Guvna B

Isaac Charles Bortey Borquaye (born 13 June 1989), better known as Guvna B, is a rapper, author, and broadcaster from Custom House, London. He has released 10 albums, written 2 books, produced segments for the BBC, and served as a football pundit for Sky Sports News' Good Morning Transfers. He has also made appearances on television and in schools to discuss topics that affect young people from underprivileged communities.

Guvna B
Guvna B in 2019
Guvna B in 2019
Background information
Birth nameIsaac Charles Bortey Borquaye[1]
Also known asGuvna B
Born (1989-06-13) 13 June 1989
Custom House, Newham, England
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper, author, broadcaster
Years active2007–present
Websitewww.guvnab.com

Biography

Guvna B was born in London, England in June 1989, to Ghanaian parents from Accra.[2] Speaking on his upbringing, he has said: "My upbringing helped me find my faith. 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".[3] He later graduated from University of Hertfordshire studying business and journalism.[4]

He has released ten albums and is the recipient of two MOBO Awards for Best Gospel Act,[5] three Urban Music Awards for Best Gospel Act or Artist, and a Gospel Music Award for Best Gospel Artist. He was the first rapper to top the Official Christian and Gospel Charts for his 2013 album Odd1Out.[6] 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.[7] He has worked with Wretch 32, Samm Henshaw, Matt Redman, Michelle Williams and Andy Mineo.

In January 2013, Guvna B launched his own urban clothing brand, Allo Mate.[8]

Unpopular Culture was published in 2017 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,[9] and Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man was published by Harper Inspire, an imprint of HarperCollins, in 2021 after his father's death from cancer.[10]

He has presented documentaries on both radio and TV including BBC World Service's Gospel Meets Hip-Hop,[11] and BBC Radio 2's Keeping the Peace.[12] He has appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports News' Good Morning Transfers, and as a guest on The Zoe Ball Breakfast show on BBC Radio 2.[13]

Guvna B lives in Greenwich, London with his wife and their son.[14] He is a fan of West Ham United F.C.[15] His cousin is the actress and screenwriter Michaela Coel.[16]

Works

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)[17]
  • Secret World (20 November 2015)[18]
  • Hands are Made for Working (18 May 2018)
  • everywhere + nowhere (3 April 2020)
  • The Village is On Fire (26 May 2023)

Bibliography
  • Unpopular Culture. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 2017. ISBN 978-0281076314.
  • Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man. Harper Inspire. 2021. ISBN 9780310112471.

Awards and nominations
Year Category Award Result Ref
2009 Gospel Music Awards Best Gospel Artist 2009 Won [19]
2009 Urban Music Awards Best Gospel Act 2009 Won [20][21]
2010 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Act 2010 Won [22]
2012 RARE Rising Stars UK's Top 10 Black Students 2012 Won [23]
2013 Urban Music Awards Best Gospel Artist 2013 Won [24]
2013 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Artist 2013 Nominated [25]
2013 Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards Music Artist of the Year 2013 Nominated [26]
2016 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Artist 2016 Won [27]
2020 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Artist 2020 Nominated [28]
2020 Urban Music Awards Best Gospel Act 2020 Won [29]
2021 MOBO Awards Best Gospel Act 2021 Won [30]

References
  1. "A LITTLE LOVE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  2. Hearn, Sarah (18 June 2013). "Guvna B: UK Singer Makes Big Splash Across The Pond". PositivelyGospel.com. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. "Guvna B | Community & Support Interview". Thisislime.net. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. "MOBO award for University of Hertfordshire Student". Archant Community Media Ltd. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  5. "Guvna B Made History 2x winner Best Gospel MOBO Awards 2016". astepfwd.com. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  6. "Guvna B becomes the first rapper to top the official Christian and Gospel". The Official UK Charts Company. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  7. Guvna B [@GuvnaB] (27 March 2013). "Shouts to music week! They published this article on Christian and Gospel music" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. "'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.
  9. "Newham bred rapper Guvna B on his new book". Archant Community Media Ltd. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  10. "Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man". Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  11. "Gospel Meets hip-hop". BBC. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  12. "Keeping The Peace with Guvna B". BBC. 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  13. "Pause for thought". BBC. 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  14. "We're not in a village in Ghana". New Statesman. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  15. "Behind The Scenes: 2022/23 Away Kit Launch". West Ham United F.C. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  16. "Guvna B: How cousin Michaela Coel inspired rapper's new single". Newsbeat. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  17. "Something For the Summer by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  18. "Secret World by Guvna B on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  19. "UMA Winners 2009". Urban Music Awards. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. The Urban Music Award's UK return for another successful night Archived 27 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine (sic.), 3 November 2009, UMA website
  21. May, Jenny (2 November 2009). "Guvna B wins UMA for Best Gospel 2009". Bandweblogs.com. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  22. "MOBO History 2010". MOBO. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  23. "Guvna B wins RARE Rising Star Award - 2012". 2011 Rare Recruitment Ltd. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  24. "UMA Winners 2013". Urban Music Awards. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  25. "Winners for the 18th annual MOBO Awards 2013". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  26. "2013 Ghana UK Based Achievement (GUBA) Awards Nominees out". ghanacelebrities. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  27. "MOBO Awards 2016 Highlights". MOBO. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  28. "MOBO Awards 2020: See The Full List of Nominees!". MOBO. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  29. "2020 Urban Music Awards winners announced". Urban Music Awards. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  30. "Guvna B Wins Best Gospel Act Award at 2021 MOBO's". Bucks Music Group Ltd. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
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