The Rap Game 2025 is peppered with flashy editing (Picture: BBC, Getty/editing by Metro)
A BBC reality show pitting rappers against each other has triggered a complaint from an epilepsy group over its flashy special effects.
The Rap Game features ‘disorientating’ rapid sequences of flickering imagery and pattern changes to ramp up the talent contest.
The latest series of the show features many of the giants of the British urban music scene including hosts DJ Target and Krept and Konan.
But the editing, which also includes an artist being cut out of the opening episode, has drawn concern from the Epilepsy Society.
No warnings are given on iPlayer about the special effects, with the BBC insisting that the series has passed the Harding test to detect problems for people at risk of photo-sensitive epileptic seizures.
Nicola Swanborough, head of external affairs at the charity, said: ‘We have looked at The Rap Game and have submitted a complaint to the BBC to ask if the series has been put through the Harding test to check that it is suitable for people with photosensitive epilepsy.
‘We have requested that they include a warning on the episodes on iPlayer that the series includes strobe images because even if the edit passes the test, the imagery and editing are disorientating.’
The Rap Game UK with contestants Only Zizou, Layyah, Haydog, BBC social presenter, Amani Steez, Cam Keddy, CBliminal and Subreezhy (Picture: BBC/Naked/Tre Omari)
Flickering or intermittent images can cause problems for some viewers who have photosensitive epilepsy, according to Ofcom.
The communications watchdog expects broadcasters to ‘maintain a low level of risk in this regard.’
Mrs Swanborough explained: ‘These guidelines have been drawn up following consultation with leading medical opinion in this area with the aim of reducing the risk of exposure to potentially harmful stimuli.
‘Ofcom regulations require that TV programmes and news stories have a warning if there is going to be a high level of flashes in the programme.
‘Around one in 100 people has epilepsy and of these people, up to 5% have photosensitive epilepsy. This is when seizures are triggered by certain rates of flashing lights or contrasting light and dark patterns.
‘We do suggest that people also turn off autoplay when they are using social media so they don’t accidentally access a video or giff they have been tagged in that has flashing images.’
Review: The Rap Game Series 6
I was eagerly looking forward to seeing how the latest crop of unsigned talent fared on the BBC’s sole TV show dedicated to British rap music.
Of the artists’ untapped potential, there is no question. Drawn from across the UK, including the culturally rich host city of Liverpool, they encompassed all styles of the genre, plus classical music.
I was blown away by the wordplay, depth and versatility — until the flashy and slightly trippy sequences made it difficult to focus.
An opening message referring to a contestant being ‘withdrawn’ from the show and edited out of the first episode also left me puzzled.
By episode three, the special effects were taking such a toll I found this year’s instalment completely unwatchable.
To check this wasn’t just an Eric B & Rakim-era hip-hop fan being left in the cold by modern production values, I replayed a few UK grime, rap and drill videos. Stormzy’s ‘Vossi Bop’, K Trap x LD (67)’s ‘Edgware Road’ and Loyle Carner’s ‘Yesterday’ were all masterpieces of relatively clean music production.
Instead, I decamped to social media to fully appreciate to the show’s standouts including one-to-watch Layyah from South London, CBliminal and Amani Steez from ‘Nots’, Cam Keddy from Southampton, Haydog from Liverpool and Only Zizou from Essex.
By Josh Layton
The BBC was pulled up by Ofcom in November 2010 over flash photography in a report about Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement.
The broadcaster accepted that the item should have been preceded by a warning before the Ten O’Clock News.
However, the Beeb did not find any cause for concern with The Rap Game, where the winner scoops a £20,000 prize and mentorship.
A spokesperson said: ‘All programmes are put through a Photosensitive Epilepsy (PSE) test device to ensure that the levels of lighting intensity are within accepted parameters.
‘When the PSE device identifies flashing or intensity that may prove problematic for some viewers it is edited or removed to reduce the intensity to a lower level, and when this isn’t possible we provide a warning to viewers at the start of the programme to alert them to the possibilty of flashing images.
‘This programme went through the tests and it didn’t identify any issues.’
Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk
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