Young Fathers scoop daddy of all music prizes
Capital hip hop trio rise to top at awards event
EDINBURGH-BASED hip hop band Young Fathers have scooped the prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize award for the best British or Irish record over the past 12 months – despite being rank outsiders.
The trio of Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G Hastings were nominated for their album Dead.
Speaking after collecting the £20,000 prize, they said: “Thank you, we love you all, thank you.”
Dead beat 11 other albums from acts including Damon Albarn, Bombay Bicycle Club and bookmakers’ favourite, FKA Twigs.
“We’ll take it in our stride,” said band member G Hastings afterwards.
“We always wanted to make something bigger than the city we were living in.”
The success of Hastings, Massaquoi and Bankole will be considered an upset by many in the music industry and beyond.
The three have developed a reputation for making a unique blend of music, utilising diverse influences that reflect their different backgrounds.
Massaquoi is originally from Liberia, Scots-born Bankole has Nigerian parents, while Hastings hails from Drylaw in the north of the city.
Their EP T ape Two was named best Scottish album in June this year, beating Biffy Clyro and Edywn Collins to the title.
The trio came together as “a psychedelic hip hop band” in 2008.
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