Young Fathers

Biography

Young Fathers are a Scottish progressive hip-hop group formed in Edinburgh in 2008. Their second EP, Tape Two×Tape Two11 June 2013 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1I Heard3:432Come to Life2:453Only Child2:034Queen Is Dead2:425Bones0:526Freefalling2:077Mr. Martyr3:048Way Down in the Hole2:519Ebony Sky3:35 (2013), won the Scottish Album of the Year Award. In 2014, they won the Mercury Prize for their debut album Dead. A second album, White Men Are Black Men Too×White Men Are Black Men Too4 April 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Still Running3:082Shame4:093Feasting2:394272:275Rain or Shine3:496Sirens3:007Old Rock n Roll3:118Nest3:179Liberated2:5510John Doe2:5211Dare Me2:3912Get Started4:4713Soon Come Soon3:09Disc 21Blossom Mix1:02:33, followed in 2015. Their third album, Cocoa Sugar×Cocoa Sugar9 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1See How2:012Fee Fi2:423In My View3:154Turn3:375Lord3:356Tremolo3:097Wow4:008Border Girl4:019Holy Ghost2:3310Wire1:4011Toy3:1412Picking You3:05 (2018), peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart and earned the band their second Scottish Album of the Year Award. Their fourth album, Heavy Heavy×Heavy Heavy3 February 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Rice2:412I Saw3:273Drum3:394Tell Somebody3:115Geronimo3:346Shoot Me Down3:287Ululation2:548Sink or Swim3:049Holy Moly3:3010Be Your Lady3:2411I Saw (instrumental)3:3112Tell Somebody (instrumental)3:1313Geronimo (instrumental)3:3414Be Your Lady (instrumental)3:15, was released in 2023 and earned the band their third Scottish Album of the Year Award. The band composed the soundtrack for the 2025 horror film 28 Years Later.

History

Formed in Edinburgh in 2000s by Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and Graham 'G' Hastings, the group started performing in nightclubs when the band members were all in their teens. In 2005, the trio released a single under the name 3Style prior to becoming Young Fathers in 2008.
In 2012, they signed to LA-based label Anticon and released their introductory mixtapes, Tape One and Tape Two, with Tape Two winning the Scottish Album of the Year Award ("The SAY Award").

The trio then signed to Big Dada and released their debut album, Dead, which was released in 2014. The album gained critical attention and went on to win the Mercury Prize. Dead entered the UK albums chart at number 35 and topped the independent UK album chart.
Following an extensive world tour the band decamped to Berlin to begin work on their second album, White Men Are Black Men Too×White Men Are Black Men Too4 April 2015 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11Still Running3:082Shame4:093Feasting2:394272:275Rain or Shine3:496Sirens3:007Old Rock n Roll3:118Nest3:179Liberated2:5510John Doe2:5211Dare Me2:3912Get Started4:4713Soon Come Soon3:09Disc 21Blossom Mix1:02:33, which was released in April 2015. It peaked at number 41 on the UK Albums Chart.
In June 2017 Young Fathers played in the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre as part of M.I.A.'s Meltdown Festival.
Six tracks on the T2 Trainspotting soundtrack feature Young Fathers, including "Only God Knows×Only God Knows24 January 2017 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Only God Knows3:52", written specifically for the film. In a statement the director Danny Boyle described the song as "the heartbeat for the film".
Young Fathers' third studio album, Cocoa Sugar×Cocoa Sugar9 March 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1See How2:012Fee Fi2:423In My View3:154Turn3:375Lord3:356Tremolo3:097Wow4:008Border Girl4:019Holy Ghost2:3310Wire1:4011Toy3:1412Picking You3:05, was announced with the single "In My View×In My View17 January 2018 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1In My View3:15" on 17 January 2018. The album was released on British independent label Ninja Tune on 9 March 2018. The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 28, making it the band's highest-charting album. It won the Scottish Album of the Year Award for 2018.
The trio released their fourth studio album, Heavy Heavy×Heavy Heavy3 February 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Rice2:412I Saw3:273Drum3:394Tell Somebody3:115Geronimo3:346Shoot Me Down3:287Ululation2:548Sink or Swim3:049Holy Moly3:3010Be Your Lady3:2411I Saw (instrumental)3:3112Tell Somebody (instrumental)3:1313Geronimo (instrumental)3:3414Be Your Lady (instrumental)3:15, via Ninja Tune on 3 February 2023. The album peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart, won the Scottish Album of the Year Award, earned the band three Brit Award nominations and was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.
While not an overtly political band, Young Fathers have spoken about issues such as racism and the treatment of refugees. Due to their support of the BDS movement, the band was dropped from the 2018 Ruhrtriennale line-up.
The band were featured on the FIFA 19 and FIFA 23 soundtracks, with the songs "Border Girl" and "Rice" respectively.
In May 2025, the group announced that they had composed the score for Danny Boyle's horror sequel 28 Years Later. The film was released in the UK on 20 June 2025 to positive reviews.

Members

Alloysious Massaquoi (vocals, percussion) was born in Liberia and moved to Edinburgh at the age of four, where he attended Boroughmuir High School.
Kayus Bankole (vocals) was born in Edinburgh to Nigerian parents. He spent several years living in Maryland and Nigeria before moving back to the city of his birth, in his teens. He went on to attend Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh, the same school as Alloysious and the two became close friends. Bankole has commented that Scotland's history in relation to slavery should be taught in schools to help overcome systemic racism.
Graham "G" Hastings (vocals, production) was born in Edinburgh and grew up in the North Edinburgh housing scheme of Drylaw.

Touring musicians

Steven Morrison – drums (2009–present)
Edwin McLachlan – drums (2023)
Kimberley Mandido – backing vocals (2023–present)
Amber Joy – backing vocals (2023–present)
Callum Easter – guitar, keyboards (2023–present)

Remixes

"Girlfriend (Young Fathers Remix)" by Phoenix from Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (Remix Collection) (2009)
"Nicotine Love (StraightFace Remix)" by Tricky (2014)