J Hus
J Hus | |
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 J Hus in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Mamadou Lamin Jallow[1] 26 May 1996 London, England |
| Origin | Stratford, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Works | |
| Years active | 2014–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | jhusmusic |
Mamadou Lamin Jallow (born 26 May 1996)[2] known professionally as J Hus, is a British rapper and singer, credited with pioneering the genre of Afroswing.[3][4][5] He is currently signed to Black Butter Records.[6] He gained popularity in 2015 following the release of his song "Dem Boy Paigon".[7]
J Hus' "Did You See" became his most successful single at the time, peaking at number nine on the UK Singles Chart and eventually being certified Platinum. In 2017, he released his debut album, Common Sense, which was critically acclaimed—it was named the best UK album of 2017 by Complex.[8]
In January 2020, J Hus released his second album, Big Conspiracy, which featured appearances by Jamaican singer Koffee, Nigerian singer Burna Boy and British singer Ella Mai. The album became his first number-one on the UK Albums Chart and received widespread critical acclaim.[9][10] In June 2023, he released the single "Who Told You" with Drake, which became his highest-charting single, reaching number two on the UK Singles Chart. It was the lead single to his third album Beautiful and Brutal Yard, which released in July.[11][12] The album became his second number-one on the UK Albums Chart.[13]
Early life
[edit]J Hus was born in London to Gambian parents and grew up in the city's Stratford district. He was raised by his mother, who immigrated to England when she was 25 years old.[14] Jallow was raised Muslim and is of ethnic Fula and Serer heritage.[15] As a child, he and his mother would go to African parties and his parents would play African music for him. Growing up, he wanted to become an actor. He was expelled from school as he had, in his words, "started getting into a bit of trouble."[16] In September 2014, following two separate prison stints, he was advised to focus on pursuing a music career by his childhood friend Moe who also agreed to be his manager. Moe and his older brother would go on to form their own management company, 2K Management.[14]
J Hus got his stage name from the word "hustler", explaining that he would buy a pack of doughnuts and sell them individually at a profit when he was in secondary school.[15]
Career
[edit]2014–2016: Career beginnings and The 15th Day
[edit]J Hus began his career by recording several freestyles,[17] including #StreetHeat, Bl@CKBOX and GRM Daily[18] and publishing them online.[17] He followed this with "#Rated", which samples the beat from French Montana's "Don't Panic", and "Want From Me" Remix of Kojo Funds' song, which gained a lot of coverage, helping his breakthrough. His next release was "Dem Boy Paigon", which was described by Ajay Rose of The Link Up as having "brought together an Afro-beat sound with lyrical rap ... capable of turning any dance upside down." He followed this with "No Lie" and his SB: TV "Warm Up Session".[18]
Around the end of March 2015, he and MoStack released their "Westwood Crib Session". In late May 2015, he released "Lean & Bop",[18] which was streamed more than 10 million times in total on music platforms.[19] Around this time, he also released a "Daily Duppy" for GRM Daily, which he followed with his first mixtape, The 15th Day.[18]
2016-2019: Common Sense and Big Spang
[edit]Jallow released the single "Friendly" in 2016, which received a nomination at the 2016 MOBO Awards, as well as "Playing Sports", MoStack's "Liar Liar" (Remix) and "Solo One", the last of which appeared on the Brotherhood soundtrack.[18]
In 2017, he featured on Nines' "High Roller", which featured on his album One Foot Out. He also featured on Stormzy's "Bad Boys" from his album Gang Signs & Prayer, which peaked at number 22 on the UK Singles Chart,[20] on Dave's "Samantha", which peaked at number 63,[21] and charted at number 9 with his solo composition "Did You See".[22] The song served as the lead single off his debut album, Common Sense (2017). Upon release, the album was positively received by fans and includes features from MoStack, MIST, Tiggs da Author and Burna Boy.[23] In May 2018, he released his EP, Big Spang (2018).
Following his June 2018 arrest for carrying a bladed article in public, Jallow was sentenced to eight months in jail in December.[24] Jallow's label stopped releasing music, with his only verse whilst incarcerated coming from the song "Disaster" which was released on