Young Fathers

Young Fathers formed in Edinburgh in 2008, Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and Graham 'G' Hastings developing a sound that defied easy categorisation — combining alternative hip-hop, art rock, gospel, and electronic music in ways that were immediately extraordinary and unlike anything else in British or Scottish music. Their music was visceral, emotionally intense, and sonically adventurous, with three distinctive vocal personalities creating a sound of genuine originality.

'Dead' (2014) was their Mercury Prize-winning debut — a record of extraordinary originality and emotional power that established them as one of the most important new Scottish acts. 'White Men Are Black Men Too' (2015) was equally strong. 'Cocoa Sugar' (2018) was their most accessible record — a Mercury Prize-nominated album of extraordinary melodic beauty that showed the trio's continued evolution.

Young Fathers have continued to record and perform, releasing 'Heavy Heavy' (2023) to strong reviews. They are one of the most important and original acts in contemporary Scottish and British music — a collective whose combination of extraordinary vocal interplay, genre-defying sound, and emotional intensity has produced music of lasting importance. ⚠ Flag: most recent release — verify latest album.