Devlin (rapper)

Last updated

Devlin
Devlin Little Malvern.jpg
Devlin performing in Little Malvern in 2011
Background information
Birth nameJames Devlin [1]
Born7 May 1989 (1989-05-07) (age 34)
Bermondsey, Southwark, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2006–present
Labels
Website officialdevlin.com

James Devlin (born 7 May 1989), better known mononymously as Devlin, is an English rapper from Dagenham, London. He attended the Brittons Academy in Rainham, East London. He was signed to Island Records from 2010 to 2015. He is part of grime collective 'O.T Crew' with Dogzilla, Deeperman, M. Eye, Benson, Kozy, Syer Bars, Shotz, Meshie, Props and Daze. [2] Devlin was also a member of the Movement, consisting of himself, Wretch 32, Scorcher, Ghetts, Lightning, Mercston and DJ Unique but has since left.

Contents

Early life

Devlin was born on 7 May 1989 in Bermondsey and grew up on a housing estate in Dagenham. [3] His mother was a council worker while his father was a forklift driver. [4] Devlin released his second solo mixtape The Art of Rolling [5] in 2008.

Career

2010–11: Bud, Sweat and Beers

Devlin's debut album, Bud, Sweat and Beers was released on Island Records in 2010. The first single from the album was "Brainwashed", which was released on 8 August 2010 in the UK and debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 31, and number 11 on the UK R&B Chart. The second single, "Runaway", was released on 24 October 2010, where it debuted at number 15, marking Devlin's most successful single to date. The single was succeeded by the release of the debut album, Bud, Sweat and Beers , which was released on 1 November 2010 and debuted at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. "London City" entered the UK chart at number 181 following strong digital downloads from the album. [6] The third single released from the album was "Let It Go" featuring British producer Labrinth. The track, which was released on 31 January 2011, [7] charted at number 59 in the UK based on downloads alone.

2011–13: A Moving Picture

His second studio album, A Moving Picture , was released on 4 February 2013. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart. [8]

Personal life

He is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. [9] Devlin is of Irish descent. [10]

Diagnosed at the age of 14, Devlin has Type 1 Diabetes. [11]

Discography

Studio albums

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devlin discography</span>

This is the discography of Devlin, an English rapper from Dagenham, East London, England signed to Island Records. Part of Grime collective 'O.T Crew' with Dogzilla, Deeper man, M. Eye, Benson, Kozy, Syer Bars and Daze. Devlin was also a member of The Movement, consisting of himself, Wretch 32, Scorcher, Ghetts, Lightning, Mercston and DJ Unique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brainwashed (Devlin song)</span> 2010 single by Devlin featuring Milena Sanchez

"Brainwashed" is a song by English rapper Devlin which features vocals from Milena Sanchez. The song, co-written by Pontus Hjelm and Emeli Sandé served as the lead single for the rapper's debut album, Bud, Sweat and Beers (2010). The track was first released as a digital download on 8 August 2010 having been added to BBC Radio 1's B Playlist the previous month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runaway (Devlin song)</span> 2010 single by Devlin featuring Yasmin

"Runaway" is the second official single by British MC and rapper, Devlin which features DJ Yasmin. The single was released in October 2010 for digital download.

<i>Bud, Sweat and Beers</i> 2010 studio album by Devlin

Bud, Sweat and Beers is the debut studio album released by English rapper Devlin, via Island Records and the Universal Music Group. The album was released on 29 October 2010 via digital download, and 1 November 2010, physically. The album was produced by Labrinth, Kraze, Lewi White, Futurecut and Naughty Boy. Featured guests on the album include Awa Manneh, Hikaru Utada, Labrinth, Emeli Sandé, Yasmin, Dogzilla and Ghetts. The album received high praise in critical reviews, and was awarded Hottest Album of the Week by Zane Lowe.

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Yasmin Perry, who performs under the mononym Yasmin, is an English singer, songwriter and DJ. She is signed to record label Levels Entertainment, an imprint of Ministry of Sound and began her singing career in October 2010 when she appeared on rapper Devlin's single "Runaway". Her debut single, "On My Own", was released on 30 January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let It Go (Devlin song)</span> 2011 single by Devlin featuring Labrinth

"Let It Go" is a song by British rapper Devlin. The single which was released in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2011 serves as the third and final single from the album Bud, Sweat and Beers (2010). The single features vocals from producer Labrinth and has thus far charted at number 59 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Electronic Earth</i> 2012 studio album by Labrinth

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Labrinth discography</span>

The discography of British musician and producer Labrinth consists of three studio albums, two soundtrack albums, two extended plays (EPs), twenty singles and fourteen music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watchtower (song)</span> 2012 single by Devlin featuring Ed Sheeran

"Watchtower" is the fifth single by British rapper Devlin, and the lead single from his second studio album, A Moving Picture (2013). The song features British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and was produced by Labrinth. "Watchtower" was released on 16 August 2012 and entered the UK Singles Chart on 26 August 2012 at number 7, becoming Devlin's highest-charting single and first top 10 hit and Sheeran's fifth top 10 hit. The song samples the main chorus line from Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower". It also borrows Jimi Hendrix's riff from the guitarist's cover.

<i>A Moving Picture</i> 2013 studio album by Devlin

A Moving Picture is the second studio album released by English rapper Devlin, via Island Records and the Universal Music Group. The album was released on 4 February 2013. The album was produced by a number of well known producers, including Labrinth, Kraze, Lewi White, TMS, Future Cut and Naughty Boy. Featured guests on the album include Katy B, Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32, Diane Birch, Etta Bond and Chasing Grace.

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References

  1. "Devlin on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  2. "Outakers.com". 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009.
  3. Curtin, April (2 November 2020). "9 famous people you probably didn't know were from Barking and Dagenham". MyLondon. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. Charlotte Cripps (19 November 2010). "Devlin: After eight years, conclusive proof that grime does pay..." The Independent . Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  5. "iTunes – Music – Art of Rolling by Devlin". iTunes Store. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  6. "UK Singles Chart - New Entries - Week Ending: 13 November 2010". Zobbel/de. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  7. "Devlin Ft Labrinth 'Let It Go' (Island)". 18 August 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011.
  8. "A Moving Picture chart history". Official Charts. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  9. "Devlin: "As soon as I was crawling, I had a Spurs shirt on"". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  10. Devlin [@OfficialDevlin] (4 November 2010). "I'm half Irish. With a name like Devlin you probably guessed that" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  11. Martin, opinionBy Gavin; Updated (21 January 2011). "James Devlin on his rise from the underground to stardom". mirror. Retrieved 13 March 2022.