A rap artist has paid tribute to his roots by releasing a song inspired by the W7 bus.

Reece West penned the track in homage to north London while he was travelling on the bus from Muswell Hill to Finsbury Park.

He recorded the song a day later and within 48 hours had shot the video while on the route.

Explaining what motivated him, West said: “North London is inspiring. It’s had a big influence on my music. It will always have a special place in my heart. I wanted to give something back.”

The 25-year-old, who described himself as a “north London gypsy” because he has moved around so much, explained how he wanted to present Muswell Hill and N8 “as they should be”.

“People have assumptions about Muswell Hill and Crouch End – that they are middle class areas – but there are still working class people there who’d rather go to KFC than pay for a £20 coffee,” he joked.

In the song, West – who counts Stevie Wonder and Skepta as influences and describes himself as a “product of grime” rather than an artist of the genre – raps “toppa da hill like W7” in tribute to Muswell Hill and his place “at the top of the league”.

According to West, who studied media at college, the song is doing well with plays by DJ Target and Reece Parkinson from BBC Radio 1Xtra and grime DJ Sir Spyro.

The video – shot in a day by director Saoud Khalaf – saw West travel along the route a total of four times on a cold January day.

West, whose mother Natalie is an artist and father, David, an actuary, grew up in Crouch End and went to Fortismere School.

His interest in music began with bass guitar and piano lessons, but he later turned to rap, posting tracks on YouTube.

The Arsenal fan, who lives in Arnos Grove, turned to music full time about three and a half years ago after producer Ayo Beatz spotted one of his videos online.

His first single, Poison, did well leading to collaborations and airplay on Old Street based rap, Afrobeats and techno station Radar Radio.

West – who has an older sister, Kir, 20, and six-year-old brother, Shane – went on to work with Muswell Hill singer-songwriter Shift K3Y on EP Box Office and performed on ArsenalFanTV singing a track about the club’s manager, Arsene Wenger, and his determination to remain in charge at the club.

Signalling his own determination to stay on top no matter what, West said: “He won’t leave and neither will I.”