Selections: Young Fathers
Welcome back to Selections, a series of exclusive artist-curated Spotify playlists from those in the know.
Scottish trio Young Fathers – made up of Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and ‘G’ Hastings – consistently defy conventions by flirting outside the confines of genre. To call them a rap group wouldn’t be an entirely accurate summation, with their idiosyncratic mix of sounds encompassing dancehall, reggae, gospel, punk, hip-hop and pop.
The genre-bending group caused a stir in 2014 with their Mercury Award-winning debut Dead, followed up by the politically charged, and playful, sophomore White Men are Black Men Too. Hot off the release of their third LP Cocoa Sugar via Ninja Tune, the unconventional band follow up with an exclusive Crack playlist, comprised of, much like their sounds, a varied and playful patchwork of influences.
Opening with the keyboard mastery of African synth pioneer Hailu Mergia, there’s hard rap bars on black girl magic from Janelle Monáe, the breezy hit Pine & Ginger from 18-year-old Jamaican artist Amindi K. Fro$t, So Solid Crew, Janet Jackson and more, rounded off by The Velvet Underground. Hit the play button below, get free and dance.
Young Fathers play Bilbao BBK Live, Spain, on 12-14 July