Bashy

Last updated

Bashy
Bashy Suit.jpg
Thomas at the Adulthood premiere in 2008.
Born
Ashley Thomas

(1985-02-04) 4 February 1985 (age 39)
Hammersmith, London, England
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
Education BRIT School
Occupations
  • Actor
  • rapper
Years active2002–present
Musical career
Also known asBashy
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2002–present
Website bashy.com

Ashley Thomas (born 4 February 1985), also known by his stage name Bashy, [1] is a British actor and rapper. [2]

Contents

Early life

Thomas was born in Hammersmith, West London, the first born of his mother of Jamaican heritage, [1] and his father of Dominican heritage. [1] He attended St. Mary's of the Angels RC Primary School. Aged 11, his family moved to Kensal Rise, northwest London, and he attended Cardinal Hinsley High School, [1] where he excelled in drama. [1] Thomas went on to join the BRIT School for Performing Arts as a theatre student. [1]

Before becoming an actor and musician, Thomas worked as a postman for the Royal Mail and later as a London bus driver. [3]

Career

Music

In 2007, Thomas released the song "Black Boys". [3] With frequent reports of shootings and stabbings on news bulletins, and with the media continuously focusing on the lack of role models in black communities, he felt that the nation's inner-city youth needed a reminder that they had a number of positive role models they could look to for inspiration, he became a spokesperson opposing knife crime. [3]

In 2008, Thomas started working on Adulthood . [3] Noel Clarke, the writer and director of Adulthood, first encountered Thomas when he was passed a copy of The Chupa Chups Mixtape, which contained samples from Clarke's previous Kidulthood film. [4] Clarke was so impressed with what he heard that he disregarded any concerns around the copyright to finding a way to record the Adulthood theme song. [4] He asked Thomas to submit a track to be included on the official soundtrack, and Thomas delivered "Kidulthood to Adulthood". [4]

Thomas released his debut album, Catch Me If You Can in June 2009. [3] "Hiphop.com" rated the album "good" and stated, "Catch Me If You Can is a debut album that perfectly demonstrates how hip hop has become the world's local music". [5] "With vocal accents, lyrical references, swagger and varied production styles that will take a minute for the non-Brit to get their head around, much of this likable and well-intentioned set still deserves wider attention". [5]

In 2010, Bashy featured on the song "White Flag" by Gorillaz from their critically acclaimed album Plastic Beach . [3] The song saw Bashy feature alongside UK rapper Kano and the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music. [3]

Bashy released his first full-length album in 15 years, Being Poor Is Expensive, on 12 July 2024. [6]

Acting

Thomas landed his first role in 2010 as Rager in British flick, Shank , [3] an independent action film set in a decaying future London. He then went on to feature as Smoothy in the movie 4.3.2.1. that same year. [3] In April 2010, BBC Learning launched Off By Heart Shakespeare, a recital contest for secondary school pupils, [7] and Thomas was asked to play the role of Shylock from The Merchant of Venice . [7]

In 2011, Thomas played the part of Mental Mickey in Cockneys vs Zombies . [8] Later that year, he played Tyrone Jones in The Veteran . [8] His first television role came in the winter of 2011, in the Emmy award-winning series Black Mirror , by Charlie Brooker for Channel 4 as Judge Wraith in the episode "Fifteen Million Merits". [7]

In 2012, Thomas played the lead role in The Man Inside , opposite Peter Mullan, David Harewood and Michelle Ryan. His next film was My Brother the Devil , [8] which received critical acclaim, winning awards at both the Sundance Film Festival and Berlin Film Festival.

In 2013, he played the recurring character Jermaine Newton in Top Boy , a role he reprised in 2019 after it was announced that Netflix was to revive the British drama series. [7]

Early in 2015, Thomas guest-starred in the BBC series The Interceptor . Thomas' next TV appearance would be as Gil in the short-lived fantasy drama Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands for ITV in January 2016. Thomas signed up to the ensemble cast of A Hundred Streets released the same year. [7]

Early in 2016, it was confirmed Thomas was to appear as Calvin Hart in the HBO limited series The Night Of directed by James Marsh and Steve Zaillian. [9] In March 2016, Thomas was set as a lead role in the 20th Century Fox Television reboot of franchise series 24 as Isaac Carter. [10] In 2018, Thomas played the brother of lead character Luca Quinn (Cush Jumbo) in the legal drama The Good Fight , airing on CBS All Access. [7]

In 2019 it was announced Thomas would co-star in the NYPD Blue reboot. [11] That same year Thomas was set to headline the Amazon Prime series Them ; [12] for his performance he received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. [13]

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums
YearAlbum details
Catch Me If You Can
  • Released: 1 June 2009
  • Label: Ragz2Richez
Being Poor Is Expensive
  • Released: 12 July 2024 [6]
  • Label: Bish Bash Bosh

Mixtapes/EPs

Singles and music videos

List of singles and music videos
TitleYearChart positionsAlbum
UK
[14]
"Black Boys"2008Catch Me If You Can
"Kidulthood to Adulthood"86
"Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" (featuring Toddla T)2009
"Your Wish Is My Command" (featuring H-Boogie)
"Fantasy" (featuring Preeya Kalidas)88Non-album singles
"Make My Day" (vs. NAPT)2010
"These Are the Songs"201387
"Bring the Lights Down" (featuring Jareth)2014

Guest appearances

Filmography

Film

List of film roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Shank Rager
2010 4.3.2.1. Smooth
2011 The Veteran Tyrone Jones [8]
2011 Cockneys vs Zombies Mental Mickey [8]
2012The Man InsideClayton
2012 My Brother the Devil Lenny [8]
2016 100 Streets Jules
2016 Brotherhood Calvin
2018 Skin JaydeeAcademy Award for Best Live Action Short Film

Television

List of television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011 Black Mirror Judge WraithEpisode "Fifteen Million Merits"
2015 The Interceptor Dexter BlairEpisode 1.3
2016 Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands Gil4 episodes
2016 The Night Of Calvin HartEpisodes: "The Art of War", "The Season of the Witch"
2017 24: Legacy Isaac CarterMain Role
2018 The Good Fight Dominic QuinnEpisode: "Day 429"
2018 Ice Malcolm Rose5 episodes
2018 Salvation Alonzo CarterSeries regular (season 2) [15]
2013–2019 Top Boy Jermaine Newton7 episodes
2019 NYPD Blue Detective Chris GambleMain Role; unaired pilot
2021 Them: Covenant Henry EmorySeries lead [16]
2022 The Ipcress File Paul MaddoxMain Role
2023 Great Expectations JaggersMain Role
2023 Black Cake Byron BennettMain Role
2024 The Serpent Queen Alessandro De MediciRecurring Role

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations for Ashley Thomas [Bashy]
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2008MOBO AwardBest VideoKidulthood to AdulthoodNominated [17]
Urban Music AwardBest VideoBlack BoysNominated [18]
Urban Music AwardMost Inspirational ArtistWon [19]
Screen Nation AwardBest Music Performance in Film/TVWon [20]
2009MOBO AwardBest AlbumCatch Me If You CanNominated [17]
MOBO AwardBest UK ActNominated [18]
Urban Music AwardBest Hip HopNominated
Official Mixtape AwardsBest Hip Hop MixtapeBashy.comNominated
Official Mixtape AwardsBest Mixtape of the DecadeThe Chupa Chups MixtapeNominated
Official Mixtape AwardsBest MixtapeBashy.comNominated
UK Music Video AwardsBest Budget Video – Pop, Dance, UrbanRansomNominated
2012Screen International UK Stars of TomorrowWon
2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Male Performance in a Scripted Series Them Nominated [21]
2024 Royal Television Society Awards Breakthrough Talent Great Expectations Nominated [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noel Clarke</span> English actor and filmmaker (born 1975)

Noel Anthony Clarke is an English actor, writer, director and producer. Rising to prominence for playing Mickey Smith in Doctor Who (2005–2010), he received critical acclaim for writing, directing, and starring in the teen crime drama films Kidulthood (2006), Adulthood (2008) and Brotherhood (2016) and the BBC Three television pilot West 10 LDN (2008). He has also either written, directed, produced and/or starred in the heist film 4.3.2.1. (2010), the sport drama Fast Girls (2012), and the sci-fi films Storage 24 (2012) and The Anomaly (2014).

Brett Matthews is an American writer of comics and television shows. Matthews graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999. He was an assistant to Joss Whedon on television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly. In addition, he scripted the Firefly episode Heart of Gold. In 2004, he wrote the screenplay for the Direct to DVD animated movie The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kano (British musician)</span> British rapper

Kane Brett Robinson, better known as Kano, is a British rapper, songwriter and actor from East Ham, London. A significant contributor to grime music, he is widely considered one of the pioneers of the grime culture, alongside artists such as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal. His fifth album, Made in the Manor was shortlisted for the 2016 Mercury Prize and won Best Album at the 2016 MOBO Awards. On screen, he is best known for playing the role of Sully in Top Boy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Jay McLaren</span> Canadian actor (born 1982)

Brandon Jay McLaren is a Canadian actor. He made his first screen appearance in the television series Just Cause (2002). He has been known for his main and supporting roles in shows such as Graceland, Power Rangers S.P.D., Ransom, Harper's Island, The Rookie and Slasher. He has also had roles in the feature films She's the Man, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and Dead Before Dawn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Deacon</span> British actor (born 1983)

Adam Steven Deacon is an English actor. He is known for his lead role in the films Kidulthood, sequel Adulthood and for his directorial debut, Anuvahood.

Chanelle Scot Calica, better known by her stage name Shystie, is an English rapper, songwriter and actress.

<i>Adulthood</i> (2008 film) 2008 film directed by Noel Clarke

Adulthood is a 2008 British teen crime drama film starring, written and directed by Noel Clarke in his feature film directorial debut. The second installment in the Hood Trilogy, it is a sequel to 2006's Kidulthood. The film also co-stars Adam Deacon, Scarlett Alice Johnson, Femi Oyeniran, Red Madrell, Jacob Anderson, Ben Drew, Nathan Constance, Cornell John, and Danny Dyer. In the film, Sam (Clarke) tries to change his life following a 6-year prison sentence for killing Trife but a new gang led by Jay (Deacon) intend to avenge Trife by killing Sam.

<i>The Signature LP</i> 2008 studio album by Sway DaSafo

The Signature LP is Sway DaSafo's second album, released on 5 October 2008. Most of the album was produced by Sway with his Dcypha Productions team; other producers included Louis Gibzen, Guy Katsav and Akon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashley Zukerman</span> Australian-American actor

Ashley Zukerman is an Australian-American actor known for playing Dr. Charlie Isaacs on WGN America's Manhattan, Senior Constable Michael Sandrelli in Australian drama series Rush, and Jesse Banks in the Australian political thriller The Code, for which he received an AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama in 2014. He also played a recurring role in Succession. In 2021, he portrayed Robert Langdon in the TV series adaptation of Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.

<i>Plastic Beach</i> 2010 studio album by Gorillaz

Plastic Beach is the third studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 3 March 2010 by Parlophone internationally and by Virgin Records in the United States. Conceived from an unfinished project called Carousel, the album was recorded from June 2008 to November 2009, and was produced primarily by group co-creator Damon Albarn. It features guest appearances by such artists as Snoop Dogg, Gruff Rhys, De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Bashy, Kano, and Little Dragon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Garner</span> American actress (born 1994)

Julia Garner is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Ruth Langmore in the Netflix crime drama series Ozark (2017–2022), for which she received critical acclaim and won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyvia Alyn Lind</span> American actress (born 2007)

Alyvia Alyn Lind is an American actress. She played the roles of Faith Newman on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless from 2011 to 2021, 9-year-old Dolly Parton in the made-for-television movies Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors and Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love, Angelica Green in the 2019 Netflix series Daybreak and since 2021, has portrayed Lexy Cross in the SyFy/USA Network horror television series Chucky.

Alison Wright is an English actress. She is best known for her starring role as Martha Hanson on the FX period spy drama series The Americans (2013–2017), for which she received critical acclaim and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination in 2017. She has also acted in the Ryan Murphy limited series Feud: Bette and Joan (2017) and Hollywood (2020).

<i>Graves</i> (TV series) American comedy television series

Graves is an American comedy television series, created by Joshua Michael Stern, that premiered on October 16, 2016, on Epix. The series stars Nick Nolte as the eponymous Richard Graves, a former President of the United States attempting to make amends for the mistakes he made in office. After two seasons, it was cancelled by Epix in 2017.

<i>Goliath</i> (TV series) American legal drama television series

Goliath is an American legal drama television series by Amazon Studios. The show was commissioned with a straight-to-series order of eight episodes on December 1, 2015 and premiered on October 13, 2016, on Amazon Prime Video. On February 15, 2017, Amazon announced the series had been renewed for a second season and confirmed that Clyde Phillips was joining the series as showrunner. The trailer for season 2 was released on May 1, 2018. Season 2, consisting of eight episodes, was released on June 15, 2018. On December 11, 2018, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on October 4, 2019. On November 14, 2019, Amazon announced the series was renewed for a fourth and final season, which premiered on September 24, 2021.

Melanie Field is an American actress and singer, known for her roles as Heather Chandler on the reboot series of Heathers, Kaitlin on Florida Girls, Sunrise on You, and Jo Deluca on the Amazon series A League of Their Own.

<i>Them</i> (TV series) 2021 American horror drama anthology television series

Them is an American black horror anthology series, created by Little Marvin and executive produced by Lena Waithe. The series stars an ensemble cast, which consists on Deborah Ayorinde, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, and Ryan Kwanten in the first season, and Pam Grier, Luke James, Joshua J. Williams and Jeremy Bobb in the second season, with Ayorinde returning in a new lead role. Its plot follows a similar narrative structure to American Horror Story, with each season following a different story with different characters.

Deborah Olayinka Ayorinde is a British-Nigerian actress raised in the United States. She is known for her role in the Amazon Prime horror series Them (2021).

<i>Bel-Air</i> (TV series) 2022 American drama television series

Bel-Air is an American drama television series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, TJ Brady, and Rasheed Newson. It is a reimagined version of the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and is based on Cooper's short fan film of the same name. It stars Jabari Banks, Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones. The series premiered on Peacock on February 13, 2022. The second season was released on February 23, 2023. In March 2023, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on August 15, 2024.

<i>Dead Ringers</i> (miniseries) 2023 television miniseries

Dead Ringers is an American psychological thriller drama television miniseries developed by Alice Birch. It is based on the 1988 film of the same name by David Cronenberg, itself adapted from the 1977 novel Twins by Bari Wood and Jack Geasland. The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 21, 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fevre, Juliette (21 October 2021). "Top Boy actor Bashy returns to Harlesden school to surprise pupils". -www.kilburntimes.co.uk//.
  2. Barzey, Whelan (18 April 2021). "The rapper who's gone from driving London buses to starring in an Amazon Prime TV show". -www.mylondon.news/.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Bashy - The bus driver who found a ticket to hip-hop fame". The Independent. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 "BrOTHERHOOD clip: Noel Clarke nearly SUED Bashy before he signed him up for the soundtrack". uk.sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Catch Me If You Can: Bashy". Hiphop.com. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  6. 1 2 Keith, James (12 July 2024). "Bashy's New Album, Being Poor Is Expensive, Is an Essential Listen". Complex . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ashley 'Bashy' Thomas — underrated, legendary and inspiring". medium.com. 24 February 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ashley "Bashy" Thomas Credits". tvguide.com. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. Petski, Denise (11 March 2016). "James Gandolfini's Passion Project 'Criminal Justice' Gets Summer Premiere On HBO As 'The Night Of'". Deadline.com. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  10. Petski, Denise (10 March 2016). "'24: Legacy': Ashley Thomas Set As Lead In Fox Reboot". -Deadline.com.
  11. Petski, Denise (18 January 2019). "'NYPD Blue': Ashley Thomas To Co-Star In ABC Sequel Pilot". -Deadline.com.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (27 July 2019). "'Them': Deborah Ayorinde & Ashley Thomas To Star In Amazon Anthology Series From Lena Waithe". -Deadline.com.
  13. Lang, Brent (14 December 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". -variety.com/.
  14. "Bashy songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  15. Petski, Denise (12 February 2018). "'Salvation': Melia Kreiling & Ashley Thomas Cast As Regulars In Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  16. Andreeva, Nellie (27 July 2019). "'Them': Deborah Ayorinde & Ashley Thomas To Star In Amazon Anthology Series From Lena Waithe". Deadline.com.
  17. 1 2 "Dizzee Rascal, Jay-Z and Estelle lead MOBO nominations | News". Nme.com. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  18. 1 2 "Interviews With Bashy, Sway, Tinchy Stryder, Skeelo & Richard Blackwood". Pr-inside.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  19. "Urban Music Awards 08 Nominations". 10 October 2008.
  20. "~* 7th Screen Nation Awards 2010 *~". Screennation.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  21. "These are the 2022 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees". www.filmindependent.org/. 14 December 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  22. "Nominations announced for the RTS Programme Awards 2024". rts.org.uk. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.