Young Fathers

Put simply, you could call Young Fathers a lo-fi R&B trio; however, they don't completely fit in that box with their wide-spanning spread of alternative rap, indie pop, reggaeton, and electronic music. Formed in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008 by Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole, and G. Hastings, the group started performing in nightclubs when the bandmembers were in their teens, ultimately recording debut album Inconceivable Child... Conceived for Black Sugar Records. Shortly thereafter, they signed to Anticon Records for 2012's Tape One and 2013's Tape Two. Their second full-length, Dead, was released in February 2014. The album built on their knack for fusing inventive but gritty rhythms and sounds with incisive lyrics, and gained a lot of critical attention. Shortlisted for the U.K.'s prestigious Mercury Prize, Young Fathers won the award in October 2014, beating out considerably more famous competition.