London, UK · UK hip-hop

Loyle Carner

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Confessional South London hip-hop — jazz-warm, tender, and quietly huge, verses about family and flaws delivered like conversation.

Born in Lambeth and raised in South Croydon, Carner grew up with his mother Jean, a teacher of children with learning difficulties, his stepfather Nik, and his younger brother Ryan; he stayed in contact with his biological father, of Guyanese descent. His stage name is a spoonerism of his surname that also nods to his childhood ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses.

He studied at Whitgift School before winning a scholarship to the Brit School and moving on to an acting degree at the Drama Centre, which he left in 2014 after his stepfather's sudden death, choosing to concentrate on music instead.

Carner played his first gig in Dublin in 2012 supporting MF Doom, released the EP A Little Late in 2014, toured with Joey Badass, and appeared on the BBC's Sound of 2016 list before supporting Nas later that year.

Yesterday's Gone was named album of the year by The Independent on its 2017 release, and Not Waving, But Drowning followed in 2019, with the track "Angel" later placed on the FIFA 20 soundtrack. Hugo arrived in 2022 to strong reviews, and a fourth album, Hopefully!, followed in 2025, taking his total Brit Award nominations to three.

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UK hip-hop