WITH a gift for lethal lyrics and cutting-edge rhymes, a rap star in the making is one step away from breaking into the big league.

Debden Park High School pupil Chris Crichlow, 15, has won through to the regional final of the Open Mic UK competition, after impressing a panel of judges with his original wordplay.

With the competition boasting a top prize of a major record label deal and £25,000 in cash, there is now everything to play for when he performs before an audience of 600 at the Beck Theatre, in west London later this year.

Chris told the Guardian: “From a very young age I've been interested in music. I started off singing but as I got older I got into hip-hop, and I realised my mind was more creative than I thought.

“I see this as another step to realising my dream. I want to take that step and say I made it. I can't wait, actually.”

For his final, Chris, who lives in Queensway, Ongar, will perform his own three minute rap song, Lyricism, under his pseudonym Genesis.

“I got a bored a few weeks ago and just started writing my thoughts about other people, and how I am- four or five pages worth,” he said. “It was just a spur of the moment thing.

“I want to create a legacy. I'm not in it for the money, I never have been and I never will be. Music is a passion for me, it's life, it's everything.

“This means so much to me. People might just think it's another competition, but to me it could be the big door I need to open to get my face broadcasted across the world.”