BEFORE TOP BOY ASHLEY WALTERS PAVED A WAY FOR BLACK BRITISH MEN IN MUSIC & ARTS
“Dushane…Dushane!”. The agonising final two words of a young Michael (Top Boy) innocently caught in the trappings of the rugged street life before he was mercilessly thrown off a building by a gang of Albanians. I sometimes still hear his cries at night. Streets is cold. “This game, there ain’t no love in it. It don’t love you back”.
For many, their first introduction to Ashley Walters would have been through his prominent role on Top Boy, where for three seasons he has faithfully played the role of Dushane, established drug kingpin of the fictional Summerhouse Estate. In the role, Dushane captivated us as a charming figure. Blurring the lines between villain and hero, he often tips the balance in favour of arrogant villainy. Like so many established trappers, he manipulated so many to achieve his aims. Ashley’s depiction remained authentic and true.
Before arriving on the cast of Top Boy, the 37-year old has had a long, prolific career simultaneously in acting and in music that has led him to his current stardom. Like so many others that achieved highly from similar backgrounds, he has his epic origin story. As an only child growing up in Peckham, Ashley grew up with a hard-working mother who struggled with three jobs to get by. His relationship with his father was rocky.
What separated Ashley was that his mother enrolled him at Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marylebone in his childhood. Here, he learned tap dancing, ballet and other art forms that very few black boys are given access too. He lived a double life, and here learned the early skills that would propel him to stardom in his later years.
Acting in numerous television roles as a child actor, he also acted in numerous short films in the late 90s. At the same time, he found companionship and an extended family in the ‘So Solid Crew’ collective in Battersea. The crew became a UK Garage collective, constructing Garage songs that were darker and placed more emphasis on emceeing. Dominating pirate radio stations like Delight FM, So Solid would complete their practice hours and mc for each for up to 2 hours at a time. This time in the playground proved fruitful.
In 2001, ‘21 Seconds’ dropped. A monumental moment for British music, let alone Black British music. Asher D, his rap moniker, effortlessly flows on the second verse of a star-studded collection of verses. Donning his black leather jacket that flowed in the wind, he spat with a braggadocio fit for the skilled lyricist he was, and the superstar he would later become.
In the same year that So Solid’s debut album dropped, and Ashley continued his acting roles: he was arrested in 2001 and later sentenced to 18 months in jail for the possession of a firearm. A tad bit inconvenient for the star who seemed to just be getting started.
Following his stint in jail, Ashley had been somewhat of a recluse. He was depressed and it seemed he would end up as another statistic. Ashley found his saving grace however, when independent filmmaker and director Saul Dibb reached out to Ashley to play the role of a convicted criminal who was navigating his life after prison. Life imitated art. Ashley reflected on the gruelling filming process, and recalled being shot at on set by real-life gang members who lived in the area of the filming location. Ashley had been reborn after the film. He won Best Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards and a year later played Antoine in 50 Cent’s ‘Get Rich or Die Trying’. He clawed his way to international acclaim and later his role in Top Boy.
Today, his acting CV speaks for itself. With a collection of impressive television and international films. His influence on the culture is far-reaching and exemplifies an impressive work ethic. I’m tempted to say “not bad for a boy from Peckham” but that’s a silly thing to say. Ashley epitomises black men in inner-city boroughs all around London. He’s a leading example of what Black British men are, not what they can be. His accomplishments are rather fitting – even normal – for a boy from Peckham.