Born Benedict Chijioke on August 17, 1972, British rapper Ty became a critically successful artist, best known for his 2004 hit single “Oh U Want More?” (UK Number 65) and Mercury Prize-nominated 2003 album Upwards. Before his recording career began, he co-founded Ghetto Grammar, which focused on hip-hop education in the UK. Ty signed with Big Dada Records and released his debut album Awkward in 2001. Upwards, which included the single “Oh U Want More?”, was released in 2003. The album reached Number 35 in the charts and was nominated for a 2004 Mercury Prize (the award went to Franz Ferdinand and their self-titled album). In 2006, he released his third album, Closer, which featured guest appearances by Zion I, De La Soul, Speech, and others. After the release of the album, Ty left the Big Dada label. He resurfaced in 2010 with his album Special Kind of Fool, released on the Barely Breaking Even label. Ty then released the EP Kick, Snare, and an Idea, in 2013. In 2018, he released his fifth full-length album, A Work of Heart. On May 7, 2020, Ty died as a result of COVID-19 at the age of 47.
