Dean Blunt
Birth nameRoy Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi[1]
AliasДин Блант · @jesuschrist3000ADHD · pollyjacobsen
Birth date8 February 1984 (age 42)
Birth placeHackney, London
OriginHackney, London
GenreArt pop[2] · avant-garde[3] · hypnagogic pop[4] · hip-hop[5]
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
  • contemporary artist
Label
Current member ofBabyfather
Past member ofGraffiti Island · Hype Williams

Roy Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi, known professionally as Dean Blunt, is a Nigerian-British[6] singer-songwriter, musician, producer, and contemporary artist. He is best known for his current solo work as well as his previous work as part of the avant-garde duo Hype Williams (with Inga Copeland) and the hip-hop project Babyfather. Blunt was also the founder of London rock band Graffiti Island.[7] He has been described as "a prolific, category-rejecting artist"[8] and "an art-pop provocateur".[2]

Early life

Although little is known about his personal life, Blunt has said he comes from a family in Hackney, London, that he describes as "Sun readers, working class, kind of ignorant in ways"[9]. He is of Igbo descent.

Music career

Blunt performed music with Russian-Estonian artist Inga Copeland (also known as Lolina) as the electronic duo Hype Williams from 2007 until 2012. Supposedly founded in 2005 as a "relay" project passed between artists every five years, the group has given few interviews, leaving music journalists and the media in doubt as to the exact nature of the project.[10][11] The group's lineup has remained obscure, although Blunt's artistic style has been heard within newer releases, and a variety of other names have also been invoked as members. A mysterious representative named Denna Frances Glass has alternately been posited as either the manager of the project or a fake identity created by Blunt and Copeland.[10][11] In 2016, Glass announced that Blunt and Copeland were no longer part of the project, which would be continuing with other members.[12]

Blunt embarked on his solo career in 2011, releasing a set of albums as well as several EPs and singles. His first few full-length studio albums, The Narcissist II (2012), The Redeemer (2013), and Black Metal (2014), received attention and praise from various music publications.[13][14] "BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow, his first album under experimental group Babyfather, was named the best album of 2016 by Tiny Mix Tapes and Resident Advisor.[15][16]

In 2018, Blunt contributed heavily to A$AP Rocky's album Testing, with production and writing credits on "Purity" and "Gunz N Butter" and additional vocals on "Calldrops". Blunt's work on the album followed collaborative singles between the two artists prior, such as the Babyfather track "Benzo Amore".[17] The pair have since collaborated on multiple recordings.[18][19][20]

In 2024, the collaborative album Backstage Raver was released with longtime collaborator Joanne Robertson.

On 1 January 2025, Blunt would release Lucre, a collaborative EP with Iceage lead singer Elias Rønnenfelt and producer Vegyn.

Other artistic work

Blunt has directed music videos for Actress and Panda Bear.[21][22]

He has produced theatre works including The Narcissist at HAU1 in Berlin in 2012; Lord Knows at Le Romandie in Lausanne in 2013; and I’m Just Passin Thru To Show Some Love in 2013 and Urban in 2014, both at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.[23] In October 2017, Blunt also debuted Inna, an opera directed by himself with music from Mica Levi, at the same institute.[24]

Blunt has put on a number of art exhibitions, including Brixton 28s and New Paintings at Space Studios and W44VY at Arcadia Missa.[25][26] He has also published a book compiling "excessive expenses made in the most popular VIP clubs in the hip hop scene", entitled Cîroc Boyz: Vol 1.

Personal life

Blunt is known for his playfulness and obfuscation. In 2015, he sent his bodyguard to accept his Philip Hall Radar Award at the NME Awards.[27] In 2016, he listed a toy Foxtons estate agents Mini Cooper with a splatter of pink paint filled with marijuana on eBay for £250.[28] At a New York concert in March 2016, media guests were asked to check in under aliases that they had received with their ticket confirmations.[29]

Blunt practices Transcendental Meditation and is a vocal proponent of it.[30]

Discography

Solo

  • Jill Scott Herring OST (2011)
  • The Narcissist (mixtape) (2011)
  • The Narcissist II (mixtape) (2012)
  • The Redeemer (2013)
  • Каменный Остров (Stone Island) (mixtape; released as Дин Блант) (2013)
  • Skin Fade (mixtape) (2014)
  • Black Metal (2014)
  • Babyfather (mixtape) (2015)
  • Soul on Fire (EP) (2018)
  • Zushi (mixtape) (2019)
  • King of R&B (mixtape) (2019)
  • Roaches 2012–2019 (compilation) (2020)
  • Black Metal 2 (2021)
  • Give Me a Moment (EP) (2023)
  • 🖤🗑️+4 (EP) (2024)
  • Hackney Commercial Waste (compilation) (2024)[31]

As part of Babyfather

  • UK2UK (mixtape) (2015)
  • Platinum Tears (mixtape) (2016)
  • "BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow (2016)
  • 419 (mixtape) (2016)
  • Cypher (mixtape) (2017)
  • AUG Freestyle / MANNA (single) (2020)
  • 1471 (single) (2022)
  • Sleep It Off (single) (2023)
  • bluey vuitton (single) (2024)
  • teddy boi freestyle (single) (2024)
  • NANCY Freestyle (single) (2025)[32]
  • ICL (EP) (2026)

Other

  • The Attitude Era (compilation album of unreleased tracks with Inga Copeland) (2012)
  • Black Is Beautiful (with Inga Copeland) (2012)
  • Watch the Throne (with James Ferraro) (2012)[33]
  • Watch the Throne 2 (with James Ferraro) (2013)[34]
  • Hackney vs Brixton (with Gaika) (2016)[35]
  • Wahalla (with Joanne Robertson) (2017)
  • Hotep (as part of Blue Iverson) (2017)
  • Muggy Vol.1 (producer of a compilation on Dean Blunt's World Music imprint) (2018)
  • Desert Sessions (with Delroy Edwards) (2018)
  • BM 2 Kwake Dubs 2021 (remixes and outtakes) (2023)
  • Backstage Raver (with Joanne Robertson) (2024)
  • The Crying Nudes (with Fine Glindvad as The Crying Nudes) (2024)
  • Lucre (EP) (with Elias B. Rønnenfelt & Vegyn) (2025)

As part of Hype Williams

Main article: Hype Williams (band)

Awards

YearOrganisationAwardResult
2015NME AwardPhilip Hall Radar Award [Best New Act][27]Winner

References

  1. ^ "AMIR (VOC MIX)". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived 6 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. ^ Joyce, Colin (20 October 2015). "Dean Blunt Goes on a Trip for 'On Wine, Hashish & Molly' Version of Archangel's 'Julia'". Spin. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  3. ^ Scott Barron, Michael (18 February 2016). "Dean Blunt's Babyfather Project Announced an Album with the Most Incredible Art – Thump". Vice. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  4. ^ Laderman, David & Westrup, Laurel (2014). Sampling Media. OPU USA. p. 109.
  5. ^ "Dean Blunt Goes Hip-Hop with Arca on Babyfather LP". electronicbeats.net. 31 March 2016.
  6. ^ Trammell, Matthew (2016-09-09). "Dean Blunt’s Agit Rap". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  7. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (5 April 2012). "Hype Williams: do they ever speak the truth?". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  8. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Dean Blunt". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  9. ^ Blanning, Lisa. "Hype Williams transcript". The Wire Magazine. Archived 20 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  10. ^ "FACT mix 216: Hype Williams". Fact. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  11. ^ Gibb, Rory (18 July 2011). "In Search of Hype Williams". The Quietus. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  12. ^ Brito, Kristian (11 August 2016). "Hype Williams' new album out now; Dean Blunt & Inga Copeland touring separately". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  13. ^ Milton, Jamie (6 November 2014). "Dean Blunt – Black Metal". DIY. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  14. ^ Joyce, Colin (17 November 2014). "Dean Blunt: Black Metal". Pitchfork. Archived 24 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. ^ "2016: Favorite 50 Music Releases". Tiny Mix Tapes. 2016-12-03. Archived 2 December 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  16. ^ "RA Poll: Top 20 albums of 2016 · Feature ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  17. ^ "Dean Blunt appears on three tracks from A$AP Rocky's new album, Testing · News ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor. Archived 29 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Dean Blunt and A$AP Rocky Collaboration "Stoozy" Surfaces Online". Flood
  19. ^ "A$AP Rocky and Yung Lean appear on Dean Blunt's new album". The Fader
  20. ^ "Dean Blunt Drops New EP Featuring ASAP Rocky and Mica Levi: Listen". Pitchfork. 19 September 2018.
  21. ^ "Panda Bear Shares Dean Blunt-Directed Video for "Token" | Exclaim!"
  22. ^ "Watch Actress's Video For "Falling Rizlas," Directed By Dean Blunt". The Fader
  23. ^ "Dean Blunt & Mica Levi — 'INNA'". www.vooruit.be. Archived 10 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Inna". www.ica.art. Archived 9 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  25. ^ "BLUNTLY SPEAKING Harry Burke on Dean Blunt at Arcadia Missa, London". textezurkunst.de
  26. ^ "Dean Blunt: New Paintings – [ SPACE ]". spacestudios.org.uk
  27. ^ Zadeh, Joe (19 February 2015). "Dean Blunt Pranked the NME Awards Last Night – Noisey". Vice. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  28. ^ Monroe, Jazz (14 January 2016). "Dean Blunt Is Selling a Toy Car Stuffed With Weed on eBay". Pitchfork. Archived 3 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  29. ^ Trammell, Matthew (19 September 2016). "Dean Blunt's Agit Rap". The New Yorker. Archived 24 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  30. ^ "Dean blunt talks art, transcendental meditation, and how atlanta could be a paradise". I-D. 22 February 2016.
  31. ^ Darville, Jordan; Siregar, Cady; Renshaw, David; Helfand, Raphael (2024-02-14). "Discover Blogly: Listen to new projects from Dean Blunt, Akira Umeda, Guitar, and more". The Fader. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  32. ^ dennafrancesglass (2025-06-13). Babyfather - ƐƐƐƐƐ. Retrieved 2025-06-17. – via YouTube.
  33. ^ Mr P. "♫ Listen: Dean Blunt meets James Ferraro - "Watch The Throne"". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  34. ^ Mr P. "♫ Listen: Dean Blunt meets James Ferraro - "Watch the Throne 2"". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
  35. ^ Harrison, Angus (2016-12-05). "Dean Blunt Discusses Racial Discrimination and the Death of London, in a Rare Interview With Gaika". Vice. Retrieved 2025-08-10.