FILMING in an exotic location and reaching nearly 23,000 hits on YouTube has been the first taste of success for a young rapper.

Banipal Yelda, better known as D-Rymez, has been producing music for the past five years but is gearing up for his biggest CD release yet, a 23-track record called More Than Rymez.

The 20-year-old, of Boston Road, Hanwell first got a taste of performing during free-style rap battles in the playground of Fielding Primary School in Northfields when he was just 11 years old.

Speaking about his newest record available on iTunes later this month, he said: “I really want to push this out there. The CD features big industry artists including UK rapper Joe Black and all my own material has been produced by Martin Kiss, a 15-year-old producer from Hungary.

“It’s a mixture of rap and hip-hop but it’s suitable for all ages. I write about my own experiences through life. I have some party songs and some that make people think.”

He enjoyed the high life when he flew out to Greece last year to shoot the music video for his most popular song Paradise. It was directed and edited by his older brother Ashur Yelda’s company PhatLine Productions, and has amassed 22,800 views on the video-sharing website YouTube.

Starting life at Hammersmith Hospital, D-Rymez was born and bred in west London. He attended Elthorne Park School then Richmond College before studying computer science at Kingston University.

“During my whole education, I never did music,” he said. “But for something just on the side, I’ve got a lot of recognition for it. It’s getting quite serious now. I started making music because my brother started writing and making music. He used to do the garage scene but eight years ago he stopped, that’s why I wanted to carry it on.

“My first gig was in Hounslow at the Spotlight club when I was 16. I was so nervous I had to have five Red Bulls before I went on. It was strange but then my butterflies just went. I love the attention and being centre stage.”

And performing at Flava’s Lounge Bar, Club Karma and Barracuda Bar in Ealing Broadway has helped build up a local fan base. “I’d like to go all the way to the top,” he said.

To download the record visit www.d-rymez.com .