Yungen

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Yungen
Birth nameClive James Brooks[1]
Born (1992-02-01) 1 February 1992 (age 32)
OriginHerne Hill, South London, England
GenresBritish hip hop, grime, R&B
Years active2013–present
LabelsSony RCA
Websitewww.yungenofficial.com

Clive James Brooks[1] (born 1 February 1992), also known as Yungen, is a British rapper, singer and songwriter from Herne Hill, South London.[2] Yungen first gained recognition for his 2011 F64 freestyle video for SB.TV, and by 2015 had been nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards.[3][4]

Yungen took inspiration from numerous music genres, which varies from rap to R&B and his own experimentations.[1] Yungen's most successful song is "Bestie", which features Yxng Bane, and this song reached top 10 in the UK Singles Chart in October 2017 and also became his first platinum single in February 2018.[5][2][6]

Early life[edit]

Clive James Brooks was born on 1 February 1992 and was raised in Herne Hill Estate.[4] Although his lyrics expose the darker side of his childhood, he often expresses gratitude in regards to his upbringing. In an interview with the Evening Standard, Yungen stated that, "Growing up on an estate was everything to me."[4] Brooks' friends on the estate nicknamed him 'Yungen', which later gave him the inspiration for his stage name.[7]

From the age of 13 Brooks was inspired by an older cousin to try MC’ing, but his shyness prevented him from seeing it as a potential career.[7] Growing up, Brooks listened to a diverse range of genres, enabling him to draw on a variety of influences in his songs.[2] Combining his father's background as a hip hop DJ meant there was a diverse range of music genres inside his house.[8] In 2008, at the age of 16, the death of his friend caused Brooks to change his behaviours and become more mature and responsible. As a result, he decided to pursue music as a career.[7] Artists such Wretch 32 and Giggs[2] also inspired Yungen to pursue a music career as he could relate to and connect with these artists. Yungen is also an avid supporter of Liverpool F.C.[9]

Career[edit]

2009–2014[edit]

In 2010, Yungen released his first video on YouTube named 'Hometown'. However, due to its popularity, the video was taken down by the organization.[citation needed] In 2011, the video was re-uploaded on Yungen's original Youtube channel named Yungen TV. The video received interest from SB.TV, founder Jamal Edwards, which led to Yungen's F64 Freestyle video on the channel in 2011.[8] Yungen has since stated that his shyness as a child prevented him from showcasing his music sooner; before making his first music video he had previously avoided all cameras.[7]

Yungen joined Play Dirty in 2012, and released his mixtape Topic of Discussion in April 2013.[10][11] He then went on to support Naughty Boy throughout his 2014 worldwide tour, performing across Europe, as well as in the UAE and Australia.[12][13][14] At the same time, Yungen established his clothing line, Forever Yung.[15] He later independently launched a two part project named ‘Project Black and Red’ in 2014, which featured artists Stormzy, Wretch 32, and Krept and Konan.[16]

Yungen promoted the project with a sold-out gig at the O2 Academy Islington in November 2014, which included guest appearances from many of the artists featured in the album.[17] He released "Don't Take It Personal" on his SoundCloud that same year, a song that explored the darker aspects of his upbringing, including the death of his friend in 2008.[4]

In August 2014, Yungen released "Ain't on Nuttin" with rapper Sneakbo. The two remixes (Part 1 and Part 2) featured rappers such as Section Boyz, Bashy, Stormzy and Ghetts.[18]

2015–present[edit]

After the release of Project Black and Red, Yungen was nominated for the 2015 MOBO Best Newcomer Award and signed his first record contract with Sony RCA that November.[19][20] BBC Radio 1Xtra named Yungen as one of the hottest new artists to watch for 2016, and in February 2016 Yungen released his single "Comfy".[21] In April 2016 Yungen released his next single "Off the Record 2" and performed a sold-out show at Village Underground.[22] This was shortly followed by the release of R&B-inspired "Take My Number" featuring Angel on 10 May 2016. "Take My Number" was followed by "Do It Right", a collaboration with Sneakbo featuring Haile, on 6 December. Independently from Sony, Yungen released the single "You Don't Know Me Like That" through Forever Yung on 5 February 2016, and "Cuffing Season" under House of Forever on 24 November 2016.[23]

In 2016, Yungen also gained greater publicity over a verbal disagreement with the rapper Chip (formerly known as Chipmunk). The argument began when Chip commented on Yungen's MOBO Award nomination, which escalated when each artist wrote and released tracks about the other. When the dispute was resolved, this exposure ultimately helped Yungen improve his rapping credibility and reach a wider audience.[24][4] Yungen became the face of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star x Nike Flyknit in 2017, headlining the launch event at the Victoria House, London in April.[25] Also in April, Yungen performed another sold out show, this time at KOKO with Yxng Bane as the support artist.[26][4] Yungen's first single of 2017, "Bestie" featuring Yxng Bane, was released in June and climbed the UK Charts, reaching the top 10 in October and achieving first Gold status in November 2017 and then Platinum in February 2018.[27][28][6] The song's music video was filmed spontaneously in Dubai where the rapper was on a holiday, and during this trip, Yungen asked Yxng Bane to fly out and film it.[4] Later that year, in May, Yungen independently released "Fools Gold" through House of Forever, which was inspired by his dismay that people were living their lives for Instagram.[8]

Yungen performed at a number of festivals in the summer of 2017, including his headline set on the second stage at Wireless Festival on Saturday 8 July, where Skepta performed on the main stage immediately after.[29][30] Yungen then went on to play Jamaica House at the Indigo at the O2 on 10 August, and V Festival on 20 August.[31][32] In September 2017, Yungen announced that his The Chosen Tour would commence on 16 November 2017 in Glasgow and end on 1 December at the Dublin Academy.[33] He followed the announcement with two giveaway tracks—"Chosen" on Friday 13 October and "All Night" featuring Mr Eazi on Friday 27 October. Tickets for the Chosen Tour, including those for Shepherd's Bush Empire, sold out.[34][35] In November 2017, Yungen featured on Steel Banglez's, "Bad", alongside MoStack, Mr. Eazi and Not3s, and this song reached number 30 on the UK Singles Chart.[36]

In 2018, Yungen teamed up with Clean Bandit and Julia Michaels to release a remix of "I Miss You" on 5 January.[37]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • Project Black & Red (2014)
  • Project Purple (2019)[38]
  • Passionate & Paranoid (2022)

Mixtapes[edit]

  • Topic of Discussion (2013)

Singles[edit]

As lead artist[edit]

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[39] 		UK
R&B
[40]
"Money, Doe, Paper" 2013 — — Non-album singles
"Take My Number"[41]
(featuring Angel) 		2016 — —
"Bestie"[43]
(featuring Yxng Bane) 		2017 10 2
"All Night"[44]
(featuring Mr Eazi) 		98 —
"Mind on It"[45]
(featuring Jess Glynne) 		2018 47 27
"Intimate"[46]
(featuring Craig David) 		— —
"Pricey"[47]
(featuring One Acen) 		94 — Project Purple
"Comfortable"[48]
(featuring Dappy) 		2019 32 18
"Dubai to Ibiza" 2023 — — Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist[edit]

List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[39] 		UK
R&B
[40]
"Bad"[49]
(Steel Banglez featuring Yungen, MoStack, Mr Eazi and Not3s) 		2017 29 19 Non-album single
"Miss Diva"[50]
(One Acen featuring Yungen) 		2019 66 34
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Recipients and nominees Result
2015 MOBO Awards[51] Best Newcomer Yungen Nominated
NME Awards Best Newcomer Yungen Nominated
2016 Urban Music Awards[52] Best Grime Act Yungen Nominated
Best Male Act Yungen Nominated
2017 MOBO Awards[53] Best Song "Bestie" featuring Yxng Bane Nominated
Urban Music Awards[54] Best Song "Bestie" featuring Yxng Bane Nominated
Best Male Act Yungen Nominated
2018 NME Awards[55] Best Collaboration "Bestie" featuring Yxng Bane Nominated
Global Awards[56] Rising Star Award Yungen Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Akingbade, Tobi (4 October 2017). "In Focus: Rapper Yungen is more than his cameo in Straight Outta Love Island". Metro. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Smith, Thomas (6 October 2017). "Yungen: "I'm not here to be just another rapper in the country. I am here to be biggest"". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. ^ Homewood, Ben (27 September 2017). "On The Radar: Yungen". Music Week. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Smyth, David (4 August 2017). "Yungen interview: Would I go back and be a rich kid? Never". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  5. ^ Copsey, Rob (26 September 2017). "Yungen's Bestie climbs to Number 1 on this week's Official Trending Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b @bpi_music (9 February 2018). "BPI Bestie Tweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ a b c d Gold, Johnson (13 May 2016). "Exclusive Interview: PAUSE Meets Yungen". pausemag.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b c Kane, Ashleigh (28 April 2017). "The south London rapper ticking all the boxes". Dazed. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  9. ^ Raynor, Dominic (16 October 2018). "Rapper Yungen constructs his Ultimate Red". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  10. ^ Jama, Maya (27 October 2014). "Maya Jama meets Yungen The Wrap Up". mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Yungen - Topic of Discussion". mixtapemadness.com.
  12. ^ "10 Interesting Facts You Never Knew About #CapitalJBB Star Yungen". www.capitalfm.com. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  13. ^ The Link Up Admin (9 November 2013). "Naught Boy Tour Dates". thelinkup.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  14. ^ Tarr, Matt (24 October 2014). "Interview: Yungen". gigslutz.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  15. ^ "One to watch: Yungen, rapper, 21". The Independent. 16 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  16. ^ "30 Seconds Interview: Yungen". m-magazine.co.uk. 4 January 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  17. ^ Tarr, Matt (9 November 2014). "Yungen LIVE @ O2 Academy, Islington 6.11.14". Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  18. ^ Officially Urban (6 January 2015). "Big Move Yungen Ft Sneakbo "Ain't On Nuttin" Remix 2 Ft Stormzy, Bashy, Angel, Benny Banks, Ghetts and Cashtastic". officiallyurban.com. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Mobo Winners 2015". MOBO Awards.
  20. ^ Admin (5 November 2015). "Yungen signs record deal with Sony RCA". certified-uk.com.
  21. ^ "BBC Radio 1Xtra - Hot For... - Hot For 2016". BBC.
  22. ^ Brydon, Grant. "Premiere: Yungen shares highlights of his sold-out Village Underground Show". Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  23. ^ @yungenplaydirty (18 November 2016). "Cuffing Season Announcement Tweet" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  24. ^ Anderson, Sian (23 February 2016). "The Beef That Stopped the Internet: A Blow-By-Blow Account of Chip Vs Yungen". noisey.vice.com. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Converse x Nike Flyknit".
  26. ^ "Yungen Listing". 12 April 2017.
  27. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (8 October 2017). "Logic, Alessia Cara, Khalid, Yungen And Yxng Bane Send New Singles Into The U.K. Top 10". Forbes. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  28. ^ Popat, Aarti (3 November 2017). "Yungen and Yxng Bane's 'Bestie' goes Gold!". thelinkup.com. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  29. ^ "Saturday Line Up". Wireless Festival.
  30. ^ Goulding, Thomas (11 July 2017). "Skepta, Dave and Yungen at Wireless, Finsbury Park review: A feast of grime riches on a sweltering afternoon". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  31. ^ Yates, Jonathan (15 July 2017). "Jamaica House at the O2 Indigo: Who's on the lineup and how to buy tickets". Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  32. ^ Critchell, Matthew (24 May 2017). "V Festival organisers announce urban artists for the V Street Stage". chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  33. ^ "Yungen confirms The Chosen Tour". metropolismusic.com. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  34. ^ foreveryungs (22 November 2017). "Chosen Tour Announcement". Instagram.
  35. ^ Yungen (22 November 2017). "Chosen Tour Facebook Announcement". Facebook.
  36. ^ "Bad (feat. Yungen, MoStack, Mr. Eazi & Not3s)". BBC. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  37. ^ McNeilage, Ross (5 January 2018). "Yungen Remixes Clean Bandit and Julia Michaels' 'I Miss You'". MTV. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  38. ^ "Project Purple by Yungen on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  39. ^ a b UK Singles Chart peaks:
  40. ^ a b UK R&B Singles and Albums Charts peaks:
  41. ^ "Take My Number (feat. Angel) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  42. ^ a b c d e "British certifications – Yungen". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 January 2024. Type Yungen in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  43. ^ "Bestie (feat. Yxng Bane) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 16 June 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  44. ^ "All Night (feat. Mr Eazi) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  45. ^ "Mind On It (feat. Jess Glynne) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  46. ^ https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/yungen/285704716 (31 August 2018), Intimate (feat. Craig David) - Single by Yungen, retrieved 18 June 2023 {{citation}}: External link in |last= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ "Pricey (feat. One Acen) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  48. ^ "Comfortable (feat. Dappy) - Single by Yungen". Apple Music. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  49. ^ "Bad (feat. Yungen, MoStack, Mr Eazi & Not3s) - Single by Steel Banglez". Apple Music. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  50. ^ "Miss Diva (feat. Yungen)- Single by One Acen". Apple Music. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  51. ^ "MOBO Awards 2015: See the Full Nominations List". Capital XTRA. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  52. ^ Admin (19 October 2016). "Nominations for the 14th annual Urban Music Awards 2016 are announced". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  53. ^ "Yungen". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  54. ^ Rutter, Clare (23 October 2018). "Stormzy, Dizzee Rascal, Wretch 32 and Yinka Bokinni among stars nominated at 2017 Urban Music Awards". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  55. ^ Daly, Rhian (17 January 2018). "Lord, Kasabian, and Dua Lipa Lead the VO5 NME Awards 2018 Nominations". NME. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  56. ^ "Global Awards Categories". Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
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