“As far as you’re concerned I’m packing with him,
The gun tocking gangster from next door,
Who likes to play Connect Four and has a degree,
Actually’”– Dreams

Cooking up a feast of upbeat sounds so far from hip-hop stereotypes that he has created his own no nonsense beatastic music, cheeky isn’t the word that comes to mind when you first think of TY. More like ‘in your face giggling bravado.’

Born in London, to Nigerian parents TY or Ben Chijioke as he’s known at family get-together’s still lives in Vauxhall and regularly takes the bus, still shops at Tesco and still has time to chill with appreciative fans. Realer then a Monday morning, TY optimises what its means to be ‘true’, his sincerity in and outside of music placing him as an instant UK treasure.

Often offering a unique infectious charisma on whatever he does, his choice in collaborations are always wise. Having exchanged wordplay with Talib Kweli & Hi Tek, De La Soul, Arrested Development, Terri Walker, Estellle, Roots Manuva, Blak Twang Bahamadia, Zion I , Basement Jaxx, to name but a few.

Upwards is the Second album in a list of great releases. Mercury Prize nominated in 2004, it’s a bananas boogie synergising TY’s afro-centric favouritism and everyday observations with his love for spoken word. Mixing deep soulful vocals, funky riffs and tickling beats it’s a release that is as much fun and carefree as it is honest. Tracks like ‘Oh You Want More’, ‘Willing‘ or ‘Groovement part 1’  will have you bopping your head and wiggling your protruding posterior accordingly.

While thought provoking tracks ‘The Rain’, ‘Dreams’ and our favourite ‘Wait a Minute’ tackle serious ever day issues like gun crime, relationship breakdowns, mental illness and success – all with an appealing humour and alternative perspective. And it’s this ability to deliver social conscious lyric’s stitched on fun upbeat rhythms that truly propel the positivity of his music without making the message too depressing or too dark.

An album that not only challenges your interpretation of UK music but moves and warms the soul along the way.
Words Ali Raymond
Buy Upwards
TY website