The Rap Game UK: What does it mean to be a British rapper?

"A lot of us are not originally from the UK - we're second- [or] third-generation immigrants," says rapper Konan, who - along with Krept and DJ Target - hosts The Rap Game UK.

"In a country that wasn't originally ours, it's an important thing to feel like you belong. That's why so many people rap about it."

The UK has birthed many hugely popular and successful rap artists - from Skepta to Little Simz - and for many British rappers, identity is a key theme. This might include pride in the unique scene the country has to offer, but also a struggle to identify with Britishness because of experiences with issues like housing, the police and reflections on politics.

This week, artists on BBC Three's competition music show The Rap Game UK tackled their relationship to Britishness. Many touched on their families' struggles to create a life for them and the conflict of feeling like they belong.

The Rap Game UK artist Big Jest floored judges when he spoke of the "juxtaposition" of Britishness and the double standards that come from being Black-British. On one hand, he can see multiculturalism in "the ends", he rapped, but once you leave it's a different story.

Guest judge Birmingham rapper Jaykae was especially impressed with Big Jest's line: "African blood but British born. Which one am I? British if I win at sport, African when committing a crime."

Shaybo is one of the guest mentors on The Rap Game UK. The Nigerian-born English rapper, who released her mixtape Queen of the South last year, says being British means "embracing our culture".

"In England, people come from so many different places, and so many different walks of life," she says.

"For example, I come from south London, and London itself is just very diverse, and we embrace so many different cultures."

For her, Britishness is about exploring the fusion of her south London and Nigerian heritage.

"I've just used all my life experiences: Me coming from south London, me being Nigerian and coming from a Nigerian household, and put them all into my music."

Drawing on lived experiences and being authentic is key to why people connect and relate to music, she says.

"Claiming identity is about understanding who you are as a person.

"I've been rapping for such a long time. Who I was when I was 14 is completely different to who I am now that I'm 25. It takes a deep understanding of yourself to represent who you are in the first place."

She credits The Rap Game UK for allowing the artists to have a space to express themselves and their identity.

"It's just great that we can bring so many different people from so many different places, and just allow them to rap and embrace their culture [and] embrace where they come from."

Despite the cultural influence of rap artists in the UK and around the world, rap genres like drill have been labelled by some as "violent". This has led to some artists hesitating over their identity.

"It's easy to point the finger when you grew up in the middle class in areas where there's no crime," says Konan. "It's easy to point the finger at us."

He argues that many of the artists in UK rap and drill come from places where gang violence or poverty is a reality, but those who become successful use their fame to turn their lives around and escape such situations.

"I know a lot of people that come from the street life and they get into music and it's opened up their eyes… they don't want to go back to the street," he adds.

And the increasing popularity of new UK rap talent and genres such as drill has begun to create a new sense of pride in being British, the two rappers say.

"For years, England has been wishing for validation from America and now we have our own genres, like drill," Krept says. "We've established our sounds, and we've established us."

The last few years have been key, he feels. "We're just becoming really proud of where we're from, and how influential we've become. It's really important to showcase your identity and being British - this is awesome and this is who we are."

You can watch The Rap Game UK on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.