From growing up on the streets of Nottingham to facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars, KG from GBM has experienced a side of life that many people will never understand.
In the latest episode of Tales from the Trap, Terry Stone sits down with the Nottingham rapper and former gang leader for an honest conversation about his childhood, gang culture, knife crime, prison and the decisions that eventually changed his life.
But this isn’t just a story about crime. It’s about the consequences of those choices, the people lost along the way and how music, family and business have given KG a different direction.
Growing Up in Nottingham: Bullying, Racism and Gang Culture
Born in Radford, Nottingham, KG grew up surrounded by an environment where gangs, crime and violence were already part of everyday life.
His childhood also came with personal challenges. Born with one leg shorter than the other, KG experienced bullying at school because of his disability. After undergoing operations on his leg, he developed a reputation for fighting back against anyone who targeted him.
What started as defending himself eventually developed into anger problems, regular school exclusions and confrontations with other pupils.
Moving between different areas of Nottingham also exposed him to racism and further conflict. However, KG explains that some of the people he fought with as a youngster later became close friends.
Looking back, he believes those experiences taught him important lessons about respect, understanding and not judging people based on their differences.
How KG Became Involved in Gang Life
Growing up around older individuals involved in street activity meant that KG was exposed to gang culture from an early age.
As he got older, he began to notice the money, jewellery and lifestyles of those around him. What had once seemed like ordinary neighbourhood activity gradually became something he wanted to be involved in.
By his teenage years, KG was getting into fights, committing offences and becoming increasingly involved in criminal activity.
At 14, he was expelled from school after being caught selling cannabis. He subsequently attended alternative education programmes, including Breakaway, where mentors attempted to steer him towards more positive opportunities.
Although he now speaks highly of the people who tried to help him, KG admits that, at the time, he wasn’t ready to listen.
As his involvement in crime escalated, so did the consequences.
Knife Crime, Prison and an IPP Sentence
One of the most revealing parts of KG’s interview is his account of carrying a knife.
He admits that, during his time on the streets, he carried one almost everywhere he went. In his mind, it was a form of protection against the threats he believed surrounded him.
However, that lifestyle eventually resulted in two serious violent offences.
In 2008, KG received a six-year sentence alongside an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence, an indeterminate sentencing arrangement that could result in detention beyond the original minimum term.
Although he initially expected to serve three years, he ultimately spent five years behind bars before being released.
Further convictions and a later recall to prison meant that his involvement with the criminal justice system continued.
KG describes how a relatively short sentence following another altercation led to him spending an additional two and a half years in prison because of his IPP arrangements.
During the conversation, he questions the impact of the system on prisoners, particularly the uncertainty surrounding release dates, parole hearings and access to rehabilitation courses.
For KG, the experience became a reminder of just how quickly freedom could disappear.
Losing His Mother While Behind Bars
Perhaps the most emotional moment of the episode comes when KG discusses losing his mother while he was in prison.
His mum had been a significant influence throughout his childhood, and her death left him dealing with grief while separated from his family.
He openly admits that missing those final moments with her was something he struggled to come to terms with.
KG also shares a deeply personal experience in which he believes his mother visited him after her death, encouraging him to look after his younger brothers and sisters.
That experience helped shape his priorities.
Rather than continuing down the same path, KG began thinking seriously about the responsibilities he had outside prison and the example he wanted to set for his family.
Today, supporting his younger siblings remains one of his biggest motivations.
How Music Helped KG Turn His Life Around
Music has always been part of KG’s life.
With a father who worked as a DJ and a mother who loved singing, he grew up surrounded by musical influences.
As a youngster, he regularly visited a mobile music project that travelled around Nottingham, giving local children an opportunity to rap, MC and develop their abilities.
KG remembers dropping whatever he was doing whenever the music bus arrived.
He later began taking music more seriously, with a release in 2016 gaining significant attention and accumulating over a million views online.
Although further time in prison interrupted that momentum, KG never lost his passion for music.
He explains that making and listening to music gives him an outlet for difficult emotions, allowing him to express his experiences without resorting to anger or violence.
Rather than simply providing entertainment, music became a way of processing everything he had been through.
KG now has plans to release more music, including collaborations with fellow artists Solo 51 and Triller.
Life After Prison: Business and Building Something Positive
KG’s ambitions now extend beyond the recording studio.
During the podcast, he reveals that he has established a flower business, selling customised arrangements featuring glitter, chocolates and other decorative touches.
It’s certainly not the business venture people might expect from someone with his background, something Terry Stone is quick to joke about.
However, KG sees entrepreneurship as an opportunity to build financial independence and create something that can support future generations.
He believes many of the skills people develop while operating within street culture could be redirected towards legitimate businesses.
For him, success is no longer about the reputation he once had on the streets. It’s about creating opportunities, supporting his family and building a lasting legacy.
Helping Young People Avoid the Same Mistakes
One of KG’s biggest ambitions is to help younger people in Nottingham avoid the mistakes he made.
He speaks passionately about the lack of youth clubs and accessible activities, arguing that young people need somewhere positive to spend their time.
Recalling how much the mobile music project meant to him as a child, he believes similar opportunities could make a real difference today.
KG has already spoken with young people about gang crime and the dangers of violence, drawing on his own experiences to explain the realities of prison.
He hopes to become more involved in community initiatives, potentially establishing a youth club or similar project in his local area.
His message to young people is simple: recognise your abilities, take advantage of opportunities and don’t allow your environment to determine your future.
KG’s Story: A Different Direction and a Second Chance
Throughout his conversation with Terry Stone, KG makes it clear that he isn’t trying to glorify his past.
Instead, he wants people to understand the reality behind the lifestyle, including the violence, prison sentences, lost opportunities and lasting consequences.
His journey from Nottingham gang culture to pursuing music, running businesses and supporting young people demonstrates how priorities can change with experience.
As KG explains during the episode, the streets are no longer where he wants to be.
Watch the full episode of Tales from the Trap with Terry Stone and KG from GBM to hear his story, his experiences behind bars and his plans for the future.
