Giggs (rapper)
Giggs |
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Nathan Thompson, better known by his stage names Giggs or Hollowman, is an English rapper from Peckham, South London. He is the leader of Spare No 1, alongside his brothers Joseph Grind, Spender, Young Giggs (YG), and Gunna Dee. Other artists within this group include Kyze and Tiny Boost. The group's main producers are Boom Productions (aka BoomBlast), Universe, Pablo Production, Paws Productions, Bayoz Musik and Simple.
Early life
Nathan Thompson was born on 26 November 1983. Raised by a single mother, his friend Alastair and the eldest of his siblings, he grew up on the streets of Peckham. He dropped out of school at the age of 16 and was seduced by the streets. Originally, he was nicknamed 'Giggler' because of his tendency to laugh even in the most inappropriate situations; later, this was cut down to 'Giggs'. He became a father at the age of 21. He says in a SBTV interview that his sons his biggest 'critic' and always prefers performances of 'Tinchy Stryder' and encourages his father to 'jump around' similar to Stryder.
Music career
Soon after being released from prison in 2004, Giggs started pursuing rapping as a career, instead of as a hobby. Giggs and his SN1 crew started off releasing numerous mixtapes, including Hollowman Meets Blade, Welcome to Boomzville, Best of Giggs 1 and 2 and 3 and the hugely successful Ard Bodied, which featured Dubz, "Talking the Hardest". His mixtapes have supposedly sold more than 10,000 units. This success helped his popularity expand outside London. However when Giggs first signed to XL Recordings, the record label was allegedly warned by members of Operation Trident to not back the London rapper as Operation Trident is the Metropolitan Police's specialist team investigating gun crime within the black community in London. Giggs was banned from performing at certain raves in East London due to his musical influence on the youth there. Operation Trident has said that some of his music has created a mentality for the youth in London. Giggs had not responded to this accusation.
Walk in da Park (2007–2008)
Giggs released the street anthem "Talking the Hardest" in 2007, which helped increase his popularity. The track features Giggs rapping over the beat from American hip-hop artist Stat Quo's track "Here We Go", originally produced by Dr. Dre.[1] He then released his debut independent album Walk in da Park on 4 August 2008., for the tracks "Uummm!!" and "You Raised Me/Open Up". Walk In Da Park received mainly positive reviews, and was very successful, selling out in most HMVs in the first two days of release.[2]
SN1 Entertainment
Giggs has founded his own record label called SN1 Entertainment; it has not been confirmed whether or not it will be distributed through XL recordings. So far the only major releases on this label are Giggs' debut album Walk in Da Park and Joe Grind's Not Your Average Joe. In December 2010 he released the song 'duch up' ft. youngster.
Awards/nomination
BET award for-Best UK Hip- hop Act 2008 (Won)
Mobo award for- Best UK Hip-hop Act 2010 (Nominated)
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | UK R&B [3] | ||
| 2008 | Walk in da Park
|
143 | – |
| 2010 | Let Em Ave It
|
35 | 7 |
Mixtapes
- Best of Giggs 1,2,3
- Bloody Raw
- The Beginning
- Hollow Grind
- Hollowman Meetz Blade[4]
- Welcome 2 Boomzville
- Ard Bodied[5]
- Another Quick One
- Who Said That
- Take Your Hats Off[6]
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK [7] [8] |
UK IND |
UK R&B | |||
| 2009 | "Slow Songs" (featuring Mike Skinner) | Let 'Em Ave It | |||
| 2010 | "Don't Go There" (featuring B.o.B) | ||||
| "Look What the Cat Dragged In" | |||||
| "Hustle On" | |||||
As a featured artist
| Year | Single | Peak Positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | |||
| 2010 | "Shot Music" (with Devlin) | – | |
| "Game Over" (with Tinchy Stryder, Devlin, Example, Professor Green, Tinie Tempah + Chipmunk) | 22 | Third Strike |
Guest appearances
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "Look Out" with Skepta | Microphone Champion |
| "Zip ItUp" with Wiley & Trigger | Race Against Time | |
| "Riding Season" with Dubz | Ard Doe | |
| "Black Bandana Wearer" with Joe Grind & Killa Ki | Not Your Average Joe | |
| "Gully Trap" with Joe Grind & Gunna | ||
| "Looking Up The Game" with Joe Grind & Boost | ||
| 2010 | "Back 2 Basics" with Sway | |
| 2010 | "30 Rounds" with J Bubbs, Malik, S.A.S & Gfresh | |
| 2010 | "Shutdown" with Joe Black |
Music videos
| Year | Title | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "You Raised Me / Open Up" | |
| "Look Out" (with Skepta) | ||
| "Slow Songs" (with Mike Skinner) | ||
| "Uummm!" | ||
| 2010 | "Don't Go There" (featuring B.o.B) | Adam Powell [9][10] |
| "Look What the Cat Dragged In" | ||
| "30 Rounds" (with J Bubbs et al.) | Jason McKoy[11] | |
| "Shot Music" (with Devlin) | Digital Dan[12] | |
| "Hustle On" | ||
| "Game Over" (with Tinchy Stryder et al.) | Adam Powell[13] | |
| "Bus Commercial" | Post Diddy[14] | |
| 2010 | "Out There" | Morgan Keyz[15] |
| 2011 | "Matic" (with Gunna Dee & Y. Butch) |
References
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74xgtxqI7Io
- ^ Walk In Da Park sold out
- ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/17/2010-07-03/
- ^ [http:/http://mixtapemadness.co.uk/mixtapes/giggsandblade/hollowmeetsblade "Hollowman Meetz Blade Mixtape"]. Mixtape Madness.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ [http:/http://http://mixtapemadness.co.uk/mixtapes/giggsdubz/ardbodied "Ard Bodied Mixtape"]. Mixtape Madness.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ "Giggs Take Your Hats Off Mixtape". Mixtape Madness. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
- ^ http://www.theofficialcharts.com
- ^ Jhme.co.uk
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EuI2_pjDlM
- ^ http://www.promonews.tv/2010/04/29/giggs%E2%80%99-look-what-the-cat-dragged-in-by-adam-powell/
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSj2iw-eXJM
- ^ http://simonekarmarae.blogspot.com/2010/04/devlin-giggs-shot-music-new-video.html
- ^ http://www.rsafilms.com/company/black-dog-uk/director/adam-powell/tinchy-stryder-gameover-2194
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6tBdedtyg0
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHFCVe6BtyU