooz Getty Images 12/12 Everything Everything - A Fever Dream PA 1/12 Florence and The Machine - High as Hope Getty Images 2/12 Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino AFP/Getty Images 3/12 Lily Allen - No Shame Getty Images 4/12 Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds - Who Built the Moon? Getty Images 5/12 Sons of Kemet - Your Queen is a Reptile Rex Features 6/12 Richard Russell's Everything is Recorded Rex Features 7/12 Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination 8/12 Novelist - Novelist Guy Daniel Hambury 9/12 Wolf Alice - Visions of a Life EPA 10/12 Jorja Smith - Lost & Found Getty Images 11/12 King Krule - The Ooz Getty Images 12/12 Everything Everything - A Fever Dream PA

The musician, whose birth name is Kojo Kankam, survived a stabbing attempt aged 13 and saw friends die or go to jail after joining gangs. He told the Standard: “My album is about my reality in south London where I grew up. It is my testimony, I’ve gone through so many things and I keep coming out on top. It is pretty clear I am not an advocate of violence, I’m putting that out there in the music. I think more people need to be vocal about that so young people can understand that that is not the only path you have to take to get out of your situation — because that is fear-driven, and I am not a fearful person.”

He said that in order to stay positive, “in life, sometimes people need reminders, even if it’s just that song they listened to an hour ago.”

Novelist was made deputy youth mayor for Lewisham in 2012, and campaigned for better music and sports facilities and free school books.

He still walks “around the ends” talking to people about their lives. “I just wanted to change stuff for my borough. What would have been great is more people who were successful coming into schools so they could be an example, like mentors. It should be part of the curriculum — it gives young people life experience and tells them it’s a direction they could go in.”

Novelist wrote and produced the album then had it mixed at Abbey Road studios and released under his label, Mmmyeh Records.

Judges on the £25,000 Mercury prize panel include Clara Amfo Lianne La Havas, Marcus Mumford and Ella Eyre. The awards at the Apollo in Hammersmith are live on BBC4 tonight from 9pm.