Guvna B
Quick Facts
Biography
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. It was also the UK's highest charting non-explicit rap album that year. 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.The album featured hit single "Nothing But The Blood" which has received over 2 million views on YouTube.
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. Looking back on growing up in Custom House (in East London), 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." He later graduated from University of Hertfordshire. His music addresses life issues such as peer pressure.
In 2010, Guvna B won the MOBO Award for Best Gospel Act.
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.
In January 2013, Guvna B launched his own urban clothing brand, Allo Mate.
On 15 June 2017, SPCK Publishing published his debut book, Unpopular Culture.
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)
- Secret World (20 November 2015)
- 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 |
2010 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Act 2010 | Won |
2011 | Official Mixtape Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2009 | Nominated |
2012 | RARE Rising Stars | UK's Top 10 Black Students 2012 | Won |
2013 | Urban Music Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2013 | Won |
2013 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2013 | Nominated |
2013 | Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards | Music Artist of the Year2013 | Nominated |
2016 | MOBO Awards | Best Gospel Artist 2016 | Won |