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Reason To Smile
''Reason to Smile'' is the debut studio album by British rapper Kojey Radical, released 4 March 2022 by Asylum Records and Atlantic Records. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Mercury Prize and nominated for Album of the Year at the 2022 MOBO Awards. Background The album was preceded by four singles: "War Outside" released 23 September 2021; "Gangsta" released 15 November; "Payback" released 15 January 2022; and "Silk" released 18 February. The first three came along with music videos while "Silk" received an official visualiser. Another video for "Talkin" released 9 March, featuring animated versions of Radical and the song's guests Tiana Major9 and Kelis. Reception "Payback" was included at number 9 on '' BBC Music''s list of the best songs of the year. Accolades Track listing Personnel Musicians * Kojey Radical – vocals * Cameron Palmer – synth bass (2, 5, 10), piano (5, 8), keyboards (10, 13), organ (8), synthesizer (8), Rhodes solo (8), guitar (10 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kojey Radical
Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah (born 4 January 1993), known professionally as Kojey Radical, is a British music artist, creative director and mixed media visual artist. His style has been described as a mix of grime-y hip hop, alternative rap and spoken word. Since 2018, he has received six nominations at the MOBO Awards, including Best Newcomer. He also performed at the 2020 and 2022 MOBOs ceremonies. Early life Radical was raised in Shoreditch and Hoxton, London, the son of Ghanaian immigrants. He began as a spoken word poet and mixed media illustrator, graduating from London College of Fashion with a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Illustration. Career 2014–2016: ''Dear Daisy: Opium'' and career beginnings In 2014, Radical released his first musical project ''Dear Daisy: Opium'' just after graduating. Media commentators stated ''Dear Daisy'' was Radical's first music project in which he touched on topics of love, social media and religion. It spawned ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
BBC Music
BBC Music is responsible for the music played across the BBC. The current director of music is Bob Shennan, who is also the controller of BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, and the BBC Asian Network. Officially it is a part of the BBC's Radio operational division and is directly responsible to Helen Boaden (director of Radio); however, its remit also includes music used in television and online services. It was established in its current form in 2014; however, the BBC had already been using the BBC Music brand to refer to its online music content and some live events beforehand, including a now defunct record label. Launch BBC Music had its official launch at 20:00 on 7 October 2014, with a simulcast of a specially-commissioned cover of the Beach Boys' 1966 song "God Only Knows". Produced by Ethan Johns, it featured a supergroup of singers such as Chris Martin (of Coldplay), Stevie Wonder, Kylie Minogue, Dave Grohl (of Foo Fighters), Elton John, Pharrell Williams, One Dir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rexx Life Raj
Faraji Omar Wright, also known as Rexx Life Raj, is an American rapper and singer. He has released five albums, including the ''Father Figure'' trilogy, and four EPs. Early life Faraji Omar Wright grew up in Berkeley, California. His mother was in a gospel group called The Marshall Quartet with his aunts, uncle, and grandmother. His father was a Black Panther. In middle school, Wright began recording his own music, making the beats on a Casio keyboard and singing with a karaoke machine, making CDs he sold at school. Wright went to middle and high school with G-Eazy. In 2010, he played offensive tackle and guard for the Fiesta Bowl-winning Boise State University football team. After graduation, Wright returned home to California to pursue music while working at his parents' package delivery business. "Neo-soul music became my favorite when I could begin to appreciate it. I was into Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Musiq Soulchild. id Cudi's''Man on the Moon: End of Day'' is on ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ego Ella May
Ego Ella May ( /ɛg-oʊ ˈɛl.ə meɪ/ eh-go eh-luh may born 1992) is an R&B, neo-soul, and contemporary jazz musician from South London, England. Early life Ella May was born in Croydon. She was named for her Nigerian heritage and after Ella Fitzgerald. She started singing in her late teens. At age 19, she taught herself how to play guitar, make beats, and produce her own music. Career 2014–2018 In 2014, Ella May released her first EP, ''Breathing Underwater'', which ''AFROPUNK'' stated, "gave me goose bumps from start to finish". '' ''Vice'''' described her as "the future sound of neo-soul". In 2015, she published her EP, ''Zero'', which ''SPIN'' dubbed, "an irresistible combination of soul, jazz and electronic". In 2018, her track "Table for One", made '' The New York Times'' list of most notable new songs. It was included in the soundtrack for the third season of '' Sex Education''. 2019–2021 In 2019, Ella May released, "Tea & Sympathy". '' Earmilk'' c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shakka (singer)
Shakka Philip (born 16 May 1989), known simply as Shakka, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer signed to Pitched Up, Columbia Records and Sony Music. Shakka released his debut major label EP ''The Lost Boys'' in 2015 which included the hit "Say Nada", with the official video (featuring Jme) having been viewed by over five million people, earning him his first MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act. In 2016, he returned with the follow-up EP, ''The Island'', which earned Shakka his second MOBO Award for Best R&B/Soul Act alongside a spot in ''The Independent''s Ones to Watch 2017 list. Career 2009–2011: Early projects and ''Shakkapellas'' Shakka self-released his first official EP, ''Foolishness'', in July 2009 which was recorded at a local youth centre. With production from both Shakka and TE1, this was Shakka's introduction into the music industry. Shakka consciously decided to sing with his British accent as opposed to an American-influenced accent that many of h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wretch 32
Jermaine Sinclaire Scott (born 9 March 1985), better known by his stage name Wretch 32, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. He was a member of the grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston. In 2011, Wretch 32 had three top-five charting songs from debut album ''Black and White'' and amassed over a million record sales, including the single " Don't Go" which peaked at number-one on the UK Singles Chart. In 2012 he was employed by both Adidas and Coca-Cola as one of the main faces of their London 2012 Olympics campaigns and on 1 July 2012, he won 'Best International Act' at the 2012 BET Awards. Early life Born in March 1985 to a Jamaican family, Jermaine grew up alongside crews Combination Chain Gang and The Movement, the latter of which featured himself, Scorcher, Ghetts, Mercston and Devlin. Continuing his MC career in 2006, Scott under the name ''Wretch 32'' released a series ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Karriem Riggins
Karriem Riggins is an American jazz drummer, hip hop producer, DJ and songwriter. Biography Riggins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, son of keyboardist Emmanuel Riggins. As a child, he would often watch his father perform with Grant Green, Marcus Belgrave and others. He joined the Kennedy Elementary school band in the sixth grade as a trumpeter, studying with Belgrave, where he played for two years in addition to drums before switching to drums full-time in the eighth grade. Riggins was a DJ, producing hip-hop and performing in three different school bands at Southfield High School before leaving school in the eleventh grade. He joined Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead band soon after at age 17 and moved to New York in 1994, later joining the Mulgrew Miller trio. He also performed in bands with Steven Scott and Benny Green before joining Roy Hargrove's band in the middle of 1995. After three years with Hargrove, Riggins joined the trio of famed bassist Ray Brown. Af ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Knucks (musical Artist)
Ashley Afamefuna Nwachukwu (born November 12, 1994), better known by his stage name Knucks, is a British rapper and record producer. Background Early life Knucks was born Ashley Afamefuna Nwachukwu on November 12, 1994, in London, and is of Nigerian Igbo descent. In the early 2000s, whilst living in inner-city London, Knucks became interested in grime music, and would perform 8-bar relays with friends during and after school. In year 8, Knucks went to a Nigerian boarding school, where his love of music developed further. When he returned to London at age 14, Knucks discovered Nas's ''Illmatic,'' and Curren$y's music, and transitioned from grime to rap. He performed in front of an audience for the first time at age 16 or 17, at an open mic night hosted by Regent Studios in South Kilburn. Career 2014-2018, ''Killmatic'' and single releases In 2014, he released his debut mixtape ''Killmatic'', the title being a play on his hometown Kilburn and the Nas album ''Illmatic''. The nex ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Masego (musician)
Micah Davis (born June 8, 1993), known professionally as Masego (), is a Jamaican-American musician and singer known for incorporating the saxophone into his music. Masego released two EPs in 2016, ''The Pink Polo EP'' with Medasin, and ''Loose Thoughts''. He gained widespread attention with his collaborative record with FKJ called "Tadow" in 2017. In 2018, he released his debut album '' Lady Lady''. Early life Micah Davis was born to a Jamaican father and an African-American mother. His father was in the U.S. Air Force and his mother was an entrepreneur. He also has two sisters and a brother in law. One of his sisters is a musical artist as well, the other is involved in acting and media outlets. Both his mother and father were also pastors and he was raised in a non-denominational Christian home. The military travels eventually led his family to Virginia. He also lived in Sumter, South Carolina for a couple of years while his family was moving around from state to state. He fi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Maverick Sabre
Michael Stafford (born 12 July 1990), better known as Maverick Sabre, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and rapper. Early life Sabre was born in Hackney, London. At age four, he moved with his family to New Ross, County Wexford, where he grew up. Following advice from English musician Plan B and Harry Jessop, he moved back to London to pursue a musical career. Career Sabre's career began in 2008 when he appeared on the tracks "Lucky" and "Used to Blame" from the album ''Sense the Terror'' by Irish rappers Terawrizt and Nu-Centz. He also featured on rappers Johnnyboy and Intox's ''Propaganda'' EP and released his own tracks, such as "Lonely Side of Life" and "Fade Away". Sabre furthered his career in 2009 when he featured on Jermicide & Danny Digg's album ''Middle Class'', collaborating on three tracks: "Afraid", "Where We Go to", and "Still With Me". Maverick Sabre also performed on SB.TV with the song "They Found Him a Gun" and featured in BBC 1Xtra 'Jail Tales' programme, per ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kwame Kwei-Armah
Kwame Kwei-Armah (born Ian Roberts; 24 March 1967 in Hillingdon, London) is a British actor, playwright, director, singer and broadcaster. He is best known for playing paramedic Finlay Newton in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'' from 1999 until 2004. In 2005 he became the second black Briton to have a play staged in the West End of London. (In 1990, Ray Harrison Graham's Fringe First award-winning play ''Gary'' played at the Arts Theatre.) Kwei-Armah's award-winning piece '' Elmina's Kitchen'' transferred to the Garrick Theatre in 2005. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to drama. He is currently the artistic director of the Young Vic theatre in London, succeeding David Lan. Brought up in Southall, West London, he changed his name at the age of 19, after tracing his family history, through the slave trade back to his ancestral African roots in Ghana. His parents were born in Grenada. He has four chil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah
Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah (born 4 January 1993), known professionally as Kojey Radical, is a British music artist, creative director and mixed media visual artist. His style has been described as a mix of grime-y hip hop, alternative rap and spoken word. Since 2018, he has received six nominations at the MOBO Awards, including Best Newcomer. He also performed at the 2020 and 2022 MOBOs ceremonies. Early life Radical was raised in Shoreditch and Hoxton, London, the son of Ghanaian immigrants. He began as a spoken word poet and mixed media illustrator, graduating from London College of Fashion with a First Class Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Illustration. Career 2014–2016: ''Dear Daisy: Opium'' and career beginnings In 2014, Radical released his first musical project ''Dear Daisy: Opium'' just after graduating. Media commentators stated ''Dear Daisy'' was Radical's first music project in which he touched on topics of love, social media and religion. It spaw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |