J Hus

Last updated

J Hus
J Hus.png
J Hus in 2018
Background information
Born
Momodou Lamin Jallow [1]

(1996-05-26) 26 May 1996 (age 29)
London, England
Origin Stratford, London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Works J Hus discography
Years active2014–present
Labels
Website jhusmusic.com

Momodou Lamin Jallow (born 26 October 1996) [2] known professionally as J Hus, is a British rapper and singer, credited with pioneering the genre of Afroswing. [3] [4] [5] He is currently signed to Black Butter Records. [6] He gained popularity in 2015 following the release of his song "Dem Boy Paigon". [7]

Contents

J Hus' "Did You See" became his most successful single at the time, peaking at number nine on 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. [8] The album reached number six on the UK Albums Chart. [9] [10] In June 2018, he was arrested in Stratford and charged with carrying a knife in public. [11] Hours after his release from prison in April 2019, he made a surprise appearance on stage at Canadian rapper Drake's concert at the O2 Arena in London. [12]

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. [13] [14] In June 2023, he released 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. [15] [16] The album became his second number-one on the UK Albums Chart. [17]

Early life

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 was 25 years old. [18] Jallow was raised Muslim and is of ethnic Fula and Serer heritage. [19] 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." [20] In September 2014, distraught following two separate prison stints, he 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. [18]

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. [19]

Career

2014–2016: Career beginnings and The 15th Day

J Hus began his career by recording several freestyles, [21] including #StreetHeat, Bl@CKBOX and GRM Daily [22] and publishing them online. [21] He followed this with "#Rated", which samples 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". [22]

Around the end of March 2015, he and MoStack released their "Westwood Crib Session". In late May 2015, he released "Lean & Bop", [22] which was streamed more than 10 million times in total on music platforms. [23] Around this time, he also released a "Daily Duppy" for GRM Daily, which he followed with his first mixtape, The 15th Day. [22]

2016-2019: Common Sense and Big Spang

Jallow released the single "Friendly" in 2016, which received a nomination at 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. [22]

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, [24] on Dave's "Samantha", which peaked at number 63, [25] and charted at number 9 with his solo composition "Did You See". [26] The song served as 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. [27] 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. [28] Jallow's label stopped releasing music, with his only verse whilst incarcerated coming from the song "Disaster" which was released on Dave's debut album, Psychodrama . [29] "Disaster" debuted at number eight on the UK Singles Chart on 15 March 2019. [30]

2019–present: Big Conspiracy and Beautiful and Brutal Yard

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. [12] In November he released the single "Must Be". [31] He then released the singles "No Denying" and "Repeat". [32] 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. [33] J Hus' second album Big Conspiracy was released in January 2020, and became his first number-one album. [34]

In July 2022, he was featured on Burna Boy's song "Cloak & Dagger" off his album Love, Damini . [35] 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 a trailer narrated by Idris Elba. [16] A day before the album's release, he released the single "Militerian" with Naira Marley. [36] Beautiful and Brutal Yard debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming his second chart-topper. [17]

On 26 June 2025, it was announced that Jallow officially left Black Butter Records to found his own label, Militér Music, in a partnership with independent record label and music distributor, Empire. [37] In July 2025, J Hus featured as a surprise guest at Wireless Festival alongside Drake. [38] On 29 July, it was announced that Jallow signed a global publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing for all of his future releases and copyrights worldwide. [39] [40] On 12 December 2025, he released Half Clip, a three song EP featuring guest apperences from Skepta and Seyi Vibez. [41]

Personal life

He is a supporter of Arsenal F.C. [42]

He also has a child, not much is known about the child however.

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 a referral order that year after being caught with a knife in public. [43]

In 2014 and 2015, he was arrested and served stints in His Majesty's Feltham Prison. [19] 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. [44]

In September 2015 the musician was admitted to hospital after being stabbed five times in London. [45] Whilst in hospital, he 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". [46] [47] The attack left him with mild PTSD, for which at the time of his 2018 imprisonment he was seeing a therapist. [44]

In June 2018, he was arrested in Stratford and charged with carrying a knife in public. [11] He was subsequently dropped from the performance line-ups of the TRNSMT and Wireless festivals. [48] Jallow appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court on 22 June and was released on bail. [49] On 20 July, he pleaded not guilty, [50] but changed his plea in October and in December was sentenced to eight months in jail. [44] When asked why he had been carrying a six-inch (150 mm) blade, J Hus said: "You know, it's Westfield." [43]

He was eventually released on 5 April 2019 and was welcomed back by Drake, joining him on stage at the O2 Arena during Drake's UK Assassination Vacation Tour. [28]

Discography

Studio Albums

EPs

Awards and nominations

Award nominations for J Hus
AwardYear [A] Recipient(s) and nominee(s)CategoryResultRef.
BET Hip Hop Awards 2023 HimselfBest International FlowNominated [51]
Brit Awards 2018 Common Sense Album of the Year Nominated [52]
"Did You See" Single of the Year
Himself Breakthrough Act
2021 Big Conspiracy Album of the Year Nominated [53]
Himself British Male Solo Artist Won
2024 Beautiful and Brutal Yard Album of the Year Nominated [54]
"Who Told You" (with Drake) Song of the Year
Himself Artist of the Year
Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Ivor Novello Awards 2020 "Must Be"Best Contemporary SongNominated [55]
Mercury Prize 2017 Common Sense Best AlbumNominated [56]
MOBO Awards 2017"Did You See"Best SongWon [57]
2023 Beautiful and Brutal Yard Album of the YearNominated [58]
"Who Told You" (with Drake)Song of the Year
HimselfBest Male Act
UK Music Video Awards 2017 "Common Sense (Four To The Floor, Channel4)"Best Live SessionNominated [59]
2023 "It's Crazy"Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video [60]
2024 "Cream" [61]
NME Awards 2018 Common Sense Best AlbumWon [62]

Notes

  1. ↑ Indicates the year of ceremony. Each year is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ↑ Jarvis, Jacob (6 July 2019). "Wireless Festival 2019: J Hus confirmed as the replacement for ASAP Rocky at Finsbury Park after US rapper detained in Sweden". Evening Standard . London. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "J Hus Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | All..." AllMusic . Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ↑ Mokoena, Tshepo; Bernard, Jesse (4 January 2019). "Afroswing Is More Than a Trend". Vice. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Murking It: J Hus". Clash Magazine. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  5. ↑ "Best UK rappers: 25 influential MCs that shaped UK Rap". Red Bull . 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  6. ↑ "'J Hus is part of a golden age for the UK': Black Butter president Joe Gossa on the Common Sense campaign". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  7. ↑ aidanbnsn (9 September 2015). "Interview: J Hus". FACT Magazine. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Complex UK's Best Albums Of 2017". Complex. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  9. ↑ "Common Sense by J Hus on Apple Music – iTunes". iTunes Store. 28 April 2017. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  10. ↑ Bowe, Miles (12 May 2017). "Stream J Hus's debut album Common Sense". Factmag.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  11. 1 2 Horton, Tom (25 June 2018). "Rapper J Hus charged with possession of a knife near Westfield shopping centre". Newham Recorder. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  12. 1 2 "J Hus Hits the Stage at Drake's London Concert Just Hours After Release From Prison". Billboard. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
  13. ↑ "J Hus: Big Conspiracy review – reflective but still reckless". The Guardian. London. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  14. ↑ "J Hus: Big Conspiracy". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  15. ↑ Mier, Tomás (8 June 2023). "Drake, J Hus Bring Summer Dance Vibes on 'Who Told You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  16. 1 2 Mier, Tomás (29 June 2023). "J Hus Announces 'Beautiful and Brutal Yard' Album, Featuring Drake, Burna Boy, Jorja Smith". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  17. 1 2 "J Hus Blasts to #1 on UK Album Chart With 'Beautiful and Brutal Yard' - That Grape Juice". thatgrapejuice.net. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 "J Hus Is The Sound of Diaspora's Boomerang". The Fader. 25 April 2017. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  19. 1 2 3 Yates, Kieran (25 May 2017). "Rapper J Hus: 'I was a doughnut hustler!'". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "No One Is Like J Hus". Noisey. 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  21. 1 2 "J Hus | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "Why J Hus Is A Rare Breed of Sick Rapper and Anthem Factory". Thelinkup.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  23. ↑ "BBC Sound Of 2016 longlist revealed". BBC News. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "STORMZY FT GHETTS & J HUS". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  25. ↑ "DAVE AND J HUS". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  26. ↑ "J HUS | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  27. ↑ "J Hus Announced Details of His Debut Album, Common Sense". Fader. 4 April 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
  28. 1 2 Snapes, Laura (14 December 2018). "Rapper J Hus sentenced to eight months in jail for carrying a knife". The Guardian. London. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  29. ↑ Dazed (13 March 2019). "The radical healing sound of Dave's debut album Psychodrama". Dazed. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  30. ↑ "Dave's Psychodrama album debuts at Number 1". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  31. ↑ Reilly, Nick (8 November 2019). "J Hus returns with triumphant new single 'Must Be'". NME. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "J Hus drops new track, 'No Denying'". Crack Magazine. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  33. ↑ Domachowski, Lucy (5 December 2019). "J Hus bombshell as rapper announces retirement – 'I'll never tour again'". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  34. ↑ Sexton, Paul (1 February 2020). "London Rapper J Hus Tops U.K. Album Chart With 'Big Conspiracy'". Billboard. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  35. ↑ "Burna Boy & J Hus Do It Again On "Cloak & Dagger"". hotnewhiphop.com. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  36. ↑ DAILY, GRM (13 July 2023). "J Hus & Naira Marley unite for brand new "Militerian" video". GRM Daily. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  37. ↑ ""Our global team is excited to get to work!": J Hus partners with leading independent label Empire". Music Week . 27 June 2025. Archived from the original on 2 July 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  38. ↑ "Watch Drake bring out Central Cee, Dave, Skepta, J Hus and more for his second night headlining Wireless Festival". NME. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
  39. ↑ "Concord Music Publishing Announces Global Publishing Deal With J Hus". Concord Music Publishing. 29 July 2025. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  40. ↑ "J Hus signs to Concord Music Publishing". Music Week . 29 July 2025. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  41. ↑ Paterson, Shelly (12 December 2025). "J Hus Returns With Surprise EP Half Clip Ahead of Lagos Headline Show". New Wave Magazine. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  42. ↑ "J Hus: Aubameyang will crush Spurs!". Premier League. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  43. 1 2 "J Hus: Why he felt he had to take a knife to Westfield". BBC News. 15 December 2018. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  44. 1 2 3 "J Hus jailed for eight months for carrying knife". BBC News. 14 December 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  45. ↑ "J Hus is Carving Out a New British Sound, Injecting UK Afrobeats with Rudeboy Flavour". Noisey. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  46. ↑ "Stabbed London rapped J Hus slammed for making 'gang signs' in hospital bed". Evening Standard . London. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  47. ↑ Rowlands, Geoffrey (29 May 2017). "J Hus on learning from his 2015 stabbing and maturing as a performer". Gulf Times. GPPC. Archived from the original on 20 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  48. ↑ Evans, Mel (4 July 2018). "J Hus apologises as he's replaced on Wireless lineup following weapons arrest". Metro . Retrieved 4 July 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  49. ↑ "J Hus thanks fans after arrest". BBC News. 4 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  50. ↑ "Rapper J Hus to go on trial after denying knife possession charge". The Guardian . London. 20 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  51. ↑ Horowitz, Steven J. (7 September 2023). "2023 BET Hip Hop Awards: 21 Savage and Cardi B Among Top Nominees". Variety . Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  52. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (23 January 2018). "Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran Lead Brit Awards 2018 Nominations". Billboard . Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  53. ↑ "Brit Awards 2021: Full list of award winners and nominees". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  54. ↑ "Brit Awards 2021: Full list of award winners and nominees". BBC News. 2 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  55. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (20 July 2020). "Check Out the Nominees For 2020 Ivor Novello Awards". Billboard . Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  56. ↑ "Common Sense by J Hus nominated for the Mercury Prize 2017". Sony Music. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  57. ↑ "MOBO Awards 2017: Highlights and winners". Sky News. 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  58. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (14 December 2023). "Little Simz and Stormzy top 2024 Mobo award nominations". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  59. ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2017: all the winners!". Promonews.com. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  60. ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2023: all the nominations for this year's UKMVAs". Promonews.com. 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  61. ↑ "UK Music Video Awards 2024: all the nominations for this year's UKMVAs". Promonews.com. 25 September 2024. Archived from the original on 2 October 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  62. ↑ Daly, Rhian (14 February 2018). "J Hus wins Best Album supported by Orange Amplification at the VO5 NME Awards 2018". NME . Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
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