Mr Hudson & The Library
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Hudson McIldowie (born 1979, Birmingham
, England
), known professionally as Mr Hudson, is an English R&B
/pop artist based in London, England. Mr Hudson is signed to produce Kanye West
's G.O.O.D. Music. He has listed various influences, most notably Chet Baker
, David Bowie
, The Police
, Andre 3000
, Marvin Gaye
, Phoenix
, The Specials
, Billie Holiday
, Rosster, Ella Fitzgerald
and Dizzee Rascal
.
Mr Hudson initially recorded with his band under the name Mr Hudson & The Library. Their first album, Tale of Two Cities, was released in 2007. The Library were Joy Joseph (Steel Pan, backing vocals, percussion), Torville Jones (piano), Maps Huxley (AKA Robin French
, bass guitar) and Andrew "Wilkie" Wilkinson (drums). They were known for their energetic live performances and were nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 2007 UK Festival Awards
.
As a solo artist, Mr Hudson has worked with acts such as Kanye West
, Dizzee Rascal
, N-Dubz
, KiD CuDi
, Tinie Tempah
, Jay-Z
, Big Sean
and Caspa
, and also toured with Calvin Harris
. His vocal performances have been compared to those of Sting. He is now accompanied by Joy Joseph (vocals and steel drum), Rob Barron (electric keyboard), Raphael Mann (bass guitar) and Andrew "Wilkie" Wilkinson (electric drums).
area of the city and attended King Edward's School, Birmingham
in Edgbaston. Hudson attended Oxford University, where he read English Literature
at St Anne's College
. He was part of Coco Sumner's band I Blame Coco at one point, co-writing the song 'I blame Coco'.
on 8 December 2006. The band's debut LP, titled A Tale of Two Cities
, was released in 2007 to strong reviews and received national airplay on Jo Whiley
and Zane Lowe
's BBC Radio 1
shows.
In 2007, Mr Hudson and The Library embarked on a tour through twelve British libraries as part of the 'Get It Loud' initiative, and also supported Amy Winehouse
on her tour, along with Paolo Nutini
, Mika
and Groove Armada
. During the summer of 2007 they appeared at several UK festivals, such as Glastonbury
, T in the Park
, The Big Chill
, V Festival
, Godiva Festival
, and Bestival
. In October 2007, the band played at the Millennium Stadium
in Cardiff in support of The Police
. They also supported Kanye West
on his Europe leg of his Glow in the Dark Tour
, performing in Dublin, Belfast
and other European cities.
In 2008, Mr Hudson began recording as a solo artist. Maps Huxley was replaced in 2008 by Raphael Mann, and in 2009 Torville Jones was replaced by Bobby Barron. Although the name 'The Library' is no longer used, these musicians form his backing band for live performances, and Joy Joseph, Wilkie Wilkinson, Torville Jones and Raphael Mann contributed to recording sessions for the "Straight No Chaser" album. In 2010 the band was augmented by guitarist/vocalist Ali Forbes. On 11 November 2008, "There Will Be Tears" was given its first UK radio airplay on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show as 'The Hottest Record in the World Right Now'. Mr Hudson's new album – given a working title of Straight No Chaser was released in mid-2009 with Kanye West
acting as co-producer. As announced in December 2008, Mr Hudson will tour the UK to preview material from his forthcoming album visiting cities such as London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle.
. He also co-produced "Street Lights" as well as supplying additional vocals on "Say You Will" and "Amazing". Kanye West has stated:
"I believe Mr Hudson has the potential to be bigger than me, to be one of the most important artists of his generation". In the autumn of 2009 Mr Hudson supported Calvin Harris
on his UK tour.
The production on the band's debut album uses acoustic guitar
interspersed with piano, backing vocals and bass guitar, steelpan
, electric drums and unusual rhythm patterns. Two of the tracks from A Tale of Two Cities
are covers; "On The Street Where You Live
", is a cover of a number from the musical
My Fair Lady
and "Everything Happens to Me
" was popularized by Frank Sinatra
and Chet Baker
. On 4 August 2009, Mr Hudson released a new album, Straight No Chaser
(via GOOD Music
and Mercury Records
), executive produced by Kanye West
.
"I wanted to make a mainstream record, not structured or ornate," he explains. "The first album feels like an Escher
drawing, all these layers and you don't know where you're going at any point. The way the songs are written and produced on this one is much more direct. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. It's straight, no chaser." Mr Hudson switched on the Blackpool town centre lights alongside Laura White. He performed Supernova
and White Lies
.
In an interview, singer Ben Hudson was asked to describe the album: "My mission statement was to make a pop record, but not a throwaway pop record. My heroes are people like Bowie
and Prince
and Damon Albarn
. I didn't want to do anything niche. Kanye threw down the gauntlet. He said, 'Let's see if we can make you a popstar'. I was like 'Let's have a go!'. It's a bit more widescreen, a bit more punchy, but the eclecticism of the first record's still there. There's a tune where I'm a cross between Deliverance and Sade
".
In 2010, Mr Hudson collaborated with British
dubstep
artist Caspa
on the track Love Never Dies (Back For The First Time), which is a new version of a previous Caspa track known simply as Back For The First Time. Rapper Nero appeared on the remix. On July 29 it was named by BBC Radio 1
DJ Zane Lowe
as his Hottest Record in the World Today.
On 2 July 2011 Hudson was identified as a featuring artist on Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative album Watch The Throne
, via Jay-Z's official website.
to encourage the public to design their own covers to classic paperbacks. Mr. Hudson collaborated with London graffiti artist Mighty Mo
of London Frontline, to create a cover for Animal Farm
by George Orwell
.
In April 2010 Mr Hudson supported Global Cool
's campaign for flight-free holidays.
MOBO Awards 2009
UMA Awards UK & France 2009
MOBO Awards 2010
Collaborations
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
), known professionally as Mr Hudson, is an English R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/pop artist based in London, England. Mr Hudson is signed to produce Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's G.O.O.D. Music. He has listed various influences, most notably Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
, Andre 3000
André 3000
André Lauren Benjamin , better known by his stage name André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, best known for being part of American hip-hop duo OutKast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi...
, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, Phoenix
Phoenix (band)
Phoenix is a Grammy Award winning French indie rock band from Versailles, founded by Thomas Mars, Deck d'Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz.-Formation and early years:...
, The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
, Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Rosster, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
and Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
.
Mr Hudson initially recorded with his band under the name Mr Hudson & The Library. Their first album, Tale of Two Cities, was released in 2007. The Library were Joy Joseph (Steel Pan, backing vocals, percussion), Torville Jones (piano), Maps Huxley (AKA Robin French
Robin French
Robin French is a playwright, film and television writer and songwriter living in London.-Background:French was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham and studied Modern and Medieval Languages at Selwyn College, Cambridge University where he graduated with first-class honours in 2001.While...
, bass guitar) and Andrew "Wilkie" Wilkinson (drums). They were known for their energetic live performances and were nominated for "Best Newcomer" at the 2007 UK Festival Awards
UK Festival Awards
The UK Festival Awards are awarded annually, with various categories for all aspects of festivals that have taken place in the UK, and one category for European festivals. The Awards were first established in 2004, and are produced by Virtual Festivals.com. They are voted for by the public via the...
.
As a solo artist, Mr Hudson has worked with acts such as Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
, N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
, KiD CuDi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
, Tinie Tempah
Tinie Tempah
Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...
, Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, Big Sean
Big Sean
Sean Michael Anderson , better known by his stage name Big Sean, is an American rapper. Big Sean signed with Kanye West's G.O.O.D...
and Caspa
Caspa
Caspa is the stage name of Gary McCann, a Dubstep music producer from West London.-Biography:McCann's creative involvement in music began after a promising basketball career was cut short by a shoulder injury...
, and also toured with Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
. His vocal performances have been compared to those of Sting. He is now accompanied by Joy Joseph (vocals and steel drum), Rob Barron (electric keyboard), Raphael Mann (bass guitar) and Andrew "Wilkie" Wilkinson (electric drums).
Early life
He grew up in the Handsworth WoodHandsworth Wood
Handsworth Wood is a loosely defined area in the north west of Birmingham, England. It is also a ward within the formal district of Perry Barr. Located within the metropolitan county of the West Midlands since April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, it was previously a part of the...
area of the city and attended King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School, Birmingham
King Edward's School is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham, and is widely regarded as one of the most academically successful schools in the country, according to...
in Edgbaston. Hudson attended Oxford University, where he read English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
at St Anne's College
St Anne's College
St Anne's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Formerly a women's college, it has been coeducational since 1979 and now prides itself on being "a modern, forward-looking, intellectually ambitious college"...
. He was part of Coco Sumner's band I Blame Coco at one point, co-writing the song 'I blame Coco'.
A Tale of Two Cities (2007–2009)
One of his first appearances was on JUMPOFF producer battles in 2001 alongside Gunther Thompson. Mr Hudson first came to prominence after being featured on Later with Jools HollandLater with Jools Holland
Later... with Jools Holland is a contemporary British music television show hosted by Jools Holland. A spin-off of The Late Show, it has been running in short series since 1992 and is a part of BBC Two's late-night line-up, usually at around 11pm to 12 midnight...
on 8 December 2006. The band's debut LP, titled A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities (album)
A Tale of Two Cities is the debut album from British band Mr Hudson & The Library, released on 5 March 2007. It is named after the Charles Dickens novel of the same name.-Track listing:# "On the Street Where You Live"...
, was released in 2007 to strong reviews and received national airplay on Jo Whiley
Jo Whiley
Johanne "Jo" Whiley is a British radio disc jockey and television presenter. She was the host of the long running weekday Jo Whiley Show on Radio 1.-Early life and education:...
and Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
shows.
In 2007, Mr Hudson and The Library embarked on a tour through twelve British libraries as part of the 'Get It Loud' initiative, and also supported Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
on her tour, along with Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini
Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
, Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
and Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
. During the summer of 2007 they appeared at several UK festivals, such as Glastonbury
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
, T in the Park
T in the Park
T in the Park is a major British music festival that has been held annually since 1994. It is named after its main sponsor, the brewing company Tennents. It was originally held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire but since 1997 has been held at a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire...
, The Big Chill
The Big Chill (music festival)
The Big Chill is an annual festival of alternative, dance and chill-out music and comedy, held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle during early August...
, V Festival
V Festival
The V Festival is an annual music festival held in England during the penultimate weekend in August. The event is held at two parks simultaneously which share the same bill; artists perform at one location on Saturday and then swap on Sunday. The sites are located at Hylands Park in Chelmsford and...
, Godiva Festival
Godiva Festival
The Godiva Festival is a free weekend long music festival held each year in the War Memorial Park, Coventry, England, named after the city's famous former inhabitant Lady Godiva. It first appeared as a day long event in 1997 and became a 3 day event the following year in 1998...
, and Bestival
Bestival
Bestival is a four-day music festival held at the Robin Hill country park on the Isle of Wight, England. It has been held annually in late summer since 2004. The event is organized by DJ and record producer Rob da Bank and is an off-shoot of his Sunday Best record label and club nights. The initial...
. In October 2007, the band played at the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
in Cardiff in support of The Police
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For the vast majority of their history, the band consisted of Sting , Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland...
. They also supported Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
on his Europe leg of his Glow in the Dark Tour
Glow in the Dark Tour
The Glow in the Dark Tour is a critically acclaimed world concert tour by Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, N.E.R.D, and Nas. It began on April 16, 2008 in Seattle, Washington and travelled to Latin America, Asia, Europe, New Zealand and Australia through to early December.The tour...
, performing in Dublin, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and other European cities.
In 2008, Mr Hudson began recording as a solo artist. Maps Huxley was replaced in 2008 by Raphael Mann, and in 2009 Torville Jones was replaced by Bobby Barron. Although the name 'The Library' is no longer used, these musicians form his backing band for live performances, and Joy Joseph, Wilkie Wilkinson, Torville Jones and Raphael Mann contributed to recording sessions for the "Straight No Chaser" album. In 2010 the band was augmented by guitarist/vocalist Ali Forbes. On 11 November 2008, "There Will Be Tears" was given its first UK radio airplay on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show as 'The Hottest Record in the World Right Now'. Mr Hudson's new album – given a working title of Straight No Chaser was released in mid-2009 with Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
acting as co-producer. As announced in December 2008, Mr Hudson will tour the UK to preview material from his forthcoming album visiting cities such as London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Straight No Chaser (2009–2010)
Mr Hudson is featured on Paranoid on Kanye West's fourth album, 808s & Heartbreak808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released November 24, 2008 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii during...
. He also co-produced "Street Lights" as well as supplying additional vocals on "Say You Will" and "Amazing". Kanye West has stated:
"I believe Mr Hudson has the potential to be bigger than me, to be one of the most important artists of his generation". In the autumn of 2009 Mr Hudson supported Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris
Calvin Harris is a Scottish singer-songwriter, record producer and DJ. His gold-selling debut album, I Created Disco, was released in 2007 and contained the top ten singles "Acceptable in the 80s" and "The Girls"...
on his UK tour.
The production on the band's debut album uses acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
interspersed with piano, backing vocals and bass guitar, steelpan
Steelpan
Steelpans is a musical instrument originating from The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago...
, electric drums and unusual rhythm patterns. Two of the tracks from A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities (album)
A Tale of Two Cities is the debut album from British band Mr Hudson & The Library, released on 5 March 2007. It is named after the Charles Dickens novel of the same name.-Track listing:# "On the Street Where You Live"...
are covers; "On The Street Where You Live
On the Street Where You Live
"On the Street Where You Live" is a song with music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner from the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady. It is sung in the musical by the character Freddy Eynsford-Hill, who was portrayed by John Michael King in the original production...
", is a cover of a number from the musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
and "Everything Happens to Me
Everything Happens to Me (song)
Everything Happens to Me is a classic pop song written by Tom Adair and Matt Dennis in 1940. It was first recorded by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, featuring his then-singer, Frank Sinatra....
" was popularized by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
. On 4 August 2009, Mr Hudson released a new album, Straight No Chaser
Straight No Chaser (Mr Hudson album)
Straight No Chaser is the second studio album by British pop musician Mr Hudson, a follow up to the last album released under the name Mr Hudson & The Library entitled A Tale of Two Cities. Straight No Chaser was released in the UK on 19 October 2009...
(via GOOD Music
GOOD Music
GOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...
and Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
), executive produced by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
.
"I wanted to make a mainstream record, not structured or ornate," he explains. "The first album feels like an Escher
M. C. Escher
Maurits Cornelis Escher , usually referred to as M. C. Escher , was a Dutch graphic artist. He is known for his often mathematically inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints...
drawing, all these layers and you don't know where you're going at any point. The way the songs are written and produced on this one is much more direct. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel. It's straight, no chaser." Mr Hudson switched on the Blackpool town centre lights alongside Laura White. He performed Supernova
Supernova (Mr Hudson song)
"Supernova" is a song by British singer Mr Hudson. It was both co-written and co-produced with American hip-hop artist Kanye West, who is featured on the song. "Supernova" was premiered on May 13, 2009, on Zane Lowe BBC Radio Show and then released through Mr Hudson's and Kanye West's blogs. The...
and White Lies
White Lies (Mr Hudson song)
"White Lies" is the third single from British singer Mr Hudson. The song was released on 12 October 2009 in the United Kingdom, taken from his second studio album Straight No Chaser.The song made the BBC Radio 1 - A List.-Critical reception:...
.
In an interview, singer Ben Hudson was asked to describe the album: "My mission statement was to make a pop record, but not a throwaway pop record. My heroes are people like Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
and Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn
Damon Albarn is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who has been involved in many high profile projects, coming to prominence as the frontman and primary songwriter of Britpop band Blur...
. I didn't want to do anything niche. Kanye threw down the gauntlet. He said, 'Let's see if we can make you a popstar'. I was like 'Let's have a go!'. It's a bit more widescreen, a bit more punchy, but the eclecticism of the first record's still there. There's a tune where I'm a cross between Deliverance and Sade
Sade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu OBE , is a British singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.-Biography:Sade was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria...
".
In 2010, Mr Hudson collaborated with British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
dubstep
Dubstep
Dubstep is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in south London, England. Its overall sound has been described as "tightly coiled productions with overwhelming bass lines and reverberant drum patterns, clipped samples, and occasional vocals"....
artist Caspa
Caspa
Caspa is the stage name of Gary McCann, a Dubstep music producer from West London.-Biography:McCann's creative involvement in music began after a promising basketball career was cut short by a shoulder injury...
on the track Love Never Dies (Back For The First Time), which is a new version of a previous Caspa track known simply as Back For The First Time. Rapper Nero appeared on the remix. On July 29 it was named by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
as his Hottest Record in the World Today.
Third Album (2011-present)
On 26 May 2011 it was revealed that Hudson is working on his third album, and stated he wanted a rougher, "more English" sound.On 2 July 2011 Hudson was identified as a featuring artist on Kanye West and Jay-Z's collaborative album Watch The Throne
Watch the Throne
Watch the Throne is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West, released on August 8, 2011, by Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc Nation, and Def Jam Recordings. Recording sessions for the album took place at various recording locations and began in November 2010. It was...
, via Jay-Z's official website.
Other interests
He took part in the MyPenguin project launched by the publisher PenguinPenguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
to encourage the public to design their own covers to classic paperbacks. Mr. Hudson collaborated with London graffiti artist Mighty Mo
Mighty Mo
Mighty Mo may refer to:* The Missouri River* Alex Morriss * USS Missouri * Mighty Mo...
of London Frontline, to create a cover for Animal Farm
Animal Farm
Animal Farm is an allegorical novella by George Orwell published in England on 17 August 1945. According to Orwell, the book reflects events leading up to and during the Stalin era before World War II...
by George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
.
In April 2010 Mr Hudson supported Global Cool
Global Cool
Global Cool is a green lifestyle campaign run by the Global Cool Foundation, a registered climate change charity in the United Kingdom. Global Cool works with celebrities and the media and entertainment industries to promote green behaviours such as using public transport and taking flight-free...
's campaign for flight-free holidays.
Awards
- Q Awards 2009
- Q awards - Best Breakthrougth Act -
- Best UK Act - Nominated
- Best Video "Supernova" - Nominated
- Best Collaboration ft Kanye West - "Supernova" - Nominated
- Best Newcomer - Nominated
- Best R&B Act - Nominated
- Best Song "Playing with Fire" - Won
Discography
- A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities (album)A Tale of Two Cities is the debut album from British band Mr Hudson & The Library, released on 5 March 2007. It is named after the Charles Dickens novel of the same name.-Track listing:# "On the Street Where You Live"...
(2007) - Straight No ChaserStraight No Chaser (Mr Hudson album)Straight No Chaser is the second studio album by British pop musician Mr Hudson, a follow up to the last album released under the name Mr Hudson & The Library entitled A Tale of Two Cities. Straight No Chaser was released in the UK on 19 October 2009...
(2009) - Third Album (2011/12)
Collaborations
- 2012: Untitled (with GOOD MusicGOOD MusicGOOD Music is a record label and management firm founded by music producer and artist Kanye West. "GOOD" is an acronym for "Getting Out Our Dreams".-History:...
)