Scottish police have reportedly hired a ‘rapper in residence’ in an effort to fight violent crime. 

According to The Scotsman, Darren McGarvey, also known as Loki, is one of the country’s most high-profile rap artists and is set to join the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit for a six-month stint.

McGarvey, who has been homeless, is a recovered drug addict and grew up in a family blighted by abuse and alcohol. He will visit schools and prisons across Scotland to encourage people to partake in ‘rap battles’ rather than physical violence.

He will also pen a number of pieces of rap, poetry, spoken and written word in a bid to change perceptions and reduce crime.

While violence and misogyny are often perceived as a staple of hip hop music, McGarvey reportedly says the genre is “at its core, about reducing violence”.

“Hip hop is a movement that was born in violent American communities where people found an alternative way to express their frustrations,” he added.

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