Roy Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi(born 1984), better known by his pseudonymDean Blunt,is a British singer-songwriter, musician, producer andcontemporary artist.He is best known for his current solo work as well as his previous work as part ofavant-gardeduoHype Williams(withInga Copeland), and more recently, thehip hop groupBabyfather. Blunt was also the founder of London rock band Graffiti Island.[6]He has been described as "a prolific, category-rejecting artist"[7]and "anart-popprovocateur. "[2]
Dean Blunt | |
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| Birth name | Roy Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi[1] |
| Born | 1984 (Age 40) |
| Origin | Hackney, London |
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Early life
editAlthough little is known about his personal life, Blunt has said he comes from a family inHackney,London that he describes as "Sunreaders, working class, kind of ignorant in ways ".[8]
Music career
editBlunt performed music with Russian-born artistInga Copeland(also known as Lolina) as the electronic duoHype Williamsfrom 2007 until 2012. Supposedly founded in 2005 as a "relay" project passed between artists every five years, the group has given few interviews, leaving music journalists and the media in doubt as to the exact nature of the project.[9][10]The group's lineup has remained obscure, although Blunt's artistic style has been heard within newer releases, and a variety of other names have also been invoked as members. A mysterious representative named Denna Frances Glass has alternately been posited as either the manager of the project or a fake identity created by Blunt and Copeland.[9][10]In 2016, Glass announced that Blunt and Copeland were no longer part of the project, which would be continuing with other members.[11]
Blunt embarked his solo career in 2011, releasing a set of albums as well as several EPs and singles. His first few full-length studio albums,The Narcissist II(2012),The Redeemer(2013), andBlack Metal(2014), received attention and praise from various music publications.[12][13]"BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow,his first album under experimental group Babyfather, was named the best album of 2016 byTiny Mix TapesandResident Advisor.[14][15]
In 2018, Blunt contributed heavily toASAP Rocky's albumTesting,with production and writing credits on "Purity" and "Gunz N Butter" and additional vocals on "Calldrops". Blunt's work on the album followed collaborative singles between the two artists prior, such as the Babyfather track "Benzo Amore".[16]The pair have since collaborated on multiple recordings.[17][18][19]
In 2024, the collaborative albumBackstage Raverwas released with longtime collaborator Joanne Robertson.
On January 1st, 2025, Blunt would releaselucre,a collaborative EP withIceagelead singer Elias Rønnenfelt and producerVegyn.
Other artistic work
editBlunt has directed music videos forActressandPanda Bear.[20][21]
He has produced theatre works includingThe Narcissistat HAU1 in Berlin in 2012;Lord Knowsat Le Romandie in Lausanne in 2013; andI’m Just Passin Thru To Show Some Lovein 2013 andUrbanin 2014, both at theInstitute of Contemporary Artsin London.[22]In October 2017, Blunt also debutedInna,an opera directed by himself with music fromMica Levi,at the same institute.[23]
Blunt has put on a number of art exhibitions, includingNew Paintingsat the Triangle andW44VYat Arcadia Missa.[24][25]He has also published a book compiling "excessive expenses made in the most popular VIP clubs in the hip hop scene", entitledCîroc Boyz: Vol 1.
Personal life
editBlunt is known for his playfulness and obfuscation. In 2015, he sent his bodyguard to accept his Philip Hall Radar Award at theNME Awards.[26]In 2016, he listed a toyFoxtonsestate agents Mini Cooper with a splatter of pink paint filled with marijuana oneBayfor £250.[27]At a New York concert, in March 2016, media guests were asked to check in under aliases that they had received with their ticket confirmations.[28]
Blunt practicesTranscendental Meditationand is a vocal proponent of it.[29]
Discography
editSolo
edit- Jill Scott Herring OST(2011)
- The Narcissist(mixtape)(2011)
- The Narcissist II(mixtape)(2012)
- The Redeemer(2013)
- Каменный Остров (Stone Island)(mixtape; released as Дин Блант)(2013)
- Skin Fade(mixtape)(2014)
- Black Metal(2014)
- Babyfather(mixtape)(2015)
- Soul on Fire(mixtape)(2018)
- ZUSHI(mixtape) (2019)
- Roaches 2012–2019(compilation)(2020)
- Black Metal 2(2021)
- give me a moment(EP)(2023)
- Hackney Commercial Waste(2024)
As part of Babyfather
edit- UK2UK(mixtape)(2015)
- Platinum Tears(mixtape)(2016)
- "BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow(2016)
- 419(mixtape)(2016)
- Cypher(mixtape)(2017)
- AUG Freestyle / MANNA(single)(2020)
- 1471(single)(2022)
- Sleep It Off(single)(2023)
- bluey vuitton(single)(2024)
- teddy boi freestyle(single)(2024)
Other
edit- The Attitude Era(compilation album of unreleased tracks withInga Copeland)(2012)
- Black Is Beautiful(with Inga Copeland)(2012)
- Wahalla(with Joanne Robertson)(2017)
- Hotep(as part of Blue Iverson)(2017)
- Muggy Vol.1(producer of a compilation on Dean Blunt's World Music imprint)(2018)
- Desert Sessions(withDelroy Edwards)(2018)
- Backstage Raver(with Joanne Robertson)(2024)
- lucre(EP) (with Elias B. Rønnenfelt &Vegyn)(2025)
As part of Hype Williams
editAwards
edit| Year | Organisation | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | NME Award | Philip Hall Radar Award [Best New Act][26] | Winner |
References
edit- ^"AMIR (VOC MIX)".American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.Retrieved13 March2023.
- ^abJoyce, Colin (20 October 2015)."Dean Blunt Goes on a Trip for 'On Wine, Hashish & Molly' Version of Archangel's 'Julia'".Spin.Retrieved22 February2016.
- ^Scott Barron, Michael (18 February 2016)."Dean Blunt's Babyfather Project Announced an Album with the Most Incredible Art – Thump".Vice.Retrieved8 November2017.
- ^Laderman, David; Westrup, Laurel (2014).Sampling Media.OPU USA. p. 109.
- ^"Dean Blunt Goes Hip-Hop with Arca on Babyfather LP".electronicbeats.net.31 March 2016.
- ^Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (5 April 2012)."Hype Williams: do they ever speak the truth?".The Guardian.Retrieved22 February2016.
- ^Kellman, Andy."Dean Blunt".AllMusic.Retrieved22 February2016.
- ^Blanning, Lisa."Hype Williams transcript".The Wire Magazine.
- ^ab"FACT mix 216: Hype Williams".Fact.24 January 2011.Retrieved20 July2016.
- ^abGibb, Rory."In Search of Hype Williams".The Quietus.Retrieved21 July2016.
- ^Brito, Kristian (11 August 2016)."Hype Williams' new album out now; Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland touring separately".Brooklyn Vegan.Retrieved17 August2016.
- ^Milton, Jamie (6 November 2014)."Dean Blunt – Black Metal".DIY.Retrieved1 January2015.
- ^Joyce, Colin (17 November 2014)."Dean Blunt: Black Metal".Pitchfork.Retrieved1 January2015.
- ^"2016: Favorite 50 Music Releases".Tiny Mix Tapes.3 December 2016.Retrieved6 February2025.
- ^"RA Poll: Top 20 albums of 2016 · Feature ⟋ RA".Resident Advisor.Retrieved6 February2025.
- ^"Dean Blunt appears on three tracks from A$AP Rocky's new album, Testing · News ⟋ RA".Resident Advisor.
- ^"Dean Blunt and A$AP Rocky Collaboration" Stoozy "Surfaces Online".Flood.
- ^"A$AP Rocky and Yung Lean appear on Dean Blunt's new album".The Fader.
- ^"Dean Blunt Drops New EP Featuring ASAP Rocky and Mica Levi: Listen".Pitchfork.19 September 2018.
- ^"Panda Bear Shares Dean Blunt-Directed Video for" Token "| Exclaim!".
- ^"Watch Actress's Video For" Falling Rizlas, "Directed By Dean Blunt".The Fader.
- ^"Dean Blunt & Mica Levi — 'INNA'".vooruit.be.
- ^"Inna".ica.art.Retrieved8 November2017.
- ^"BLUNTLY SPEAKING Harry Burke on Dean Blunt at Arcadia Missa, London".textezurkunst.de.
- ^"Dean Blunt: New Paintings – [ SPACE ]".spacestudios.org.uk.
- ^abZadeh, Joe (19 February 2015)."Dean Blunt Pranked the NME Awards Last Night – Noisey".Vice.Retrieved8 November2017.
- ^Monroe, Jazz (14 January 2016)."Dean Blunt Is Selling a Toy Car Stuffed With Weed on eBay".Pitchfork.Retrieved27 January2017.
- ^Trammell, Matthew (19 September 2016)."Dean Blunt's Agit Rap".The New Yorker.Retrieved27 January2017.
- ^"Dean blunt talks art, transcendental meditation, and how atlanta could be a paradise".I-D.22 February 2016.