Yebba
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{short description|American singer}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Yebba
| birth_name = Abigail Elizabeth Smith
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|1|16}}
| birth_place = West Memphis, Arkansas, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2016–present
| website = {{url|yebbasmith.com}}
| genre = {{hlist|R&B|pop|blue-eyed soul|gospel|neo jazz|hip hop}}
| label = RCA
}}
Abigail Elizabeth Smith,{{cite web |last1=Hardin |first1=Ralph |title=Yebba wins Grammy |url=https://www.theeveningtimes.com/theeveningtimes/2019/02/12/yebba-wins-grammy/ |website=theeveningtimes.com |date=February 12, 2019 |publisher=Evening Times |access-date=February 12, 2020}}{{cite web |title=West Memphis native nominated for Grammy |url=https://wreg.com/news/west-memphis-native-nominated-for-grammy/ |website=wreg.com |date=December 8, 2018 |access-date=February 12, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Brandle |first1=Lars |title=Yebba Shines In Performance With Mark Ronson on 'Fallon': Watch |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8530938/yebba-performance-mark-ronson-fallon |website=billboard.com |date=September 25, 2019 |publisher=Promenthus Global Media LLC |access-date=February 12, 2020}} (born January 16, 1995){{cite web |last1=Donelson |first1=Marcy |title=Yebba – Biography & History |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/yebba-mn0003677987/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 12, 2020}} known professionally as Yebba, is an American singer and songwriter from West Memphis, Arkansas. She first became known for her YouTube channel and then for her backing vocal performance on Chance the Rapper's SNL performance of the song "Same Drugs" in 2016 and releasing her debut single "Evergreen" in 2017. She has collaborated with a number of artists, including PJ Morton, Sam Smith, Mark Ronson, Stormzy, Ed Sheeran, A$AP Rocky, and Drake.
Career
In 2017, Yebba revealed that she was co-signed by Ed Sheeran's record label Gingerbread Man Records{{Cite web|url=https://www.baeblemusic.com/musicblog/1-12-2017/co-signed-by-ed-sheeran-yebba-is-our-new-favorite-singer.html|title=Co-Signed by Ed Sheeran, YEBBA is Our New Favorite Singer|website=Baeble Music}} when she performed a song called "My Mind", which was written and performed about a week before her mother died. Sheeran described how the Sofar Sounds performance of the song was so powerful, it made him cry. Shortly after followed the official release of her debut single "Evergreen". About the song, she said "I grew up doing music in my dad's church from a baby, so I've spent about a seventh of my life on the front row, beside my momma, and right behind my dad's organ. Church has always been a place of honesty, questioning, and family. So after we saw mom's suicide, and that sense of family seemingly dissolved, a building I had become entirely estranged to seemed like the only place I could go."{{Cite web|url=https://www.hungertv.com/feature/yebba-releases-new-captivating-visuals-for-her-single-evergreen/|title=YEBBA releases new captivating visuals for her single 'Evergreen'|website=HUNGER TV |last1=Ways |first1=Curious }} Later that year, she collaborated with Sam Smith on the song "No Peace", which was released through Smith's 2017 album The Thrill of It All.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-thrill-of-it-all/1440900302|title=The Thrill of It All by Sam Smith|date=November 3, 2017|via=music.apple.com}}
In 2018, she collaborated with Zane Lowe to release her debut music video for her debut single "Evergreen", which was done so with support from Apple Music and Beats 1. Lowe stated about the music video, "YEBBA is an artist in every sense of the word, and working together to bring her vision to light was truly remarkable. She has one of the more powerful and exciting voices to come along in years, and we are excited to introduce her to the world". She also appeared as a featured artist, alongside Maverick Sabre on Rudimental's promotional single "They Don't Care About Us", which served as a track from their 2019 album Toast to Our Differences. Additionally, she was a backing vocalist on the recent projects from Jess Glynne{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY3i5ujyC2o|title=Broken|date=October 11, 2018|via=YouTube}} and Mumford & Sons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOIepJju7Rg|title=October Skies|date=November 15, 2018 |via=www.youtube.com}}
In 2019, Yebba was nominated and won her first ever Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance of the song "How Deep Is Your Love", alongside PJ Morton at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/yebba|title=Yebba|date=May 12, 2018|website=GRAMMY.com}} She also appeared on three songs from Mark Ronson's album Late Night Feelings.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/late-night-feelings/1459276577|title=Late Night Feelings by Mark Ronson|date=June 21, 2019|via=music.apple.com}} In April, she appeared as a guest vocalist alongside The Staves for Mumford & Sons' live performance of the song "Beloved" on The Jonathan Ross Show.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGpY4iASw4E|title=Mumford and Sons Perform Beloved featuring YEBBA and The Staves - The Jonathan Ross Show|date=April 13, 2019|via=YouTube}} In June, she was revealed to have a featured appearance on Ed Sheeran's collaborative effort No.6 Collaborations Project on a song entitled "Best Part of Me", which was eventually released as a promotional single. The song became her first charted release, peaking at 99 in the US Charts.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/ed-sheeran|title=Ed Sheeran Chart History|magazine=Billboard}} In August, she released her follow up single to "Evergreen", entitled "Where Do You Go". The song was produced by BJ Burton and The Picard Brothers.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2bjoE2EMhg|title=Yebba: Where Do You Go|publisher=YouTube|website=youtube.com|date=August 8, 2019 }}
In May 2020, Yebba signed to RCA Records and released her first single, the Mark Ronson produced "Distance".{{cite web |title=Yebba |url=https://www.rcarecords.com/artist/yebba/ |website=rcarecords.com |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment |access-date=July 11, 2020}}
In September 2021, Yebba appeared on the highly anticipated album Certified Lover Boy by Drake on a song entitled "Yebba's Heartbreak". The song serves as the album's interlude.{{cite web|title= WHO IS YEBBA, THE SINGER FEATURING ON DRAKE'S CERTIFIED LOVER BOY? |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/09/02/yebba-drake/ |website=hitc.com |publisher=HITC |access-date=September 3, 2020}} A week later, she would release her debut album Dawn, featuring artists A$AP Rocky and Smino.
Personal life
Yebba has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and support. Her mother died by suicide about a week after Yebba sang her first original song, causing "My Mind" to take on new meaning representing mental health. She says her artist name was chosen to honor her mother, who she said "always called her by the nickname" (her name Abbey written backwards) as a child. In memory of her mother, Yebba gave the song away free through her website.{{Cite web|url=https://breakawaydaily.com/my-mind/|title="This gives my song a whole new life" - YEBBA Les Twins perform a powerful street dance to "My Mind"|date=November 29, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.yebbasmith.com/|title=YEBBA|website=YEBBA}} Smith attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cardinalandcream.info/2020/music-monday-the-journey-of-yebbas-music-career/|title=Music Monday: The Journey Of Yebba's Music Career|date=February 20, 2020}}
Artistry
Yebba cites The Clark Sisters as her heroes and number one influences. She wrote on Instagram: "This family's music made me come to know Jesus. Anything I've learned about singing has been from trying to mimic them."{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BhwiJXwF8yw/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BhwiJXwF8yw |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=yebba on Instagram: "This family's music made me come to know Jesus. Anything I've learned about singing has been from TRYING to mimic them on records like ... "|via=Instagram}}{{cbignore}} Records like "Nothing to Lose", "Jesus Lifted Me", "You Brought the Sunshine", "The Darkest Hour Is Just Before the Day" and "Jesus Is a Love Song" are some of her favorites.{{Cite web|url=https://www.entitymag.com/yebba-quick-facts/|title=5 Quick Facts About YEBBA, the Music Industry's Next Big Thing|date=August 17, 2018}}
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album details ! scope="col" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| US Heat. {{Cite magazine |title=Heatseekers Albums - Week of September 25, 2021 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2021-09-25/ |access-date=May 10, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Dawn
|
| 6 |
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:160px;"| Title
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:180px;"| Album |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Evergreen"
| 2017 | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "Where Do You Go"
| 2019 |
| scope="row"| "Distance"
| 2020 | Dawn |
| scope="row"| "My Mind"
| rowspan="6"| 2021 | rowspan="2" {{Non-album singles}} |
| scope="row"| "The Past and Pending" |
| scope="row"| "October Sky"
| rowspan="4"| Dawn |
| scope="row"| "Louie Bag" {{small|(featuring Smino)}} |
| scope="row"| "Boomerang" |
| scope="row"| "All I Ever Wanted" |
| scope="row"| "Waterfall (I Adore You)" {{small|(featuring Sweata)}} | 2023 | {{Non-album single}} |
==As featured artist==
=Other charted songs=
=Other featured appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" | |
| scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title ! scope="col"| Album | |
|---|---|
| rowspan="2"| 2015
! scope="row"| "Gravity" | rowspan="2" {{n/a|Non-album single}} | |
| scope="row"| "Smoke" {{small|(Luke Levenson featuring Yebba)}} | |
| 2016
! scope="row"| "Melatonin" | |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
! scope="row"| "How Deep Is Your Love" (Live) | Gumbo Unplugged |
| scope="row"| "My Day Will Come" {{small|(James Francies featuring Yebba)}} | Flight | |
| rowspan="5" | 2019
! scope="row"| "Knock Knock Knock" | rowspan="2" | Late Night Feelings | |
| scope="row"| "When U Went Away" {{small|(Mark Ronson featuring Yebba)}} | |
| scope="row"| "Fuck Yo Feelings" {{small|(Robert Glasper featuring Yebba)}} | Fuck Yo Feelings | |
| scope="row"| "Don't Leave Me Lonely" (Acoustic Version) {{small|(Mark Ronson featuring Yebba and James Francies)}} | {{n/a|Non-album single}} | |
| scope="row"| "Don't Forget to Breathe (Interlude)" {{small|(Stormzy featuring Yebba)}} | |
| 2021
! scope="row"| "How Much Can A Heart Take" | Table For Two | |
| 2022
! scope="row"| "Over" | Black Radio III |
=Guest appearances=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of guest backing appearances for other performing artists, showing year released and album name ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col"| Other artist(s) ! scope="col"| Album |
| rowspan="2" | 2018
! scope="row"| "Broken" |
| scope="row"| "42", "Beloved", "October Skies", "Rose of Sharon"{{cite web|url=https://www.petraspective.nl/images/mumfordandsons/large/l-mumfordandsons2018delta-japan-insert12.jpg |format=JPG|title=Written and performed by Mumford & Sons|access-date=2023-09-02}}
| Delta |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | 2019
! scope="row"| "Money" | {{TBA}} |
| scope="row"| "Spinning"
| Mark Ronson, Ilsey |
=Songwriting credits=
| class="wikitable" | ||||
| Year | Artist | Album | Song | Co-written with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Brasstracks | For Those Who Know, Pt. 2 | "Improv #2 (Intro)"{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/title/improv+#2+(intro)|title=ACE Repertory|website=www.ascap.com}} | Ivan Jackson, Conor Rayne, Richard Saunders, Elliot Skinner, Benjamin Lusher, Robert Glasper, Randy Vargas, Conor Szymanski |
| 2019 | Rudimental | Toast to Our Differences | "Leave It for Tomorrow" {{small|(featuring Elli Ingram)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/title/leave+it+for+tomorrow/performer/rudimental|title=ACE Repertory|website=www.ascap.com}} | Amir Izadkhah, Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Leon "DJ Locksmith" Rolle |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! Year ! Award ! Artist/work ! Category ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"| 2019
| rowspan="3" | Grammy Awards | "How Deep Is Your Love" | rowspan="3" | Best Traditional R&B Performance | {{won}} | rowspan="3" | {{cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/yebba |title=Yebba {{!}} Artist|publisher=The Recording Academy |accessdate=August 25, 2021}} |
|---|
| scope="row"| 2021
| "Distance" | {{nom}} |
| scope="row"| 2022
|"How Much Can a Heart Take" |{{Nom}} |
| scope="row"| 2022
| Pop Awards | Yebba | Emerging Artist of the Year | {{won}} |
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}