Guvna B

Isaac Borquaye (born 13 June 1989), better known as Guvna B, is a double MOBO Award winning rapper and author from Custom House, London. His album, Hands are Made For Working (2018), has been streamed over 5 million times and debuted at number 2 on the UK Hip Hop/Rap Albums Charts.[1] It was also the UK's highest charting non-explicit rap album that year.[2] His debut book Unpopular Culture (2017) became an Amazon bestseller. His breakthrough album Secret World (2015) was the first rap album to top the Official Christian & Gospel Albums Charts. [3] The album featured hit single "Nothing But The Blood" which has received over 2 million views on YouTube. [4]

Guvna B
Birth nameIsaac Charles Borquaye
Also known asGuvna B
Born (1989-06-13) 13 June 1989
Custom House, Newham, England
GenresGospel, CCM, hip hop, grime, drum and bass
Occupation(s)Christian rapper, songwriter and author
Years active2007–present
Websitewww.guvnab.com

Guvna B is widely considered an influential and important voice within grime and British hip-hop because of his inspiring and uplifting lyricism and his views on youth culture. He has appeared numerous times on Sky News, BBC, and Channel 4 to discuss topics which affect young people from underprivileged communities, and how they can reach their full potential.

Biography

Guvna B was born in London, England in June 1989, to Ghanaian parents from Accra.[5] Looking back on growing up in Custom House (in East London),[6] he stated: "My upbringing helped me find my faith in Jesus. The negative things I saw in my society inspired me to do better and inspire people to be the best they can be instead of becoming stereotypical products of a negative environment."[7] He later graduated from University of Hertfordshire.[5] His music addresses life issues such as peer pressure.[6]

In 2010, Guvna B won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act.[8][9]

His story was shared with many when he was featured in the 22 March 2013 issue of the music industry magazine Music Week in a feature covering the gospel music industry in the UK.[10]

In January 2013, Guvna B launched his own urban clothing brand, Allo Mate.[11]

On 15 June 2017, SPCK Publishing published his debut book, Unpopular Culture.[12]

In 2020, teamed up with BBC to discuss the intersection of faith and music in ‘Gospel Meets Hip-Hop’.[13] He stopped by Reach Records in Atlanta and spoke with Lecrae, Andy Mineo y Wande.[14]

Discography
  • The Narrow Road (31 May 2008)
  • Scrapbook (1 January 2011)
  • Next Ting 140 (18 August 2011)
  • Odd1Out (26 May 2013)
  • Scrapbook II (31 March 2014)
  • Something for the Summer (3 August 2014)[15]
  • Secret World (20 November 2015) [16]
  • Hands are Made for Working (18 May 2018)
  • everywhere + nowhere (3 April 2020)

Awards and nominations
Year Category Award Result
2009 Gospel Music Awards Best Gospel Artist 2009 Won
2009 Urban Music Awards Best Gospel Act 2009 Won[17][18]
2010 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Act 2010 Won[8][9]
2011 Official Mixtape Awards Best Gospel Artist 2009 Nominated
2012 RARE Rising Stars UK's Top 10 Black Students 2012 Won[19]
2013 Urban Music Awards Best Gospel Artist 2013 Won[20]
2013 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Artist 2013 Nominated
2013 Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards Music Artist of the Year 2013 Nominated
2016 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Artist 2016 Won

References
  1. Horton, Chad. "Guvna B Reaches number 2". Rapzilla. Rapzilla. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  2. Borquaye, Isaac. "Allo Mate About". Guvna B. Isaac Borquaye. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  3. Charts, Official. "Guvna B becomes first rapper to top charts". Official Charts. Official Charts. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  4. B, Guvna. "Nothing But The Blood". Youtube. Allo Mate Records. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  5. Sarah Hearn (18 June 2013). "Guvna B: UK Singer Makes Big Splash Across The Pond". PositivelyGospel.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  6. Dixon, Marcia (16 June 2013). "Guvna B hits the top spot". The Voice Online. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  7. "Guvna B > Community & Support Interview". Thisislime.net. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. "MOBO Awards 2010 Winners!". MOBO.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  9. "MOBO Awards 2010 winners". BBC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  10. Guvna B [@GuvnaB] (27 March 2013). "Shouts to music week! They published this article on Christian and Gospel music" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. "'Allo Mate' The Clothing Line From Guvna B ‹ M.E.X Magazine". Ireadmex.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  12. "Unpopular Culture: An Interview With Guvna B - Radar Radio". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  13. "BBC World Service - The Documentary, Gospel meets hip-hop". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  14. "Guvna B & BBC Sounds Team Up with Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Wande, & More for 'Gospel Meets Hip-Hop' Documentary". Rapzilla. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  15. "Something For the Summer by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  16. "Secret World by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  17. The Urban Music Award's UK return for another successful night (sic.), 3 November 2009, UMA website
  18. May, Jenny (2 November 2009). "Guvna B wins UMA for Best Gospel 2009". Bandweblogs.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  19. "Guvna B wins RARE Rising Star Award - 2012". 2011 Rare Recruitment Ltd. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  20. "Fuse ODG Emerges as King From The Urban Music Awards 2013". Boostdevelopers. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
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