Guvna B
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Guvna B | |
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Birth name | Isaac Charles Borquaye |
Also known as | Guvna B |
Born | Custom House, Newham, England | 13 June 1989
Genres | Gospel, CCM, hip hop, grime, drum and bass |
Occupation(s) | Christian rapper, songwriter and author |
Years active | 2007–present |
Website | www |
Isaac Borquaye (born 13 June 1989), better known as Guvna B, is a double MOBO Award winning rapper and author from Custom House, London. His album, Hands are Made For Working (2018), has been streamed over 5 million times and debuted at number 2 on the UK Hip Hop/Rap Albums Charts.[1] It was also the UK's highest charting non-explicit rap album that year.[2] His debut book Unpopular Culture (2017) became an Amazon bestseller. His breakthrough album Secret World (2015) was the first rap album to top the Official Christian & Gospel Albums Charts. [3] The album featured hit single "Nothing But The Blood" which has received over 2 million views on YouTube. [4]
Guvna B is widely considered an influential and important voice within grime and British hip-hop because of his inspiring and uplifting lyricism and his views on youth culture. He has appeared numerous times on Sky News, BBC, and Channel 4 to discuss topics which affect young people from underprivileged communities, and how they can reach their full potential.
Biography
Guvna B was born in London, England in June 1989, to Ghanaian parents from Accra.[5] Looking back on growing up in Custom House (in East London),[6] he stated: "My upbringing helped me find my faith in Jesus. The negative things I saw in my society inspired me to do better and inspire people to be the best they can be instead of becoming stereotypical products of a negative environment."[7] He later graduated from University of Hertfordshire.[5] His music addresses life issues such as peer pressure.[6]
In 2010, Guvna B won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act.[8][9]
His story was shared with many when he was featured in the 22 March 2013 issue of the music industry magazine Music Week in a feature covering the gospel music industry in the UK.[10]
In January 2013, Guvna B launched his own urban clothing brand, Allo Mate.[11]
On 15 June 2017, SPCK Publishing published his debut book, Unpopular Culture.[12]
In 2020, teamed up with BBC to discuss the intersection of faith and music in ‘Gospel Meets Hip-Hop’.[13] He stopped by Reach Records in Atlanta and spoke with Lecrae, Andy Mineo y Wande.[14]
Discography
- The Narrow Road (31 May 2008)
- Scrapbook (1 January 2011)
- Next Ting 140 (18 August 2011)
- Odd1Out (26 May 2013)
- Scrapbook II (31 March 2014)
- Something for the Summer (3 August 2014)[15]
- Secret World (20 November 2015) [16]
- Hands are Made for Working (18 May 2018)
- everywhere + nowhere (3 April 2020)
Awards and nominations
Year | Category | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Gospel Music Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2009 | Won |
2009 | Urban Music Awards | Best Gospel Act 2009 | Won[17][18] |
2010 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Act 2010 | Won[8][9] |
2011 | Official Mixtape Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2009 | Nominated |
2012 | RARE Rising Stars | UK's Top 10 Black Students 2012 | Won[19] |
2013 | Urban Music Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2013 | Won[20] |
2013 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2013 | Nominated |
2013 | Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards | Music Artist of the Year 2013 | Nominated |
2016 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2016 | Won |
References
- ^ Horton, Chad. "Guvna B Reaches number 2". Rapzilla. Rapzilla. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ Borquaye, Isaac. "Allo Mate About". Guvna B. Isaac Borquaye. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ Charts, Official. "Guvna B becomes first rapper to top charts". Official Charts. Official Charts. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ B, Guvna. "Nothing But The Blood". Youtube. Allo Mate Records. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
- ^ a b Sarah Hearn (18 June 2013). "Guvna B: UK Singer Makes Big Splash Across The Pond". PositivelyGospel.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b Dixon, Marcia (16 June 2013). "Guvna B hits the top spot". The Voice Online. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Guvna B > Community & Support Interview". Thisislime.net. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ a b "MOBO Awards 2010 Winners!". MOBO.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ^ a b "MOBO Awards 2010 winners". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
- ^ Guvna B [@GuvnaB] (27 March 2013). "Shouts to music week! They published this article on Christian and Gospel music" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "'Allo Mate' The Clothing Line From Guvna B ‹ M.E.X Magazine". Ireadmex.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Unpopular Culture: An Interview With Guvna B - Radar Radio". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "BBC World Service - The Documentary, Gospel meets hip-hop". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Guvna B & BBC Sounds Team Up with Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Wande, & More for 'Gospel Meets Hip-Hop' Documentary". Rapzilla. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ^ "Something For the Summer by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Secret World by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ The Urban Music Award's UK return for another successful night (sic.), 3 November 2009, UMA website
- ^ May, Jenny (2 November 2009). "Guvna B wins UMA for Best Gospel 2009". Bandweblogs.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Guvna B wins RARE Rising Star Award - 2012". 2011 Rare Recruitment Ltd. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Fuse ODG Emerges as King From The Urban Music Awards 2013". Boostdevelopers. Retrieved 31 December 2013.