Guvna B

Isaac Charles Bortey Borquaye (born 13 June 1989), better known as Guvna B, is a rapper, author, and broadcaster from Custom House, London. He has released 10 albums, written two books, produced segments for the BBC, and served as a football pundit for Sky Sports News' Good Morning Transfers. He has also made appearances on television and in schools to discuss topics that affect young people from underprivileged communities.

Guvna B
Guvna B in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Isaac Charles Bortey Borquaye[1]
Also known as	Guvna B
Born	(1989-06-13) 13 June 1989 (age 35) Custom House, Newham, England
Genres	Grime British hip hop Christian hip hop gospel CCM
Occupation(s)	Rapper, author, broadcaster
Years active	2007–present
Website	www.guvnab.com

Biography

Guvna B was born in London, England in June 1989, to Ghanaian parents from Accra.^[2] Speaking on his upbringing, he has said: "My upbringing helped me find my faith. The negative things I saw in my society inspired me to do better and inspire people to be the best they can be instead of becoming stereotypical products of a negative environment".^[3] He later graduated from University of Hertfordshire studying business and journalism.^[4]

He has released ten albums and is the recipient of two MOBO Awards for Best Gospel Act,^[5] three Urban Music Awards for Best Gospel Act or Artist, and a Gospel Music Award for Best Gospel Artist. He was the first rapper to top the Official Christian and Gospel Charts for his 2013 album Odd1Out.^[6] His story was shared with many when he was featured in the 22 March 2013 issue of the music industry magazine Music Week in a feature covering the gospel music industry in the UK.^[7] He has worked with Wretch 32, Samm Henshaw, Matt Redman, Michelle Williams and Andy Mineo.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2013, Guvna B launched his own urban clothing brand, Allo Mate.^[8]

Unpopular Culture was published in 2017 by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,^[9] and Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man was published by Harper Inspire, an imprint of HarperCollins, in 2021 after his father's death from cancer.^[10]

He has presented documentaries on both radio and TV including BBC World Service's Gospel Meets Hip-Hop,^[11] and BBC Radio 2's Keeping the Peace.^[12] He has appeared as a pundit on Sky Sports News' Good Morning Transfers, and as a guest on The Zoe Ball Breakfast show on BBC Radio 2.^[13]

Guvna B has two children, a son and a daughter. ^[14] He is a fan of West Ham United F.C.^[15] His cousin is the actress and screenwriter Michaela Coel.^[16] Guvna B also appears in many videos of the Korean Englishman and JOLLY Youtube channel as a frequent guest.

Works

Discography

• The Narrow Road (31 May 2008)
• Scrapbook (1 January 2011)
• Next Ting 140 (18 August 2011)
• Odd1Out (26 May 2013)
• Scrapbook II (31 March 2014)
• Something for the Summer (3 August 2014)^[17]
• Secret World (20 November 2015)^[18]
• Hands are Made for Working (18 May 2018)
• everywhere + nowhere (3 April 2020)
• The Village is On Fire (26 May 2023)

Bibliography

• Unpopular Culture. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 2017. ISBN 978-0281076314.
• Unspoken: Toxic Masculinity and How I Faced the Man Within the Man. Harper Inspire. 2021. ISBN 9780310112471.

Awards and nominations

Year	Category	Award	Result	Ref
2009	Gospel Music Awards	Best Gospel Artist 2009	Won	[19]
2009	Urban Music Awards	Best Gospel Act 2009	Won	[20][21]
2010	MOBO Awards	Best Gospel Act 2010	Won	[22]
2012	RARE Rising Stars	UK's Top 10 Black Students 2012	Won	[23]
2013	Urban Music Awards	Best Gospel Artist 2013	Won	[24]
2013	MOBO Awards	Best Gospel Artist 2013	Nominated	[25]
2013	Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards	Music Artist of the Year 2013	Nominated	[26]
2016	MOBO Awards	Best Gospel Artist 2016	Won	[27]
2020	MOBO Awards	Best Gospel Artist 2020	Nominated	[28]
2020	Urban Music Awards	Best Gospel Act 2020	Won	[29]
2021	MOBO Awards	Best Gospel Act 2021	Won	[30]