Young Fathers
Alloysious Massaquoi
Vocals
G Hastings
Vocals, Production
Kayus Bankole
Vocals
Formed: 2008
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre: Indietronica, Art Pop, Industrial Hip Hop
Years Active: 2008 -
Meaning of the Name: All three members are named after their fathers
A.K.A.: 3Style.
Way of Working: Collaborative.
Labels: Anticon, Big Dada, Ninja Tune.
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Genre: Indietronica, Art Pop, Industrial Hip Hop
Years Active: 2008 -
Meaning of the Name: All three members are named after their fathers
A.K.A.: 3Style.
Way of Working: Collaborative.
Labels: Anticon, Big Dada, Ninja Tune.
Essential Releases
Tape Two EP (2013)
An early statement of intent that combined tribal rhythms and claustrophobic low end.
White Men Are Black
Men Too (2015)
Catchy pop music is used to explore heavy themes of identity and race.
Heavy Heavy (2023)
A boisterous and soulful record that bristles with more abrasive elements beneath the surface.
Young Fathers are a multi-ethnic trio whose only white member raps. The two black guys sing. They're a group who defy expectations with their confrontational sound, using music from various genres to explore race and identity in multicultural Scotland.
The group members grew up together in the tough surroundings of industrial Edinburgh, where typical roles dictated by race and sex were strictly enforced. They found common ground in a desire to rebel against this rigid system. As vocalist Graham Hastings told The New Statesman in 2015:
"We weren't into the other side of hip hop, everyone being angry and calling each other f*****s the whole time. We hated the aggression. Because we knew the guys who were doing it and it was all fake, it was all emulated. Most of them were middle-class boys."The band secured critical success early, winning the Mercury Prize in 2014 with their boundary-breaking debut: Dead. Afterwards, the music press expected them to fit into a neat category. Some people decided they were a hip hop group despite their use of angular guitars; indie outlets praised them, while they were ignored by specialist rap platforms.
But on their next LP, White Men Are Black Men Too (2015), the clash of styles only intensified. In order to challenge the idea that black and white are diametrically opposed social categories, Young Fathers used seemingly disparate musical styles, such as soul and punk, as a metaphor for these issues, allowing features of one genre to permeate another, and in doing so, blurred the lines between the two. Effectively saying that music, like race, is more fluid than commonly acknowledged.
For example, 'Old Rock n Roll' reminds us that the supposedly 'white' genre is rooted in black music, such as Little Richard and Fats Domino, and references the influential Congo Square in New Orleans. The place is widely regarded as the birthplace of jazz, and as foundational in the development of blues and rock.
The same album also rejects race as the dominant social category. In the UK, class remains the most entrenched dividing line. As working-class Scots, Young Fathers are all too familiar with this reality. As a result, the band express views that move away from social justice narratives imported from the US, opting instead for a nuanced approach that treats race as a malleable social construct.
"I'm tired of playing the good black... I'm tired of blaming the white man... some white men are black men too."This punk-rock refusal to accept pervading orthodoxy reflects how real world multiculturalism isn't always smooth sailing, subtly acknowledging how ridiculous it is to expect every member of a particular race to share a political opinion or belief system. It is also expressed in the overall texture of the music. Abrasive electronica rumbles underneath majestic soul; industrial sounds of the city clatter against tribal drum patterns. With their novel combinations of genre, Young Fathers remind us that to define is to limit, and that true freedom comes from constant reinvention.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
70
Mental Impact
70
Originality
95
Artistry
80
Authenticity
80
Live
90
Production
65
Musicianship
65
Singing
85
Songwriting
65
Danceability
45
Fun
55
Consistency
80
Range
95
Cool
80
Charisma
65
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- Mercury Prize WINNER! 2014 for Best British Album: Dead
- BRIT Award Nomination 2023 for British Album of the Year: Heavy Heavy
Certifications
Charts >>>
- Heavy Heavy: Number 7 in the UK
Critics >>>
- Mojo: Heavy Heavy - The Best Albums of 2023: 5th
- NME: Heavy Heavy - The Best Albums of 2023: 3rd
- The Guardian: White Men Are Black Men Too - The Best Albums of 2015: 9th
- The Guardian: Heavy Heavy - The Best Albums of 2023: 2nd
- The Skinny: Dead - The Best Albums of 2014: 10th
- The Skinny: Cocoa Sugar - The Best Albums of 2018: 1st
- The Skinny: Heavy Heavy - The Best Albums of 2023: 1st
