Incognito murder: Man charged with killing of drill rapper Sidique Kamara

Kenneth Umezie, 31, appeared in court following death of 23-year-old

Mr Kamara, who performed under the name Incognito with rap collective Moscow17, had previously spoken about the relationship between drill and violence (PA)

A 31-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of drill rapper Sidique Kamara who was stabbed to death in London last week.

Kenneth Umezie from Camberwell was charged on Tuesday after Mr Kamara, 23, was found with stab wounds on the evening of 1 August. He died at the scene.

Mr Umezie, of Southwark, south London, was brought before Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with murder.

Mr Kamara, who performed under the name Incognito with rap collective Moscow17, had previously spoken about the relationship between drill and violence, saying: “You’ve got to put your hands up and say drill music does influence [violent crime].”

Three other teenagers, aged 16, 18 and 19, who were arrested in connection with the incident have been released under investigation.

Another member of the Moscow17 collective, 17-year-old Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton, was found fatally shot on the same street in May.

The group’s music videos have had hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, and their tracks include lyrics hostile to long-running rival drill group Zone 2, from neighbouring Peckham.

Earlier this year, Mr Kamara and another member of Moscow17 were cleared at the Old Bailey of murdering teenager Abdirahman Mohamed, a brother of a member of Zone 2.

Confectionery giant Mars has pulled its advertising from YouTube after one of its brands was shown alongside drill rap videos linked to violent crime in the capital.

District Judge Susan Green ordered Mr Umezie to appear before the Old Bailey on Friday for a bail application, ahead of a preliminary hearing on 5 September.

He was remanded in custody.