TY
Country UK Genres band spoken word hiphop urban Website /tyandupwards Festival Sauti za Busara 2009 Recordings 📼 Upwards (2003); Closer (2006)
TY is one ofUK black music's true innovators. He's been making music and pushing boundaries for more than ten years. With three albums, a Mercury Music nomination and countless guest appearances under his belt with the likes of Tony Allen, De La Soul, Damon Albarn, Terri Walker, Scratch Perverts, Afro Reggae and Estelle, he is most definitely a legend in the making.
TY has long been involved in the spoken word/poetry scene, as well as running workshops in schools since his pivotal involvement in the mid-90s Ghetto Grammar organisation. More recently performing and hosting Book Slam inWest London. Probably best known for his live shows, TY has toured everywhere from New York toNew Zealand and all over the world, establishing a strong fanbase wherever he goes.
TY is a self-confessed myspace junkie with a quarter of a million hits and over 30,000 friends. He is a thoughtful and politically enlightened spokesperson, a man of the people, a producer, musician, MC and poet with a killer sense of humour.
"He makes mainstream American hip hop sound as formulaic and vacuous as it really is" The Times,UK
"An engaging blend of articulate wordplay, political suss and gentle humour" The Independent,UK
"Mellow, deep and highly accessible, TY is theUK's most well-rounded rap don" DJ Magazine
with thanks to British Council
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