46-451: Momodou Lamin Jallow (born 26 October 1996) known professionally as J Hus , is a British rapper and singer who has been credited with pioneering the genre Afroswing . He is currently signed to Black Butter Records . He gained popularity in 2015 following the release of his song "Dem Boy Paigon". J Hus' " Did You See " became his most successful single at the time, peaking at number nine on
92-488: A normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 19 reviews. Giving it a perfect score, Jordan Bassett of NME stated that Stormzy "delivers a knockout debut that’s brash and pensive in equal measure." Alexis Petridis of The Guardian praised the musical diversity of the album: "More startling, however, is the confidence with which other tracks shift into unexpected musical territory. On paper,
138-482: A club hit, and soon after ushering in a new wave of artists making similar music. J Hus' sound was a unique blend of Ghanaian afro-pop, afrobeats, and British rap. J Hus was unique in that he would mix rapping with melodic singing, something uncommon in the scene at the time. 2014 also saw the emergence of MoStack , Tion Wayne , and Geko . Many new artists began to crop up from 2015 onwards, such as Kojo Funds, Not3s , Don EE, and ZieZie . Kojo Funds, who coined
184-476: A rapper like Stormzy recording a lo-fi, electric piano-led, Stevie Wonderesque gospel track called '"Blinded By Your Grace, Pt 1" sounds like a textbook case of an artist overstretching himself; in reality, it’s fantastic, and oddly moving.", concluding that "It’s not a perfect debut – it’s slightly too long for one thing, and there are a couple of points where it sags – but it sounds like an album teeming with original, daring ideas. More importantly, it sounds like
230-552: A referral order that year after being caught with a knife in public. In 2014 and 2015, he was arrested and served stints in His Majesty's Feltham Prison . He accrued six convictions for ten offences between 2011 and 2016, including for carrying a knife and for violent disorder. He has also been given an ASBO . In September 2015 the musician was admitted to hospital after being stabbed five times in London. Whilst in hospital, he
276-550: A series of advertising hoarding campaigns across London displaying lyrical quotes and the hashtag #GSAP 24.02 . Gang Signs & Prayer was supported by the lead single " Big for Your Boots ". Gang Signs & Prayer received critical acclaim upon release, and entered the UK Albums Chart at number one with sales of over 68,000 copies, becoming the first grime album in history to reach number one. It also charted in twelve other countries. Gang Signs & Prayer holds
322-469: A surprise appearance on stage at Canadian rapper Drake 's concert at the O2 Arena in London. In January 2020, J Hus released his second album, Big Conspiracy , which featured appearances by Jamaican singer Koffee , Nigerian singer Burna Boy and British singer Ella Mai . The album became his first number-one on the UK Albums Chart and received widespread critical acclaim. In June 2023, he released
368-493: A trailer narrated by Idris Elba . A day before the album's release, he released the single "Militerian" with Naira Marley . Beautiful and Brutal Yard debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming his second chart-topper. He is a supporter of Arsenal F.C. In 2011, J Hus was arrested outside Westfield following a "mass attack" on four people, which ended in one of them being stabbed. He had already received
414-422: Is accurate, it disregards the uniqueness of the genre that sets it apart from other strands of UK rap. Kojo Funds has explicitly stated he is not trying to be defined as an afrobeats artist and to instead refer to his music as afroswing. Blairy Hendrix and Joshua Beatz, producers for J Hus, were in 2014 initially calling their sound "Traprobeats", denoting the various influences of afrobeats and trap music. Around
460-555: The Official New Zealand Music Chart at number 14 and Sverigetopplistan at number 34. In the album's first week of release, seven tracks from Gang Signs & Prayer were in the top 40 of the UK Singles Chart – " Big for Your Boots ", " Cold ", "Bad Boys", "First Things First", "Mr Skeng", "Cigarettes & Cush" and " Shut Up ". All sixteen tracks from the album appeared in the top 100 in
506-520: The UK Singles Chart and eventually being certified Platinum . In 2017, he released his debut album, Common Sense , which was critically acclaimed—it was named the best UK album of 2017 by Complex . The album reached number six on the UK Albums Chart . In June 2018, he was arrested in Stratford and charged with carrying a knife in public . Hours after his release from prison in April 2019, he made
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#1732797429450552-587: The 2016 MOBO Awards, as well as "Playing Sports", MoStack's "Liar Liar" (Remix) and "Solo One", the last of which appeared on the Brotherhood soundtrack. In 2017, he featured on Nines ' "High Roller", which featured on his album One Foot Out . He also featured on Stormzy 's "Bad Boys" from his album Gang Signs & Prayer , which peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart , on Dave 's "Samantha", which peaked at number 63, and charted at number 9 with his solo composition "Did You See". The song served as
598-530: The British charts at number 10, eventually peaking at number 6 and staying on the charts for over 90 weeks. B Young released " Jumanji " in 2018. The song became a hit, selling over 600,000 copies and garnering over 40 million streams, also peaking at number 13 on the UK Singles Chart . In 2018, afroswing artists such as WSTRN , Yxng Bane , Not3s , and Hardy Caprio appeared at SXSW festival in Texas ,
644-531: The UK underground music scene via his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats, Stormzy released his debut EP Dreamers Disease independently in July 2014. In September 2015, he released a final instalment to his "WickedSkengMan" freestyle series, "WickedSkengMan 4", onto iTunes . After a year's hiatus from social media to focus on the recording of the album, Stormzy returned in early February 2017 via
690-427: The beat from French Montana 's "Don't Panic", and "Want From Me" Remix of Kojo Funds ' song, which gained a lot of coverage, helping his breakthrough. His next release was "Dem Boy Paigon", which was described by Ajay Rose of The Link Up as having "brought together an Afro-beat sound with lyrical rap ... capable of turning any dance upside down". He followed this with "No Lie" and his SB: TV "Warm Up Session". Around
736-676: The distinction of having every song from the album appear concurrently in the UK Singles Chart , including seven songs in the top 40. The album is certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Gang Signs & Prayer won British Album of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards . After gaining attention on the UK underground music scene via his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats, Stormzy released his debut EP Dreamers Disease independently in July 2014. In March 2015, he released
782-406: The end of March 2015, he and MoStack released their "Westwood Crib Session". In late May 2015, he released "Lean & Bop", which was streamed more than 10 million times in total on music platforms. Around this time, he also released a "Daily Duppy" for GRM Daily, which he followed with his first mixtape, The 15th Day . Jallow released the single "Friendly" in 2016, which received a nomination at
828-734: The first time the genre had ever been represented at the festival. Gang Signs %26 Prayer Gang Signs & Prayer is the debut studio album by British rapper Stormzy . It was released on 24 February 2017 independently through #Merky Records while being distributed by ADA of Warner Music Group . It is Stormzy's first major commercial release, following the Dreamers Disease EP (2014). The album features guest appearances from fellow MCs Wretch 32 , Ghetts and J Hus , along with singers Kehlani , Raleigh Ritchie and MNEK . It features production from Fraser T. Smith and Sir Spyro, among others. After gaining attention on
874-420: The foundation for what would later turn into afroswing, and contributed to the rise of youth embracing their African heritage. In 2010, Sneakbo released "Touch Ah Button", an early example of the merger of dancehall and afrobeats influences. In February 2014, Timbo and Mover released "Ringtone", which DJ Kenny Allstar credited as opening "the door to the bridge of Afro-rap and the evolution of Afroswing, which
920-454: The genre as a result. Many afroswing artists, such as J Hus , Not3s , EO , and Ramz , have all had very successful singles in the charts, becoming mainstream acts in their own right. Ramz' single " Barking " peaked at number 2 on the UK singles chart , and sold over 500k copies. EO's song "German" peaked at number 13, and J Hus' single " Did You See " got to number 9 on the charts and became
966-462: The genre has been very successful, with many afroswing artists making it into the British charts . Afroswing is largely defined by its melody rather than a specific tempo. Producer Steel Banglez stated the key elements of afroswing were happy or dark chords that "make you feel a certain way", and that "drum pattern is the most important thing about this whole sound, it's the snare that comes on
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#17327974294501012-429: The genre. Due to being a new genre, there was some confusion on what to call it initially. This has led to many people calling the genre 'afrobeats', and whilst there are some similarities, the genre is not quite the same. There also appeared to be cases of the genre having been briefly referred to as almost identical French 'afro trap'. Likewise, simply lumping it up with "UK rap" is misleading, because while it
1058-407: The inspirations of Jamaican music in the rhythm except Jamaican music doesn’t have a bass kick and the snare – that’s hip hop, that’s traditional rap. So this is that translation of cultures happening subtly in the instrumentation. Yet it still has a hip hop sensibility in terms of lyrical focus and music videos: cars, money, authenticity, hardness". The rise of afroswing is in large part a result of
1104-529: The lead single off his debut album, Common Sense (2017). Upon release, the album was positively received by fans and includes features from MoStack, MIST, Tiggs da Author and Burna Boy . In May 2018, he released his EP , Big Spang (2018). Following his June 2018 arrest for carrying a bladed article in public, Jallow was sentenced to eight months in jail in December. Jallow's label stopped releasing music, with his only verse whilst incarcerated coming from
1150-431: The mainstream. As a result, Stormzy launched a Christmas number one campaign to get the song to number one, ultimately peaking at number eight in the UK Singles Chart . After a year's hiatus from social media to focus on the recording of the album, Stormzy returned in early February 2017 via a series of advertising hoarding campaigns across London displaying lyrical quotes and the hashtag #GSAP 24.02 . The album title
1196-596: The most-streamed single of 2017. Another major artist in the genre, Kojo Funds , gained a "Best Song Award" at the MOBO Awards in 2017 for his song "Dun Talkin'" with Abra Cadabra . Mostack , Not3s , and Kojo Funds all enjoyed chart success in 2017. In 2015, a three-member group called WSTRN gained international attention via Drake's OVO Sound Radio , which had played their 2015 breakout single " In2 " on Beats1 . In 2017, J Hus released his album Common Sense . The album would gain critical acclaim, entering
1242-492: The name 'afroswing', made his break-out single "Dun Talkin'" alongside Abra Cadabra in 2016. Lotto Boyzz, a Birmingham-based group, also gained prominence and decided to call their sound 'afrobbean', denoting the fusion of African and Caribbean influences in the sound. The genre has been supported by YouTube channels such as GRM Daily , Link Up TV , and Mixtape Madness , which has allowed artists to easily release music videos to potentially millions of listeners and propagate
1288-628: The opening week stream count of Drake 's Views . Gang Signs & Prayer became the first grime album to chart at number one, as well as joining the likes of Skepta and Giggs of charting in the top five independently. The album also charted at number one on the UK Independent Chart , UK R&B Chart and the Irish Albums Chart , number two on the Scottish Albums Chart . Outside the UK, it entered
1334-538: The performance line-ups of the TRNSMT and Wireless festivals. Jallow appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on 22 June and was released on bail. On 20 July, he pleaded not guilty, but changed his plea in October and in December was sentenced to eight months in jail. When asked why he had been carrying a six-inch (150 mm) blade, J Hus said: "You know, it's Westfield ." He was eventually released on 5 April 2019 and
1380-498: The release of the album was launched in numerous areas in London . "Big for Your Boots" was released as the album's lead single on 3 February 2017. The track was produced by Fraser T Smith and Sir Spyro. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number eight, reaching a peak of number six in its fourth week of charting after the release of Gang Signs & Prayer . It thus surpassed "Shut Up" as Stormzy's highest-charting single. " Cold "
1426-430: The same time, Jabz Daniels was making a similar sound and called his music "Trapfrobeat". The name "Afroswing" was initially coined by rapper Kojo Funds , as well as being pushed by prominent producer Juls. The name was derived from "afro", which in context and quoted by Funds, attributed to African music , with the mixture of drums derived from R&B and dancehall which the genre "swings" between using. Afroswing
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1472-534: The single " Know Me From ", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 49. In September 2015, he released a final instalment to his "WickedSkengMan" freestyle series, "WickedSkengMan 4", onto iTunes , along with a studio version of his "Shut Up" freestyle over XTC's Functions on the Low instrumental. The track debuted at number 18 in the UK Singles Chart , becoming Stormzy's first top 40 hit. The online video for " Shut Up " gained millions of views and attention from
1518-512: The single " Who Told You " with Drake, which became his highest-charting single, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was the lead single to his third album Beautiful and Brutal Yard , which released in July. The album became his second number-one on the UK Albums Chart. J Hus was born in London to Gambian parents and grew up in the city's Stratford district. He was raised by his mother, who emigrated to England when she
1564-515: The slow acceptance of African-derived sounds in the UK. The first genre to really embrace African influenced music and push it into the mainstream was UK funky via artists such as Donae'o , and in early-2010s, afrobeats, with artists such as Mista Silva , Kwamz, Fuse ODG , and Timbo gaining mainstream success through their afrobeats sound. Around the same time, artists such as Sneakbo and Timbo were incorporating melodic rap and Caribbean influences into their music. These artists collectively set
1610-671: The song "Disaster" which was released on Dave 's debut album, Psychodrama . "Disaster" debuted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart on 15 March 2019. Hours after his release from prison in April 2019, he made a surprise appearance on stage at Drake 's concert at the O2 Arena in London. In November he released the single "Must Be". He then released the singles "No Denying" and "Repeat". In December 2019, J Hus announced he will no longer tour for "the next 3/4 years, maybe more". He also stated that following his next album, he would have no more features but that he wanted to work with Burna Boy and 21 Savage . J Hus' second album Big Conspiracy
1656-460: The third. In hip-hop it comes on the fourth. Coming off the third beat comes from afrobeats." Martin Connor, an expert in vocal melodies and rap analysis, described the characteristics of the genre as being "[..] technically in 4/4, what you will hear over and over again is this recurring pattern made up of three notes that are still repeated in the framework of a 4/4 time signature [..] You can hear
1702-409: The work of an artist with the confidence and the talent to pull those ideas off." After receiving close competition with Rag'n'Bone Man 's Human , Gang Signs & Prayer entered the UK Albums Chart at number one, with combined sales of 68,594 copies. It set British streaming records for the most first-week streams for a number one album in chart history, with 13.9 million streams, surpassing
1748-470: Was 25 years old. Jallow was raised Muslim and is of ethnic Fula and Wolof heritage. As a child, he and his mother would go to African parties and his parents would play African music for him. Growing up, he wanted to become an actor "but then around Year 10 or Year 11, it was whatever really", and he was expelled from school as he had, in his words, "started getting into a bit of trouble." In September 2014, distraught following two separate prison stints, he
1794-553: Was advised to focus on pursuing a music career by his childhood friend Moe who also agreed to be his manager. Moe and his older brother would go on to form their own management company 2K Management. J Hus got his stage name from the word "hustler", explaining that he would buy a pack of doughnuts and sell them individually at a profit when he was in secondary school. J Hus began his career by recording several freestyles, including #StreetHeat, Bl@CKBOX and GRM Daily and publishing them online. He followed this with "#Rated", which samples
1840-537: Was announced to be Gang Signs & Prayer , set to be released on 24 February 2017, followed by the track listing the following day. Prior to the album's official announcement, the non-album track " Shut Up " was released in September 2015 and ultimately included as the penultimate track on Gang Signs & Prayer . The non-album single "Scary" was released in April 2016 prior to Stormzy's hiatus. On 1 February 2017, an advertising hoarding campaign that foreshadowed
1886-409: Was criticised for posting on Instagram a photo of him making a gang sign from his hospital bed with the message "5 stab wounds could never stop me #AntiCh #F***DaOvaSide". The attack left him with mild PTSD , for which at the time of his 2018 imprisonment he was seeing a therapist. In June 2018, he was arrested in Stratford and charged with carrying a knife in public . He was subsequently dropped from
J Hus - Misplaced Pages Continue
1932-402: Was essentially someone laying a hook over a rap record". The rise of producers Jae5 , Blairy Hendrix, Joshua Beatz, and rapper J Hus saw the sound begin to distinguish and cement itself. Together they fused afrobeats, bashment, and trap, along with a melodic style of rapping with gritty, hood lyrical themes derivative of road rap . J Hus and Timbo have both received credit for pioneering
1978-539: Was eventually picked up by Apple Music as their official genre name for the sound. Spotify however, opted to go for "AfroBashment", a term coined by Austin Daboh who was hired by BBC 1Xtra , denoting its fusion of bashment and afrobeats styles. In 2014, J Hus did a popular freestyle on YouTube channel GRM Daily showcasing his distinctive style. The first notable song in the genre was released in 2015, titled "Dem Boy Paigon", quickly elevating J Hus' status and becoming
2024-487: Was released as the album's second single on 12 March, following the album's being certified Gold in the United Kingdom. " Cigarettes & Cush " was released as the album's third single on 29 August 2017. " Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2 " was released as the album's fourth single on 27 October 2017. Upon its release, Gang Signs & Prayer received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic , which assigns
2070-599: Was released in January 2020, and became his first number-one album. In July 2022, he was featured on Burna Boy's song "Cloak & Dagger" off his album Love, Damini . In May 2023, he released his first song as a lead artist since 2020 with "It's Crazy". He followed this up in June with the single " Who Told You " with Drake, which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. On 29 June, he announced his third album Beautiful and Brutal Yard and its release date of 14 July with
2116-481: Was welcomed back by Drake, joining him on stage at the O2 Arena during Drake's UK Assassination Vacation Tour. Afroswing Afroswing , also known as Afrobashment , or less commonly Afrobbean , or Afrowave is a genre of music that developed in the UK during the mid-2010s, derivative of dancehall and afrobeats , with influences from trap , British hip hop , R&B , and grime . Commercially,
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