Ty (rapper)
Encyclopedia
Ty is the recording name of the British hip hop
artist
, Ben Chijioke.
, his family having moved from Nigeria
to the UK
. He is based in Vauxhall
.
In the mid 1990s, he was involved in the Ghetto Grammar Organisation and it was here that his interest in poetry and rapping peaked. Chijioke began his musical career in a band with Kiss FM
DJ
, Shortee Blitz.
He has since released four album
s and worked with Tony Allen
, Terri Walker
, Scratch Perverts
and Estelle
.
He performed on a UK only remix
of Talib Kweli & Hi Tek
's "Down for the Count", alongside Blak Twang
, and in 2006 recorded "The Idea" alongside De La Soul
. Ty's second album, Upwards
was nominated for a Mercury Prize
in 2004. His third album, Closer, was released on 16 October 2006. It featured collaborations with De La Soul
, Speech
of Arrested Development
, Bahamadia
, Zion I
and Basement Jaxx
vocalist, Vula Malinga
. A single of the same name, "Closer", was also released.
On 13 July 2008, Ty performed at the RISE Festival
in London.
British hip hop
British hip hop is a genre of music, and a culture that covers a variety of styles of hip hop music made in the United Kingdom. It is generally classified as one of a number of styles of urban music...
artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, Ben Chijioke.
Career
He was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, his family having moved from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is based in Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
.
In the mid 1990s, he was involved in the Ghetto Grammar Organisation and it was here that his interest in poetry and rapping peaked. Chijioke began his musical career in a band with Kiss FM
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
, Shortee Blitz.
He has since released four album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
s and worked with Tony Allen
Tony Allen (musician)
Tony Oladipo Allen is aNigerian drummer, composer, and songwriter who currently lives and works in Paris. He is currently writing his autobiography "Tony Allen: Master Drummer of Afrobeat" with author/musician Michael E...
, Terri Walker
Terri Walker
Terri Walker is an English R&B and soul singer–songwriter. Walker has released three albums in the United Kingdom, Untitled, L.O.V.E, and I Am. She also provided the majority of the vocals for Shanks & Bigfoot's debut album Swings & Roundabouts...
, Scratch Perverts
Scratch Perverts
The Scratch Perverts are a collective of turntablist DJs from London, formed in 1996 by Tony Vegas, Prime Cuts and DJ Renegade.-Biography:The Scratch Perverts originally consisted of 4 members; Tony Vegas, Renegade, First Rate and Mr Thing. The Scratch Perverts later expanded to an 8-member...
and Estelle
Estelle (singer)
Estelle Fanta Swaray commonly known as Estelle, and formerly as Est'elle, is an English R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer.-Early Life:Estelle was born 18 January 1980 in Hammersmith, London, England...
.
He performed on a UK only remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of Talib Kweli & Hi Tek
Reflection Eternal
Reflection Eternal is a hip hop duo composed of emcee Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. They released their first album, Train of Thought, in 2000...
's "Down for the Count", alongside Blak Twang
Blak Twang
Blak Twang who also uses the pseudonyms of Taipanic and Tony Rotton, is a British rapper who grew up in Deptford, Lewisham, South East London...
, and in 2006 recorded "The Idea" alongside De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
. Ty's second album, Upwards
Upwards (album)
Upwards is a Mercury Music Prize nominated album by British hip hop artist Ty, released in 2003 by Big Dada.-Track listing:# "Ha Ha"# "Mpho’s Lament "# "Wait A Minute"# "I Want 2"# "Awkward Boy "# "Oh U Want More?"# "Rain"...
was nominated for a Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
in 2004. His third album, Closer, was released on 16 October 2006. It featured collaborations with De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, Speech
Speech (rapper)
Todd Thomas , better known by the stage name Speech, is an American rapper and musician. He is a member of the progressive hip hop group Arrested Development and has released a number of solo albums.-Background:...
of Arrested Development
Arrested Development (hip hop group)
Arrested Development is an American alternative hip hop group, founded by Speech and Headliner as a positive, Afrocentric alternative to the gangsta rap popular in the early 1990s.-History:...
, Bahamadia
Bahamadia
Bahamadia is a Philadelphia-born hip hop artist born in 1970, and a DJ who later became an MC. As a member of Gang Starr Foundation, she released her critically acclaimed debut album entitled Kollage in 1996. The album featured production by Guru and DJ Premier of Gang Starr...
, Zion I
Zion I
Zion I are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer DJ AmpLive and MC Zumbi. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I...
and Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s...
vocalist, Vula Malinga
Vula Malinga
Vula Malinga is a Black British soprano.Born in the United States to South African parents, she was raised in Hackney, London. Her religious parents supported her singing talents by allowing her to join the church choir, which resulted in her becoming one of lead singers for the London Community...
. A single of the same name, "Closer", was also released.
On 13 July 2008, Ty performed at the RISE Festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
in London.
Albums
- Awkward (January 2001, Big DadaBig DadaBig Dada Recordings is the Hip Hop imprint of London-based independent record label, Ninja Tune. It is best known for being the home of prominent British hip hop artist Roots Manuva. It was started by reputed hip hop journalist Will Ashon in February 1997...
, BDCD026) - UpwardsUpwards (album)Upwards is a Mercury Music Prize nominated album by British hip hop artist Ty, released in 2003 by Big Dada.-Track listing:# "Ha Ha"# "Mpho’s Lament "# "Wait A Minute"# "I Want 2"# "Awkward Boy "# "Oh U Want More?"# "Rain"...
(29 September 2003, Big Dada, BDCD057)
- Upwards was also released in a second version (Upwards - New Edition, BDCD057X) which included 4 bonus remixes.
- Closer (16 October 2006, Big Dada, BDCD098)
- Special Kind of FoolSpecial Kind of Fool (album)-Track listing:# "Don't Cry " – 4:28# "Wait " – 4:15# "Heart Is Breaking " – 5:40# "Little Star " – 4:08# "Something Big " – 4:37...
(19 April 2010, BBE)
Singles
- "Oh U Want More?" - (May 2004, Big Dada, BDCDS 066) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#65 (featuring Roots ManuvaRoots ManuvaRodney Hylton Smith , better known by his stage name Roots Manuva, is a British rapper from Stockwell, South London. He is currently signed to Big Dada.-Biography:...
)
External links
- Ty's website
- Ty on MySpace
- Ty RBMA video lecture session Pt.1
- Ty RBMA video lecture session Pt.2
- Ty RBMA video lecture session Pt.3
- Interview with LeftLion Magazine
- Interview with Leisure Lab
- ukhh.com
- 8 March 2004 - TY: The Revolution is Right Here in Front of You
- 12 October 2000 - Ty & Shortee Blitz Interview