Devlin (rapper)
{{Short description|English rapper}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=March 2017}}
{{Fanpov|date=January 2011}}}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Devlin
| caption = Devlin performing in Little Malvern in 2011
| image_size =
| image = Devlin_Little_Malvern.jpg
| alias = Devastation{{cite news|author=Killian Fox |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/feb/03/devlin-interview-moving-picture-rap |title=Devlin: 'You've got to be hard on yourself. It's all or nothing' |newspaper=The Guardian |date=2013-02-03 |access-date=2024-04-27}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
- Rapper
- songwriter
}}
| birth_name = James Devlin{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/devlin/257189095 |title=Devlin on Apple Music |publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=2017-03-01}}
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|7 May 1989}}
| birth_place = Bermondsey, Southwark, England
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| years_active = 2006–present
| label = {{flatlist|
- Island Records {{small|(2010–2015)}}
- Devlin Music {{small|(2015–present)}}
}}
| website =
| associated_acts = {{flatlist|
- Ghetts
- Ed Sheeran
- Labrinth
- Wretch 32
- Skepta
- Wiley
- Giggs
- Scorcher
- Dogzilla
- Deeperman
- Kozy
- Syer Barz
- Shotz
- M.Eye
- Benson
- Meshie
- Props
- Daze
- Lightning
- Mercston
- DJ Unique
}}
}}
James Devlin (born 7 May 1989), better known mononymously as Devlin, is an English rapper from Dagenham, London. He was signed to Island Records from 2010 to 2015. He is part of grime collective 'O.T Crew' with Dogzilla, Deeperman, M. Eye, Benson, Kozy, Syer Bars, Shotz, Meshie, Props and Daze.{{cite web|url=http://outakers.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122045359/http://outakers.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2009|title=Outakers.com|date=22 January 2009}} Devlin was also a member of the Movement, consisting of himself, Wretch 32, Scorcher, Ghetts, Lightning, Mercston and DJ Unique but has since left.
Early life
James Devlin was born on 7 May 1989 in Bermondsey and grew up on a housing estate in Dagenham.{{Cite web|last=Curtin|first=April|date=2020-11-02|title=9 famous people you probably didn't know were from Barking and Dagenham|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/east-london-news/9-famous-people-you-probably-18046684|access-date=2020-11-16|website=MyLondon|language=en}} His mother was a council worker while his father was a forklift driver.{{cite news|author=Charlotte Cripps |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/devlin-after-eight-years-conclusive-proof-that-grime-does-pay-2137784.html |title=Devlin: After eight years, conclusive proof that grime does pay... |newspaper=The Independent |date=2010-11-19 |access-date=2017-03-01}} Devlin released his second solo mixtape The Art of Rolling{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/art-of-rolling/283089978 |title=iTunes – Music – Art of Rolling by Devlin |publisher=iTunes Store|date=2008-07-21 |access-date=2012-03-28}} in 2008.
Career
= 2010–11: ''Bud, Sweat and Beers''=
Devlin's debut album, Bud, Sweat and Beers was released on Island Records in 2010. The first single from the album was "Brainwashed", which was released on 8 August 2010 in the UK and debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 31, and number 11 on the UK R&B Chart. The second single, "Runaway", was released on 24 October 2010, where it debuted at number 15, marking Devlin's most successful single to date. The single was succeeded by the release of the debut album, Bud, Sweat and Beers, which was released on 1 November 2010 and debuted at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. "London City" entered the UK chart at number 181 following strong digital downloads from the album.{{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/101113cluk.txt/|title=UK Singles Chart - New Entries - Week Ending: 13 November 2010|website=Zobbel/de|access-date=2010-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719120021/http://zobbel.de/cluk/101113cluk.txt|archive-date=19 July 2011|url-status=dead}} The third single released from the album was "Let It Go" featuring British producer Labrinth. The track, which was released on 31 January 2011,{{cite web|url=http://j-lounge.co.uk/?p=1493/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818190038/http://j-lounge.co.uk/?p=1493/|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2011|title=Devlin Ft Labrinth 'Let It Go' (Island)|date=18 August 2011}} charted at number 59 in the UK based on downloads alone.
=2011–13: ''A Moving Picture''=
His second studio album, A Moving Picture, was released on 4 February 2013. It peaked at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.{{cite web |title=A Moving Picture chart history |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/a-moving-picture/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=11 April 2020}}
Personal life
Devlin is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news-archive-1/devlin-as-soon-as-i-was-crawling-i-had-a-spurs-shirt-on/|title=Devlin: "As soon as I was crawling, I had a Tottenham shirt on"|date=16 July 2017|work=Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|access-date=25 January 2021}} Devlin is of Irish descent.{{Cite tweet |user=OfficialDevlin |author=Devlin |number=27538462721|date = 16 October 2010 |title=I'm half Irish. With a name like Devlin you probably guessed that. }}
Diagnosed at the age of 14, Devlin has Type 1 Diabetes.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=opinionBy Gavin |last2=Updated |date=2011-01-21 |title=James Devlin on his rise from the underground to stardom |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/going-out/music/james-devlin-rise-underground-stardom-105793 |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=mirror |language=en}}
Discography
{{Main|Devlin discography}}
;Studio albums
- Bud, Sweat and Beers (2010)
- A Moving Picture (2013)
- The Devil In (2017)
- The Outcast (2019)
- Eyes for the Blind (2022)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.undergroundhh.com/artistprofile/profile/Devlin Devlin News & Lyrics]
- [http://www.iballer.com/malecelebs/devlin/ Delvin Photos]
{{Devlin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Devlin}}
Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Category:Rappers from the London Borough of Southwark
Category:English male songwriters
Category:Island Records artists