Rakeem said he has always wanted to take “a legitimate path and serve others” but life hasn’t always gone that way
Musician Rakeem Lewis at his Wirral studio(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A Wirral dad has spoken about his “full circle” moment after achieving a major career milestone. Rakeem Lewis, from Moreton and now living in Upton, has had one of his tracks featured in a Disney Plus short film alongside a star from This City Is Ours.
The 34-year-old musician told the ECHO: “Now, looking back, it’s incredible to think about how those experiences led me to where I am today – being in a Disney film and reflecting on everything I went through along the way.”
Growing up on the Wirral in the 1990s, Rakeem was one of the few Black children in his community. He recalled how this “sense of being different” was reinforced by repeated encounters with the police, which initially sparked feelings of anger and frustration.
He said he and his brother were targeted multiple times, including one night when he was stopped four times by the same officer. He said: “I had to make complaints. I did everything I could to stay out of crime and focus on music, but it’s so easy to become angry and even a product of discrimination.
Musician Rakeem Lewis is now looking to help others from younger generations
“I’m far from some notorious gangster. I’ve always wanted to take a legitimate path and serve others, helping them reach their full potential and operate in their purpose.”
Adopted as a child, Rakeem is open about the emotional complexities this brought. While grateful for the family that raised him, he often felt marginalised and struggled with questions about his identity.
These internal conflicts caused friction during his young adult years and, at one point, led to his isolation from his family. This period of instability intensified when Rakeem found himself sofa-surfing and eventually living in a hostel. Yet even in hardship, he said he remained focused on his ambitions.
Through “faith and perseverance”, Rakeem eventually secured his own apartment at Daniel House on Stanley Road in Bootle. He said: “It felt like a big step up. There was a bar on the roof and a gym. I felt a bit boujie. I was there because there had been a breakdown in my family situation, and I couldn’t just move back home.”
At one point, Rakeem had a successful streak — creating businesses, running a club residency, and managing DJs through his agency. But during that time, he admits he wasn’t always sensible.
Rakeem Lewis said his experiences have made him into who he is today
He added: “I probably drank too much, indulged in substances, and didn’t represent myself well, which left cracks in my business. I was also working in Huddersfield during the week, doing engine audits, so I had four jobs at the same time.
“Within a week, I lost most of those jobs. One of my friends couldn’t go to Huddersfield, so we lost that contract. On top of that, my landlord told me I needed to move out. I didn’t have the kind of family relationship at home to fall back on, so I was left without support.”
Despite the setbacks, Rakeem’s Bootle apartment became a creative turning point. Some of his most powerful music was written there, drawing directly from his lived experiences. One of these songs gained him the opportunity to work with James Nelson-Joyce on Disney’s Ryan Can’t Read.
The film follows the story of a young boy who struggles with literacy and turns his life around with the help of an unlikely mentor. Rakeem’s song Tell Ya X is featured, and he says it remains one of his most personal tracks, tackling themes such as work ethic, temptation, substance use, relationships, and the tension between legitimate living and risky choices.
Musician Rakeem Lewis at his Wirral studio(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Written after a particularly dark period, its inclusion in Ryan Can’t Read carries deep significance for Rakeem. The project also highlights a hometown connection. Lead actor Lewis Bray grew up alongside Rakeem in Moreton; both attended Wallasey School and remained connected through their shared passion for the arts.
He said: “From our bedroom windows, we could see each other’s gardens. Seeing both of us succeed, my music and Lewy’s acting, is massive for our hometown. The film really reflects overcoming hard times. It shows characters making changes to better themselves.”
After this chapter, Rakeem returned to the Wirral and, with the support of his partner Becky, committed to healing and therapy. Today, he helps others through his Community Interest Company, I AM ME.
The organisation focuses on identity, purpose, and empowerment, equipping young people and adults with life skills and industry knowledge, particularly in entertainment.