Novelist (musician)

Last updated

Novelist
Field Day 2016 Saturday Novelist 2.jpg
Novelist performing at Field Day 2016
Background information
Birth nameKwadwo Quentin Kankam
Also known as
  • Navy Nov
  • Mr Tetris
  • Nov
Born (1997-01-20) 20 January 1997 (age 27)
Brockley, Lewisham, London, England [1]
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • MC
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • MMMYEH [2]
  • XL
  • No Hats No Hoods

Kwadwo Quentin Kankam (born 20 January 1997), better known by his stage name Novelist, is a British grime MC and record producer from Lewisham in South London. He was a founding member of the Square crew and was nominated for Best Grime Act at the 2014 MOBO Awards. [3] He has been called the "new face of grime" [4] and was described as "the poster child for the first generation of real grime kids" by DJ Logan Sama. [5] [6]

Contents

Early life

Kankam is from Lewisham in southeast London and is of Antiguan and Ghanaian descent. [7]

Career

In 2013 Novelist clashed with Wiley's younger brother Cadell for the grime DVD Who's Da Boss and began to garner attention from the UK underground music scene for his regular appearances on London pirate radio stations. [8] Novelist was featured in a BBC Radio 1Xtra documentary broadcast on mother's day called Grime Mums focusing on the role parents played in the careers of prominent grime MCs. [9] After an instrumental track called "Sniper" began to receive airplay on London underground radio stations Novelist was signed to produce an instrumental EP for influential grime imprint Oil Gang. [10] [11] [12] He recorded a song entitled "Take Time" in a studio session with experimental producer Mumdance in October 2013, [13] which was later signed to Rinse and released as a single in the summer of 2014. [4]

In early 2014, Novelist's music began receiving regular rotation on radio stations including BBC Radio 1Xtra and Rinse FM. He recorded a guest set for DJ Cable's "Sixty Minutes" mix, which was broadcast on MistaJam's BBC 1Xtra show on 28 May 2014, [14] he featured on Cable's Sixty Minutes mix again later that year recording a second guest set with his crew The Square. [15] In late 2013 Novelist began working with No Hats No Hoods. [16] In mid-2014, the label signed The Square, their first release on the label The Formula came out in August 2014. [17] In 2014, Novelist signed to XL Recordings and recorded a track with Jamie xx for his forthcoming release on the label, however the track was not released. [18] In September 2014, Novelist received a MOBO nomination in the Best Grime Act category. [19] In November 2014, Novelist was named on the longlist for the BBCs Sound of 2015 list and XL Recordings announced that his debut release on the label would be a collaborative EP with Mumdance. [20] The EP, entitled 1 Sec was released on 20 January 2015, the same day he turned 18. [21]

On 1 September 2015, Novelist left the Square with the stated intention of furthering his solo career. [22] On 17 October 2015, Novelist supported Major Lazer at Alexandra Palace, London, during their European tour. In early 2016, he featured on a Baauer single called "Day Ones" and appeared on Skepta's 2016 Mercury-winning album Konnichiwa with "Lyrics".

In August 2016, Novelist was dropped from XL Recordings. [23] He subsequently announced on 23 August that he is launching MMMYEH Records as his own label to release his own music along with his friends. [2] On 13 April 2018, Novelist released his debut album, Novelist Guy. The album charted on the UK iTunes Charts for a single day after its release at No. 38 and was a commercial failure. It received a nominated at the 2018 Mercury Prize.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with chart positions
TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK UK
R&B
UK
Ind.
UK Ind. Breakers [24]
Novelist Guy [25]
  • Released: 13 April 2018
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
17
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Sniper EP
  • Released: 7 July 2014
  • Label: Oil Gang
  • Formats: Digital download, vinyl
1 Sec EP
  • Released: 20 January 2015
  • Label: XL Recordings
  • Formats: Digital download, vinyl
Yakuta EP
  • Released: 31 January 2017
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download, vinyl
Be Blessed EP
  • Released: 28 April 2017
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Reload King EP
  • Released: 28 June 2019
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Inferno
  • Released: 20 January 2020
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Heat
  • Released: 4 April 2020
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download
Rain Fire
  • Released: 10 April 2020
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download
4 Tha Homiez
  • Released: 27 May 2022
  • Label: MMMYEH Records
  • Formats: Digital download

With the Square

TitleDetails
The Formula
  • Released: 25 August 2014
  • Label: No Hats No Hoods
  • Formats: Digital download
Lewisham McDeez
  • Released: 23 April 2015
  • Label: No Hats No Hoods
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

List of solo singles, showing year released and album name
TitleYearAlbum
"New Path"2017Non-album singles
"No Weapons / See Me"2018
"Nov Wait Stop Wait"Novelist Guy
"Pay What Is Owed"2020Non-album single
"Active"Inferno EP
"Stay With Me"Non-album singles
"Dun Know (Part 1)"

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK UK
R&B
"Take Time"
(Mumdance featuring Novelist)
2014Take Time
"Flavour" [26]
(with Murlo)
Monki & Friends EP Vol. 2
"One and Only"
(with Murlo)
"Bigger Man Sound"
(Chase & Status featuring Novelist)
2015London Bars Vol. IV
"Day Ones"
(Baauer feat. Novelist and Leikeli47)
2016 Aa
"Lyrics"
(Skepta featuring Novelist)
20166217 Konnichiwa
"Can't Tell Me Nothing"
(Nick Hook featuring Novelist)
2017Can't Tell Me Nothing EP
"NRG"
(Chase & Status featuring Novelist)
Tribe
"Serious Choices"
(Kid D featuring Novelist)
2020Substance EP

Related Research Articles

<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">Boy Better Know</span> Music collective and label in Britain

Boy Better Know, often abbreviated as BBK, is a British grime collective and record label. The collective was founded in North London in 2005 as an independent record label by brothers Jamie and Joseph Adenuga, better known as Jme and Skepta, respectively. The former also serves as a sole owner and director of an associated company, Boy Better Know Limited, incorporated in 2008. All members of the collective use the record label as a means to publish their music, and is digitally distributed by The Orchard, a subsidiary of Sony Music.

Logan Sama is an English Grime DJ from Brentwood, Essex. He has appeared regularly throughout his career on radio stations Rinse, Kiss 100 and BBC Radio 1. He also runs the record labels Adamantium Music, Earth616 and KeepinItGrimy through which he has released projects for artists and producers across vinyl and digital formats. He also founded KeepinItGrimy, a brand entirely focused on Grime activity.

Jahmaal Noel Fyffe, better known by his stage name Chip, is a British rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. In the past 14 years he has collaborated with the likes of Skepta, T.I., Meek Mill, Young Adz and many others. In 2009, he released his debut album, I Am Chipmunk, featuring four songs which peaked in the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, including the chart-topping "Oopsy Daisy". In 2011, Chipmunk released his follow-up album, the American hip hop-influenced Transition. It included the single "Champion" featuring Chris Brown, which peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wretch 32</span> Musical artist

Jermaine Sinclaire Scott, better known by his stage name Wretch 32, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. He was a member of the grime collective Combination Chain Gang, before forming The Movement with Scorcher, Ghetts, and Mercston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skepta</span> British rapper and record producer (born 1982)

Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr., known professionally as Skepta, is a British grime MC, rapper, record producer and DJ. Alongside his younger brother Jme, he briefly joined Roll Deep before they became founding members of Boy Better Know in 2005. With Boy Better Know, Skepta clashed with fellow MC Devilman for the video release Lord of the Mics 2, in what is remembered as one of the biggest clashes in grime history.

DJ Cable is a British DJ, based in Essex, England. Notable for winning numerous DJ competitions, such as the DMC UK Team Championships and the "Alizé Remixed" DJ competition, he was the tour DJ for Willy Moon for his 2012 European dates, and previously for UK singer/songwriter Yasmin. He also owns and runs Triangulum Recordings, a digital record label.

Ruff Sqwad are an English grime crew. The group was formed in 2001 in Bow, East London. Various members and affiliates of the crew are considered key figures in the early development of grime music.

Ian Sanusee Koromah, better known by the stage name Maxsta, is an English grime MC from South East London. He is signed Just Jam, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment. A fast-paced, choppy style of delivery has led him to be compared to fellow London rapper Dizzee Rascal. He has worked with Tinie Tempah, Chipmunk, and Wiley.

KOAN Sound is an English electronic music production duo from Bristol, consisting of Will Weeks and Jim Bastow.

Rowan Tyler Jones, known by his stage name Route 94, is an English record producer and remixer from Richmond, London. Initially producing dubstep as Dream, Jones worked with the likes of Skream, Benga and Katy B. He then began producing house music. His single "My Love" was a commercial success, reaching number one in three charts.

DJ S.K.T is an English record producer, DJ and label manager, known for his work involving house, and tech house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mista Silva</span> British-Ghanaian music artist

Papa Kwame Amponsa, known by his stage name Mista Silva, is a British-Ghanaian musician from Brockley, London with origins from West Africa Ghana. Mista Silva released his debut EP, Full Vim, in 2012. Its success led to a record single deal with Polydor universal in 2014. He was the first unsigned UK Afrobeats artist to have his music playlisted by BBC 1Xtra, with well received tracks "Boom Boom Tah" and "Now Wats Up". He has had his music played by national radio stations such as Capital Xtra and Kiss FM. As part of BBC 1Xtra's Destination Africa he performed on the BBC Live Lounge for Trevor Nelson He has walked for Fashion label Ashish and has been blogged about by fashion and culture publications I-D Magazine Fader, Complex, Notion and Wonderland. Mista Silva has also won a GUBA Award, UMA, and three MOBO Award Nominations in the category of "Best African Act". When interviewed by popular online publication Noisey, BBC DJ Twin B, cited Mista Silva as one to watch for the future The Guardian newspaper also listed Mista Silva as one of eight Afrobeats artists to listen to.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugzy Malone</span> British rapper and actor

Aaron Daniel Davies, better known by his stage name Bugzy Malone, is a British rapper and actor from Manchester, England. Malone has been described as one of the key artists instigating a "grime revival" moving the UK urban scene away from more commercially-oriented music, and the first artist in the grime genre from Manchester to commercially succeed in the UK.

Cadell Ramsey, better known by his stage name GHSTLY XXVII and formerly as Ghostly, is an English grime MC and producer from Acton, West London. He has appeared on BBC Radio 1Xtra, as well as pirate radio stations such as Deja Vu FM, Mode FM and Rinse FM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sketchman</span> Musical artist

Charles Hazell, better known by the stage name Sketchman, is a British recording artist, songwriter, record producer and musician, originating from Sutton, London.

<i>Live & Direct</i> (P Money album) 2016 studio album by P Money

Live & Direct is the debut studio album by English grime MC P Money. It was released on 25 November 2016 through Rinse.

Anthony George Harris, better known by his stage name President T, is a British grime artist from North London. President T was born in Birmingham, but moved to Tottenham, North London when he was 3 years old. He is known for his distinct style of delivery, offbeat rhyming patterns, and flow.

Jammz is a grime MC and record producer from Hackney, East London and the founder of the record label I Am Grime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Compa</span> British electronic musician and DJ

William Brown, better known as Compa, is a British electronic musician and DJ from Clitheroe, Lancashire, who began releasing music in 2011. Compa first rose to prominence following his self-released remix of Mavado's Dem A Talk in 2012, followed by his signing to Mala's label Deep Medi Musik the same year, although he did not release his debut record for the label until 2013. In a review of the record, Boomkat described Compa as "Keeper of Dubstep's Darkest Light"

References

  1. Fraser, Tomás (5 November 2015). "Novelist: Next Generation". Crack Mag.
  2. 1 2 "Novelist on launching new label: 'I like to help the people around me' – NME". NME . 6 November 2016.
  3. Hannah Ellis-Petersen (23 September 2014). "Mobo awards 2014: Sam Smith and Krept and Konan lead nominations". The Guardian.
  4. 1 2 "RA Reviews: Mumdance – Take Time on Rinse Recordings (Single)". Resident Advisor.
  5. "Mixmag – TIP: MUMDANCE & NOVELIST". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  6. "Daily Discovery: Meet Novelist, the Young Grime MC Who's Already Worked With Jamie xx". Pigeons & Planes.
  7. "Novelist interview: 'I must speak the truth, I'll die for it'". Evening Standard. London. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  8. "Interview: Novelist, Grch 2013". Redbullmusicacademy.com.
  9. "BBC Radio 1Xtra – BBC Radio 1Xtra's Stories, Grime Mums". BBC.
  10. "Mixmag – DUBSTEP & GRIME: FEBRUARY". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 7 December 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  11. "RA Reviews: Novelist – Sniper EP on Oil Gang (Single)". Resident Advisor.
  12. "18 record labels to watch in 2013". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 9 January 2013.
  13. "Mumdance introduces Novelist". Dummymag.com.
  14. "BBC Radio 1Xtra – MistaJam, Angel is Inbox:FRESH!". BBC.
  15. "BBC Radio 1Xtra – MistaJam, 20/08/2014". BBC.
  16. "Life at 140: No Hats No Hoods Special". Clash Magazine. 15 September 2014.
  17. "South London grime crew The Square – Novelist, Lolingo, etc – announce debut mixtape The Formula – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 8 August 2014.
  18. Joseph JP Patterson. "Premiere: Listen to Novelist's "10 Out of 10"". Complex UK.
  19. "The MOBO Awards finally introduce a grime category: Big Narstie, JME, Novelist and more nominated". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. 23 September 2014.
  20. "XLRecordings – Novelist x Mumdance – Listen To Shook". xlrecordings.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  21. Pattison, Louis (16 January 2015). "Underage against the machine: why labels are desperate to sign teens". The Guardian .
  22. "Novelist Has Left The Square, and Dropped a Heavy New Freestyle". Noisey. September 2015.
  23. "Women in Music: Scotland's Shifting Music Scene – The Skinny". Theskinny.co.uk. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  24. "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20 | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  25. "Novelist announces debut album details". The Fader. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  26. "Listen: Murlo x Novelist – 'Flavour'". Clash Magazine. 15 August 2014.