Aitch (rapper)
Harrison James Armstrong (born 9 December 1999), known professionally as Aitch, is a British rapper from Manchester. He rose to fame in 2018 with the track "Straight Rhymez".[2] His debut studio album Close to Home (2022) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart.[5]
Aitch | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Harrison James Armstrong |
Born | New Moston, Manchester, England[1] | 9 December 1999
Genres | British hip hop |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2015–present |
Labels |
|
Website | www |
Aitch has released nine top 100 singles in the UK, including "Taste (Make It Shake)" and "Baby", which both peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[6][7][8] The name "Aitch" derives from the pronunciation of the letter 'h', which is the first letter of his given name.[7]
Early life
Harrison James Armstrong[9] was born on 9 December 1999 in Moston, Manchester.[10] He is a supporter of the football club Manchester United.[11] After leaving school he went to college and played sports, but eventually dropped out and worked in construction with his grandfather.[12]
Career
2015: Beginnings
Aitch first garnered attention in 2015 when a YouTube video of him rapping to friends gained local popularity. He originally did not want the video published, but changed his mind when his video gained 10,000 views. His friend continued uploading Aitch's freestyles to see if it would gain more views.[13]
2016–2018: Freestyles, On Your Marks and Breakthrough
Aitch made multiple appearances on the P110 YouTube channel, starting in September 2016 with a freestyle.[14] He then premiered his song "Back To Basics" on the channel in June 2017.[15] On 9 December 2017, Aitch released his EP, On Your Marks.[16] In May 2018, he released his breakthrough track "Straight Rhymez", which gained him national attention.[17]
2019–present: AitcH2O, Polaris and Close to Home
In August 2019, he released his song "Taste (Make It Shake)" which became his biggest song at the time, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. He then released his second EP, AitcH2O, in September, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart.[18] In March 2020, he collaborated with AJ Tracey and Tay Keith on the track "Rain" which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart..[19] In May his third EP, Polaris was released.[20] In June 2021, Aitch released the single "Learning Curve".[21] He followed this up with "Party Round My Place" in September.[22]
In 2021, Aitch appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks.
On 3 February 2022, Aitch was featured on ArrDee's single "War".[23] The single debuted at number 6 on the UK Official Singles Top 100 Chart[24] and debuted at number 21 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100[25] on 11 February 2022. On 10 March 2022, Aitch released the single "Baby" featuring American singer Ashanti (who is credited as co-lead on the single) which heavily samples the latter's 2003 hit "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)".[26] After less than 24 hours, the single debuted at number 65 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100.[27] It debuted on the UK Official Singles Top 100 on 18 March 2022, placing at number 2.[24]
In August 2022, Aitch released "My G", featuring Ed Sheeran, which is about Aitch's sister Gracie who has Down syndrome.[28] His debut studio album, Close to Home was released on 19 August 2022, and reached number two on the UK Albums Chart.[29]
On 9 September 2023, he performed during the half time of the Sidemen Charity Match at the London Stadium.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [29] |
AUS [30] |
BEL (FL) [31] |
IRE [32] |
NLD [33] | ||
Close to Home | 2 | 52 | 169 | 24 | 46 |
Extended plays
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [29] |
IRE [32] | |||
On Your Marks |
|
— | — | |
AitcH2O | 3 | 18 | ||
Polaris |
|
7 | 50 | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As lead artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [29] |
AUS [38] |
IRE [32] |
LBN [39] |
SCO [40] | ||||
"Blitzed"[41] (featuring Kay Rico) |
2018 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Vibsing"[42] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Daily Duppy"[43] (featuring GRM Daily) |
— | — | — | — | — |
| ||
"Trust Me"[44] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Straight Rhymez"[45] | — | — | — | — | — |
| ||
"Miss Me with It"[46] | — | — | — | — | — | |||
"Wait"[47] | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"On the Way Home"[48] (with Jaykae featuring Bowser Boss) |
73 | — | — | — | — | |||
"Taste (Make It Shake)" | 2 | — | 12 | — | 8 |
|
AitcH2O | |
"Buss Down"[49] (featuring ZieZie) |
8 | — | 55 | — | 74 |
| ||
"Mice"[50] | 2020 | 34 | — | 78 | — | — | Non-album single | |
"Rain" (with AJ Tracey featuring Tay Keith) |
3 | 61 | 10 | — | 23 | Polaris | ||
"Raw"[52] | 57 | — | — | — | — | |||
"Goyard Batman"[53] (with Lil Pump and The Plug) |
— | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Safe to Say"[54] | 56 | — | 85 | — | — | Polaris | ||
"Learning Curve"[55] | 2021 | 27 | — | 74 | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"GSD"[56] | 52 | — | — | — | — | |||
"Party Round My Place"[57] (with Avelino) |
56 | — | — | — | — | |||
"War"[58] (with ArrDee) |
2022 | 6 | — | 28 | — | — |
|
Pier Pressure |
"Baby" (with Ashanti) |
2 | — | 5 | — | — |
|
Close to Home | |
"Just Coz"[59] (with Giggs) |
42 | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"1989"[60] | 23 | — | 62 | — | — | Close to Home | ||
"In Disguise"[61] (with Bakar) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
"My G" (with Ed Sheeran) |
6 | — | 32 | — | — |
| ||
"Psycho" (with Anne-Marie) |
5 | — | 8 | 19 | — |
|
Unhealthy | |
"Round 2"[62] | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |
"Hide N Seek"[63] (with Toddla T featuring Taet) |
— | — | — | — | — | |||
"Tip Toes"[64] (with Clavish) |
52 | — | — | — | — | TBA | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [29] |
AUT [65] |
GER [66] |
IRE [32] |
SCO [40] |
SWI [67] | ||||
"Strike a Pose"[68] (Young T & Bugsey featuring Aitch) |
2019 | 9 | — | — | 11 | 31 | — |
|
Plead the 5th |
"Kilos"[69] (Bugzy Malone featuring Aitch) |
20 | — | — | 61 | — | — |
|
Non-album singles | |
"French Kisses"[70] (ZieZie featuring Aitch) |
35 | — | — | 76 | — | — |
| ||
"Kids to Adults"[71] (Tasha featuring Aitch) |
2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
"12:12 AM / Patients (F*****g Up a Friday)"[72] (Everything Is Recorded featuring Aitch and Infinite Coles) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | Friday Forever | ||
"UFO"[73] (D-Block Europe featuring Aitch) |
11 | — | — | 52 | — | — |
|
The Blue Print: Us vs. Them | |
"House & Garage"[74] (Morrisson featuring Aitch) |
2021 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | Guilty | |
"Bad"[75] (Pa Salieu featuring Aitch) |
82 | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Bamba" (Luciano featuring Aitch & Bia) |
2022 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | Majestic | |
"Let's Go" (Tion Wayne featuring Aitch) |
30 | — | — | 84 | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Promotional singles
Title | Year | Album | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
"AitcH2O Freestyle"[78] | 2019 | Non-album singles |
|
"101Barz Freestyle"[80] | 2020 |
| |
Other charted and certified songs
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [29] |
IRE [32] | ||||||
"Already" (featuring Tyreezy) |
2019 | 43 | — | AitcH2O | |||
"Pop Boy" (Stormzy featuring Aitch) |
— | — |
|
Heavy Is the Head | |||
"Ei8ht Mile" (DigDat featuring Aitch) |
2020 | 9 | 34 |
|
Ei8ht Mile | ||
"30" | 36 | 91 | Polaris | ||||
"Parlez-vous anglais" (Headie One featuring Aitch) |
24 | 47 | Edna | ||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Other guest appearances
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Know Better" (Remix)[82] | 2019 | Kay Rico | Non-album remix |
"Keisha & Becky" (Remix)[83] | Russ Millions, Tion Wayne, Jay1, Sav'o and Swarmz | T Wayne's World 3 | |
"Take Me Back to London" (Sir Spyro Remix) | Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Jaykae | Non-album remix | |
"Ei8ht Mile"[84] | 2020 | DigDat | Ei8ht Mile |
"Moving Naughty"[85] | GRM Daily, B Young | GRM 10 | |
"Parlez-Vous Anglais" | Headie One | Edna | |
"Latest Trends" (Remix)[86] | 2021 | A1 x J1 | Non-album remix |
"Operation Fortress"[87] | 2023 | D-Block Europe | DBE World |
Awards and nominations
Year | Organisation | Award | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | NME | Essential New Artists for 2020[88] | Himself | Included |
Brit Awards | Best New Artist[89] | Himself | Nominated | |
2023 | Brit Awards | British Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act | Himself | Won |
Song of the Year | "Baby" | Nominated |
References
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- Ainsley, Helen (14 August 2019). "Who is Aitch? Get to know the Manchester rapper taking over the charts". Official Charts. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
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{{cite magazine}}
: Cite magazine requires|magazine=
(help) - "The Official Lebanese Top 20 - Anne Marie Chart History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- Peak positions on the Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart:
- For "Taste (Make It Shake)": "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart: 9 August 2019 – 15 August 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- For "Strike a Pose": "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart: 30 August 2019 – 05 September 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
- For "Buss Down": "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart: 25 October 2019 – 31 October 2019". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
- For "Rain": "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart: 13 March 2020 – 19 March 2020". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- "Blitzed (feat. Kay Rico) – Single by Aitch on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "Vibsing – Single by Aitch on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "Daily Duppy (feat. GRM Daily) – Single by Aitch on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 12 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "Trust Me – Single by Aitch on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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- "Wait – Single by Aitch on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
- "On the Way Home (feat. Bowser Boss) – Single by JayKae & Aitch". iTunes Store. May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
- "Aitch unleashes new single "Buss Down" featuring ZieZie". GRM Daily. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
- "MICE – Single by Aitch". Apple Music. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- "Raw – Single by Aitch". Apple Music. 21 May 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- "Goyard Batman - Single by The Plug, Lil Pump, Aitch". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- "Aitch releases new single 'Safe To Say'". totalntertainment.com. 20 August 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
- Richards, Will (25 June 2021). "Listen to Aitch's summer-ready new single 'Learning Curve'". NME. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- "GSD – Single by Aitch". Apple Music. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- "Party Round My Place (feat. Avelino) – Single by Aitch". Apple Music. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- Lavin, Will (4 February 2022). "ArrDee and Aitch link up on rip-roaring new track 'War'". NME. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- "Just Coz - Single by Aitch & Giggs". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- "Aitch announces long-awaited debut album 'Close to Home'". GRM Daily. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
- Kenneally, Cerys (20 June 2022). "Aitch unites with Bakar on new single "In Disguise"". Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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- "Kids to Adults (feat. Aitch) – Single by Tasha". iTunes Store. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- "12:12 AM / PATIENTS (F*****G UP a FRIDAY) [feat. Aitch & Infinite Coles] – Single by Everything Is Recorded". iTunes Store. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 April 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- Lavin, Will (2 October 2020). "D Block Europe announce debut album, share new single 'UFO' featuring Aitch". NME. Archived from the original on 15 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- "House & Garage (feat. Aitch) – Single by Morrison". Apple Music. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
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- "Aitch – Studiosessie 334 – 101Barz". 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via YouTube.
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- "Keisha & Becky (Remix) – Single by Russ splash, Tion Wayne, Aitch, Swarmz, Savo & JAY1 on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 11 April 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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