A BUDDING Southend hip-hop musician has joined protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral to make a stand against corporate greed.

Sonny Green-Browning, 17, has pitched his tent among a sea of 200 others for the past week, and believes the campaign is making an impact.

The camp, protesting against city excess, was set up four weeks ago under the name Occupy London Stock Exchange.

Sonny, of Eastern Avenue, Southend, said: “We don’t live in a democracy, a lot of things are kept from our knowledge.

“This country seems to be going backwards not forwards.”

Sonny said he would stay as long as he could to make sure young peoples’s voices are heard at the protest, designed to mirror anti-capitalist protests on Wall Street. He added: “I have had some friends come down to see what is happening here, so we are flying the flag for Southend.

“I’ll stay here for as long as I can and it is definitely going to make a difference, I know it will.”

The teenager has attacked claims the protesters, who are unhappy with the running of the financial sector, are intent on causing violence. He said: “It is a really friendly atmosphere here, I love it. I have been able to practice my music and the response has been so positive.”

Sonny released his debut album Hip-hopolitics earlier this year, and is now working on his second album entitled When Words Fail Music Speaks.

His music is inspired by issues in society, including drugs and violence, and has a powerful political message, so he believes his time at St Paul’s is having a positive impact on his latest work.

Sonny added: “From London, it is the world.

“I am definitely becoming part of that scene and am confident my music is the best it has ever been at the moment.”