Graft (rapper)

Jovanni Shemar Sterling (born 27 May 1999)[1][3] known professionally as Graft, is a British rapper and former professional youth footballer,[4][3] from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.[2]

Graft
Birth nameJovanni Shemar Sterling[1]
Also known asGraft
Born (1999-05-27) 27 May 1999
Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.[2]
GenresRap
Occupation(s)Footballer, Rapper
Years active2015–present
Websitewww.iamgraft.uk

Early life

Graft was born in Gledhow, raised in Chapeltown, and later moved to Oakwood all of which are areas in the city of Leeds.[2]

He first started making music as a 14 year old.[5][3] His first rap freestyle video was released on Leeds-based Youtube channel FirstMediaTV in February 2015.[6] In February 2016 he released his first music video "Chapters" also on FirstMediaTV.[7] He's also done rap freestyles and music videos on other West Yorkshire Youtube channels such as; Bradford's KODH TV (King Of Da Hillz TV),[8] Bradford's AIRES Films,[9] Leeds' HomeGrownMedia (HGM) [10] and Leeds' JDZmedia.[11]

In May 2015, he joined the Leeds United F.C. under 18's youth academy, and previously captained the under 16's team.[5] Leeds United are the team he supports.[4][5] He then joined Rotherham United F.C. in July 2016,[12] where he played for their B team and youth academy.[13][14][15] On the 30th of June 2017 he was released by Rotherham United.[16][17]

Film and TV appearances

In October 2020 Graft appeared in series 2 of The Rap Game UK by BBC Three.[18][5] The judges as usual were DJ Target, and Krept and Konan.[19] The celebrity mentors were Aitch, Ashleigh Jade, Ayishat Akanbi, D Double E, Deno, The Fanatix, JME, Kenny Allstar, Ms Banks, Rapman, Tiffany Calver, Wretch 32, Young T and Bugsey, and Yungen.[20] And Graft's rival contestants were D Live, DDroid, Lesia, Micahh, Shogun and Zones.[21][22]

In May 2021 he appeared in an episode of BBC Three's MOTDx with Aston Villa F.C. footballer Kortney Hause.[23][24][25]

In October 2021 he appeared in 5 episodes of E4's Celebrity Ghost Trip.[26] Graft was paired with The Apprentice series 14 winner Sian Gabbidon who is also from Leeds.[26][27]

Music career
Graft & Aziz Ibrahim performing at The Awakening - Leeds 2023

Graft along with his fellow The Rap Game UK contestants, released the single "Dirty" as part of one of their challenges in the show. The music video was released on GRM Daily and BBC Three's Youtube channels in November 2020.[28]

He released his long anticipated, The Rap Game UK winning single "You Know What" in July 2021, with the music video being posted on GRM Daily.[29] It was released by Krept and Konan's record label Play Dirty, as part of the prize for winning The Rap Game UK.[30] It featured cameos from The Rap Game UK series 1 runner up FOS, fashion designer Sian Gabbidon, former IBF featherweight world boxing champion Josh Warrington, along with Krept and Konan themselves.[30] It was filmed all across the city of Leeds, and featured local landmarks Leeds Kirkgate Market, Leeds Corn Exchange, and Elland Road.[30]

He's supported the likes of Wiley, Bugzy Malone, Tion Wayne, and Nadia Rose on tour.[3]

Awards and nominations

In October 2018 Graft was nominated in the Best Upcoming Artist category, at The Yorkshire Entertainment Award's 2018,[31] which he went on to win.[32]

He was also co-nominated in the Best Video category, at The Yorkshire Entertainment Award's 2018, along with Bradford's Leejay and Huddersfield's Prince Omari, for their music video "Can't Hear Us" which they also won.[32] Graft, Leejay, and Prince Omari, wore Leeds United F.C., Bradford City A.F.C. and Huddersfield Town A.F.C. shirts respectively, to represent their home towns and cities. The video was filmed at the football club stadiums Elland Road, Valley Parade and Kirklees Stadium.

In February 2019 he won the 2018 MOBO UnSung Award, with Fred Fredas and Ike Chuks finishing as runners up.[33][34]

In November 2020 he won The Rap Game UK, with Lesia and Zones finishing as runners up.[35][36][37]

References
  1. "EFL: Club retained and released lists published". www.efl.com. 23 June 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  2. Maclure, Abbey (24 April 2021). "Chapeltown to Champion: Leeds rapper Graft's rise to winning The Rap Game UK after hanging up football boots". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. "LFE Touchline Magazine - Issue 41 - Cover plus Pages 6, 7, 8, and 9" (PDF). League Football Education. February 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  4. "Academy: Class of 2015 Sign Up". www.leedsunited.com. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  5. "Jermaine Beckford x Jovanni Sterling". www.leedsunited.com. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  6. "Graft Freestyle #1". Youtube. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  7. Coombs, Dan (22 February 2016). "Leeds United youngster Jovanni Sterling releases music video". HITC. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  8. "GRAFT - Push My Buttons #LEVELUP". Youtube. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  9. "Zeeno Shortz X Graft ft Cherie Johnson - Knife High (Official Music Video) BHI. Prod. Coco". Youtube. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  10. "[HGM] Graft Freestyle". Youtube. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. "Graft [Road Rage]". Youtube. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  12. Sutcliffe, Steve (30 December 2016). "Aspirant Rapper, Rotherham's Jovanni Sterling - AKA Graft Talks To LFE". League Football Education. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  13. Lamp, Davy (21 January 2017). "Rotherham United 1 v Mansfield Town 2 - EFL Youth Alliance". The66Pow. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  14. "Youth report: Rotherham United 1-2 Stags". www.mansfieldtown.net. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  15. Lamp, Davy (14 April 2017). "Rotherham United 0 v Doncaster Rovers 1 - EFLYA". The66Pow. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. Rodger, James (27 May 2017). "Every player released by Championship clubs ahead of 2017/18". CoventryLive. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  17. "Academy | Barker hails attitude of departing scholars". www.themillers.co.uk. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  18. Archibald-Powell, Naimah (19 October 2020). "Meet the series 2 contestants for BBC Three's 'The Rap Game UK'". GRM Daily. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  19. "The Rap Game UK: Q&A with Krept, Konan and DJ Target". BBC Media Centre. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  20. "Guest mentors announced for new series of The Rap Game UK". BBC Media Centre. 7 October 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  21. "The Rap Game UK: Meet the rappers". BBC Media Centre. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  22. Archibald-Powell, Naimah (23 October 2020). "Here's our rundown of episode one of BBC Three's 'The Rap Game UK' series 2". GRM Daily. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  23. "BBC Three - MOTDx, 2021, Episode 11". BBC. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  24. "Aston Villa's Hause takes on Leeds fan Graft's Rap Game UK challenge". BBC Sport. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  25. "Rap Game UK's Graft vs Aston Villa Star Rap Challenge". Youtube. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  26. "E4's Celebrity Ghost Trip reveals first five spooky pairings". www.channel4.com. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  27. Jones, Craig (24 October 2021). "Leeds Apprentice star Sian Gabbidon to appear on Celebrity Ghost Trip". LeedsLive. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  28. W, Courtney (20 November 2020). "The Rap Game's D Live, Shogun, Lesia, Graft, Zones & DDROID Connect In "Dirty" Visuals". GRM Daily. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  29. Morales, Liss (15 July 2021). "Graft makes his mark with new single 'You Know What'". Link Up TV. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  30. Maclure, Abbey (10 July 2021). "Leeds rapper Graft releases long-awaited new single with video cameos from famous faces". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  31. Dudley, Dan (5 October 2018). "First Media TV Amongst Nominations At Yorkshire Awards Ceremony". Business Up North. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  32. "2018 Winners". The Yorkshire Entertainment Awards. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  33. "Graft wins MOBO UnSung 2018!". mobo.com. 27 February 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  34. "Graft crowned the winner of MOBO UnSung 2018". PRS for Music Foundation. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  35. Gallier, Thea de (30 November 2020). "The Rap Game UK winner Graft: 'The more rappers from the North, the better the scene will be'". BBC Three. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  36. "Graft crowned winner of The Rap Game UK". Voice Online. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  37. "Graft wins BBC Three's The Rap Game UK!". PRS for Music Foundation. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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