Young Fathers

Last updated

Young Fathers
Festival des Vieilles Charrues 2018 - Young Fathers - 021.jpg
Young Fathers in 2018
Background information
Origin Edinburgh, Scotland
Genres
Years active2008–present
Labels
Members
  • Alloysious Massaquoi
  • Kayus Bankole
  • 'G' Hastings
Website young-fathers.com

Young Fathers are a Scottish progressive hip hop group formed in Edinburgh in 2008. Their second EP, Tape Two (2013), won the Scottish Album of the Year Award. In 2014, they won the Mercury Prize for their debut album Dead . A second album, White Men Are Black Men Too , followed in 2015. Their third album, Cocoa Sugar (2018), peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart and earned the band their second Scottish Album of the Year Award. Their fourth album, Heavy Heavy , was released in 2023 and earned the band their third Scottish Album of the Year Award.

Contents

History

Formed in Edinburgh in 2008 by Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings, the group started performing in nightclubs when the band members were all in their teens. [1]

In 2012, they signed to LA-based label Anticon and released their introductory mixtapes, Tape One and Tape Two , with Tape Two winning the Scottish Album of the Year Award [2] ("The SAY Award").

Young Fathers in concert 27 April 2014 Young Fathers concert Portland.jpg
Young Fathers in concert 27 April 2014

The trio then signed to Big Dada and released their debut album, Dead , which was released in 2014. The album gained critical attention and went on to win the Mercury Prize. Dead entered the UK albums chart at number 35 and topped the independent UK album chart. [3]

Following an extensive world tour the band decamped to Berlin to begin work on their second album, White Men Are Black Men Too , which was released in April 2015. [4] It peaked at number 41 on the UK Albums Chart. [5]

In June 2017 Young Fathers played in the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre as part of M.I.A.'s Meltdown Festival. [6]

Six tracks on the T2 Trainspotting soundtrack feature Young Fathers, including "Only God Knows", written specifically for the film. In a statement the director Danny Boyle described the song as "the heartbeat for the film". [7] [8]

Young Fathers' third studio album, Cocoa Sugar, was announced with the single "In My View" on 17 January 2018. The album was released on British independent label Ninja Tune on 9 March 2018. [9] The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 28, making it the band's highest-charting album. [10] It won the Scottish Album of the Year Award for 2018. [11]

The trio released their fourth studio album, Heavy Heavy , via Ninja Tune on 3 February 2023. [12] The album peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart, won the Scottish Album of the Year Award, earned the band three Brit Award nominations and was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.

While not an overtly political band, Young Fathers have spoken about issues such as racism and the treatment of refugees [13] Due to their support of the BDS movement, the band was dropped from the 2018 Ruhrtriennale line-up. [14]

The band were featured on the FIFA 19 and FIFA 23 soundtracks, with the songs "Border Girl" and "Rice" respectively. [15] [16]

Members

Touring Musicians

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
SCO
[23]
UK
[10]
UK
Indie

[10]
AUS
Hit.

[24]
BEL
(FL)

[25]
BEL
(WA)

[26]
GER
[27]
IRL
[28]
SWI
[29]
US
Sales

[30]
Dead 21351102
White Men Are Black Men Too
  • Released: 6 April 2015
  • Label: Big Dada
194162095
Cocoa Sugar 928413371737989 [A]
Heavy Heavy
  • Released: 3 February 2023
  • Label: Ninja Tune
272 [B] 73988465
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

TitleAlbum details
Tape One
  • Released: November 2011
  • Label: Anticon
Tape Two
  • Released: 11 June 2013
  • Label: Anticon

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
Sales

[10]
UK
Indie

[10]
FRA
[33]
"Straight Back on It"2008Non-album singles
"Automatic / Dancing Mantaray"2010
"Fevers Worse"
"The Guide"2013
"I Heard" [34] 196 Tape Two
"Queen Is Dead" [35] 33
"Low" Dead
"Get Up"201439
"Soon Come Soon"63Non-album single
"Rain or Shine"2015 White Men Are Black Men Too
"Shame"
"Only God Knows"
(feat. Leith Congregational Choir)
20175 T2: Trainspotting
"Lord"2018 Cocoa Sugar
"In My View"
"Toy"
"Border Girl / Cocoa Sugar"Non-album single
"Geronimo"2022 Heavy Heavy
"I Saw"
"Tell Somebody"
"Rice"2023
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Remixes

Guest appearances

TitleOther artist(s)YearAlbum/EP
"Turn Up the Dial" Simian Mobile Disco 2009 Temporary Pleasure
"Leader" Stanton Warriors 2011The Warriors
"Voodoo in My Blood" [36] Massive Attack 2016 Ritual Spirit
"He Says He Needs Me" 3D Assassin's Creed (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
"#UNIVERSALBASICINCOME"Massive Attack, Guy Standing 2020 Eutopia

Music videos

TitleYear
"Deadline"2012
"Rumbling"
"Sister"
"Romance"2013
"The Guide"
"I Heard"
"Queen Is Dead"
"Low"
"Get Up"2014
"Shame"2015
"Old Rock n Roll"
"Lord"2018
"In My View"
"Toy"
"Holy Ghost"

Notes

  1. Cocoa Sugar did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 14 on the US Heatseekers Albums Chart. [31]
  2. Heavy Heavy did not enter the ARIA Albums chart, but peaked at number 23 on the Australian Digital Albums Chart. [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irvine Welsh</span> Scottish novelist

Irvine Welsh is a Scottish novelist and short story writer. His 1993 novel Trainspotting was made into a film of the same name. He has also written plays and screenplays, and directed several short films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fine Young Cannibals</span> English pop rock band

Fine Young Cannibals (FYC) were an English pop rock band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1984 by former The Beat band bassist David Steele and guitarist Andy Cox with singer Roland Gift. Their self-titled 1985 debut album contained "Johnny Come Home" and a cover of "Suspicious Minds", two songs that were top 40 hits in the UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. Their 1989 album, The Raw & the Cooked, topped the UK, US, Australian and Canadian album charts, and contained their two Billboard Hot 100 number ones: "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Hay</span> Scottish-Australian musician (born 1953)

Colin James Hay is a Scottish-Australian musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and the sole continuous member of the band Men at Work, and later as a solo artist. Hay's music has been used frequently by actor and director Zach Braff in his work, which helped a career rebirth in the mid-2000s. Hay is a member of the band Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Magic Numbers</span> British alternative rock band

The Magic Numbers are an English alternative rock band consisting of two brother-and-sister pairs, from Hanwell in west London. The group was formed in 2002, releasing their debut album titled The Magic Numbers on 13 June 2005. Their follow-up album, Those the Brokes, was released on 6 November 2006; The Runaway was released on 6 June 2010, Alias was released on 18 August 2014, and their most recent album, Outsiders, was released on 11 May 2018.

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

The discography of Foo Fighters, an American rock band formed in 1995 by Dave Grohl, consists of eleven studio albums, fourteen extended plays (EPs), six video albums, one live album, and 57 singles. The current Foo Fighters line-up consists of Grohl, Rami Jaffee (keyboard), Nate Mendel (bass), Chris Shiflett (guitar), Pat Smear (guitar) and Josh Freese (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbourne (band)</span> Australian hard rock band

Airbourne are an Australian hard rock band formed in Warrnambool, Victoria, in late 2001. Founding members are Joel O'Keeffe on lead vocals and lead guitar, his younger brother Ryan O'Keeffe on drums and David Roads on rhythm guitar and backing vocals. They were joined by Justin Street on bass guitar and backing vocals in mid-2004. Roads amicably left in 2017, Mathew Harrison joined in 2018 and was replaced by Jarrad Morrice on rhythm guitar and backing vocals in mid-2022, who was replaced in turn by Brett Tyrrell in mid-2023.

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

The discography of Kaiser Chiefs, a British indie rock band, consists of eight studio albums, one extended play, thirty-three singles, and one video album. Kaiser Chiefs were formed in 1997 in Leeds, England by classmates Nick Hodgson (drums), Nick Baines (keyboards) and Simon Rix (bass). The trio were later joined by Andrew White (guitar) and Ricky Wilson (vocals).

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

The discography of Bloc Party, a British indie rock band, consists of six studio albums, three extended plays (EPs), and two remix albums released on primary label Wichita Recordings. Bloc Party were formed in 1999 by chief songwriter and frontman Kele Okereke and Russell Lissack. Bassist Gordon Moakes and drummer Matt Tong joined the band later. The first song by them that we know of is called "This Is Not A Competition" although it hasn't been officially released, it was the first song the band put on their official website. The quartet's first release was the Bloc Party EP in 2004; the first single, "She's Hearing Voices", was released and it failed to chart in the United Kingdom. The next EP, Little Thoughts was released the same year only in Japan; it included Bloc Party's first UK Top 40 entry, the double A-side "Little Thoughts/Tulips", which peaked at number 38.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Temper Trap</span> Australian rock band

The Temper Trap are an Australian indie rock band formed in 2005 by Dougy Mandagi, Jonathon Aherne, and Toby Dundas. In 2008, the group relocated from Melbourne to London. The band released their debut album Conditions in June 2009 to favourable reviews and commercial success; it peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Albums Chart and into the top 30 on the UK Albums Chart. Its lead single, "Sweet Disposition", peaked in the top 10 on the Belgian, Irish and UK Singles Charts and reached No. 14 on the ARIA Singles Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 in November, The Temper Trap won Best Group and Most Popular Australian Single for "Sweet Disposition". Their eponymous second album was released in late May/early June 2012 under Liberation Music (AUS), Infectious Records (UK) and Glassnote Records (US). The album won the band Best Rock Album, and they also won Best Group at the 2012 ARIA Awards. In October 2013 guitarist Lorenzo Sillitto left the band, during the recording of the third album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring Me the Horizon discography</span>

British rock band Bring Me the Horizon have released seven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, two extended plays (EPs), one demo album, 35 singles, two video albums, 38 music videos, two other releases and three other appearances. Formed in Sheffield in 2004 by vocalist Oliver Sykes, guitarists Lee Malia and Curtis Ward, bassist Matt Kean and drummer Matt Nicholls, the band released their debut EP This Is What the Edge of Your Seat Was Made For on Thirty Days of Nights Records in 2005, which reached number 41 on the UK Budget Albums Chart. After signing with British independent record label Visible Noise, the group released their debut full-length studio album Count Your Blessings in 2006, which reached the top 100 of the UK Albums Chart and the top 10 of the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart. The 2008 follow-up Suicide Season reached the UK top 50 and charted in the US for the first time when it reached number 107 on the Billboard 200. In November 2009, an expanded version of the album titled Suicide Season Cut Up! was released, featuring remixes and videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Django Django</span> British rock band

Django Django are a British art rock band based in London, England. Formed in 2009, the band has released five studio albums starting with their self-titled debut in 2012. Their latest album Off Planet was released on 16 June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lord Huron</span> American indie folk band

Lord Huron is a Los Angeles-based American indie rock band composed of Mark Barry, Miguel Briseño, Tom Renaud (guitar), and founder Ben Schneider. They released their debut album Lonesome Dreams in 2012, their second album Strange Trails in 2015, and their fourth and most recent album Long Lost in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass Animals</span> English indie rock band

Glass Animals is an English indie rock band formed in Oxford in 2010. The band's line-up consists of Dave Bayley, Drew MacFarlane, Edmund Irwin-Singer, and Joe Seaward (drums).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jungle (band)</span> English modern soul musical collective

Jungle are a British band founded in 2013 by London-based producers Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland. Jungle have released four studio albums: Jungle (2014), which was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, For Ever (2018), Loving in Stereo (2021), and Volcano (2023). The first two albums were released through XL Recordings while the latter two via their independent label Caiola Records. In 2023, having worked as the main musical contributor on Loving in Stereo and Volcano, and a key performing member of the live group, Lydia Kitto joined as a permanent member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circa Waves</span> English indie rock band

Circa Waves are an English indie rock band formed in Liverpool in 2013. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Kieran Shudall, guitarist Joe Falconer, bassist Sam Rourke, and drummer Colin Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The 1975 discography</span>

English rock band the 1975 have released five studio albums, four live albums, five extended plays, 35 music videos and 34 singles. The band consists of lead vocalist, principal songwriter, and rhythm guitarist Matty Healy, drummer and primary producer George Daniel, lead guitarist Adam Hann, and bassist Ross MacDonald.

<i>Ritual Spirit</i> 2016 EP by Massive Attack

Ritual Spirit is an EP by British trip hop trio Massive Attack, released on 28 January 2016. It features trip hop artist Tricky for the first time since the release of Protection in 1994, and also features Scottish hip-hop group Young Fathers, London rapper Roots Manuva and singer Azekel.

<i>Cocoa Sugar</i> 2018 studio album by Young Fathers

Cocoa Sugar is the third studio album by Scottish indie group Young Fathers. It was released on Ninja Tune on 9 March 2018. It won the Scottish Album of the Year Award for 2018. It peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fontaines D.C.</span> Irish rock band

Fontaines D.C. are an Irish post-punk band formed in Dublin in 2014. The band consists of Grian Chatten (vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums) and Carlos O'Connell (guitar).

<i>Heavy Heavy</i> 2023 studio album by Young Fathers

Heavy Heavy is the fourth studio album by the Scottish indie group Young Fathers. It was released by Ninja Tune on 3 February 2023. The album was shortlisted for the 2023 Mercury Prize, won the Scottish Album of the Year Award, and was nominated for British Album of the Year at the Brit Awards.

References

  1. MacInnes, Paul (4 April 2015). "Young Fathers Tour South Africa". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  2. Didcock, Barry (20 June 2014). "SAY Award winners Young Fathers talk friendship, hip hop and civil war". The Herald . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  3. Ellis-Petersen, Hannah (30 October 2014). "Mercury prize 2014: Young Fathers defy the odds to win". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  4. MacInnes, Paul (8 December 2015). "Best albums of 2015: No 9 – White Men Are Black Men Too by Young Fathers". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  5. "WHITE MEN ARE BLACK MEN TOO". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  6. Murray, Robin (19 April 2017). "Soulwax, Young Fathers To Play M.I.A.'s Meltdown". Clash Magazine . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  7. Minsker, Evan (24 January 2017). "Young Fathers Share New Track "Only God Knows" From T2 Trainspotting". Pitchfork . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  8. Robinson, Collin (10 January 2017). "Trainspotting 2 Soundtrack Revealed". Stereogum . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  9. Daly, Rhian (17 January 2017). "Young Fathers announce new album 'Cocoa Sugar' and share new single 'In My View'". NME . Retrieved 17 January 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Peaks in the UK:
  11. "Young Fathers win Scottish Album of the Year for Cocoa Sugar". BBC. 7 September 2018.
  12. Ruiz, Matthew Ismael (20 October 2022). "Young Fathers Announce New Album Heavy Heavy, Share Video for New Song: Watch". Pitchfork . Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  13. "Young Fathers: 'Everybody has a dark side. We're all complicit…'". the Guardian. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  14. Alex Marshall (July 2018). "Unwelcome Sound on Germany's Stages: Musicians Who Boycott Israel". The New York Times . Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  15. "FIFA 19 Soundtrack: This Year's Complete Playlist". BigTop40.com. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  16. "FIFA 23 soundtrack: Artists, songs & music on new game revealed | Goal.com UK". www.goal.com. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  17. "Interview: Young Fathers on new album Cocoa Sugar". The Scotsman. 17 March 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  18. Davidson, Gina (31 October 2014). "Young Fathers take on the world after Mercury win". Edinburgh Evening News . Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  19. "Slavery". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  20. "Young Fathers star: Scotland's slavery past should be taught in every school". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  21. "Young Fathers star shines a light on Scotland and slavery". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  22. Bravo, Amber (28 September 2012). "Young Fathers "Deadline" MP3". The Fader . Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  23. Peaks in Scotland:
  24. Peaks on the ARIA Hitseekers chart:
  25. "Discografie Young Fathers Flemish". Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  26. "Discografie Young Fathers Wallonie". Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  27. "Discographie von Young Fathers". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  28. Steffen Hung. "Discography Young Fathers". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  29. "Discography Young Fathers". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  30. "Young Fathers – Chart History: Top Current Albums". billboard.com. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  31. "Young Fathers – Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". billboard.com. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  32. "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 February 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1719. Australian Recording Industry Association. 13 February 2023. p. 10.
  33. "Discographie Young Fathers". lescharts.com (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  34. "Young Fathers 'I Heard' - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  35. "Young Fathers 'Queen Is Dead' - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  36. Promonews. "Massive Attack ft. Young Fathers 'Voodoo In My Blood' by Ringan Ledwidge | Videos". Promonewstv. Retrieved 1 June 2022.