slowthai

U.K. rapper slowthai channels raw and emotionally candid verses that confront the hardships facing British youth today. His aggressive delivery and frenetic live presence draw equally from grime and punk rock traditions, while his uncompromising rhymes balance compassion with sharp anger yet still allow room for openness, wit, and levity. Press attention intensified in 2018 with the arrival of tracks such as the singles "T N Biscuits" and "Doorman" (with Mura Masa), paving the way for his well-received first album, Nothing Great About Britain, issued the following year. Following joint work with Gorillaz, Denzel Curry, Flume, and Disclosure, he unveiled his sophomore effort, Tyron, in 2021, which claimed the top spot on the U.K. albums chart. His third full-length, the guitar-driven Ugly, surfaced in 2023.

Born Tyron Frampton in Northampton, he acquired the stage name because of his deliberate, indistinct manner of speaking. Early exposure to indie, garage, and jungle shaped his musical outlook before he began freestyle rapping during his mid-teens. The 2016 single "Jiggle," which he later described as a joke, nevertheless launched his profile after its initial release. The following year brought the track "Murder," which directly led into his first EP, I Wish I Knew. Also in 2017 he joined JD. Reid’s Calibrate EP on the cut "Interior," alongside 808ink and Oscar #Worldpeace. Several 2018 singles arrived with stark, horror-tinged videos, among them "Polaroid" and "North Nights," together with the RUNT EP released via Method Records. In 2019 he contributed to Flume’s mixtape Hi This Is Flume on the song "High Beams," which climbed into New Zealand’s Top Ten.

Slowthai’s expansive debut studio album, Nothing Great About Britain, featured appearances from Skepta, Mura Masa, and Slaves. Critics praised the project, which entered the U.K. Top Ten and earned a Mercury Prize nomination. At the 2020 NME Awards he received the Hero of the Year honor. That year’s output encompassed standalone releases such as "BB (Bodybag)" and "Magic," plus the Gorillaz track "Momentary Bliss" that also included Slaves. Later he teamed with Mount Kimbie and James Blake for "Feel Away." The single "MAZZA," featuring A$AP Rocky, preceded his second album, Tyron, which reached stores in February 2021 and became his first U.K. number-one release. In 2022 the standalone track "i know nothing" appeared. Ugly, his third album and a more guitar-oriented effort than its predecessors, arrived in 2023.