98s is a British hip-hop collective based in Hackney, London. The group is named after the two postcodes, E9 (Homerton) and E8 (Holly Street), where the members are from.[1] Their members include V9, Unknown T, Kay-O (formerly KO), HitMan, DA, Jimmy, Stally, Alchubbino, Billy Billions, and Mazza. They released their debut album, Class of 98s, on 24 September 2020.[2]

98s
Class Of 98s
Class Of 98s
Background information
OriginHackney, London, England
Genres
Years active2020–present
Labels98s, Groundworks
MembersSee list

History

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98s is a collective of friends from Homerton and Holly Street in Hackney, London. On 4 November 2019, the group appeared on Tim Westwood's Crib Session for a cipher on his show.[3][4]

Individual members such as V9, Unknown T, and KO (now known as Kay-O) had success as solo artists before the collective formed in 2020, with the mixtapes Yūdokuna, Rise Above Hate, and Drilliam Shakespeare.[5] On 6 August 2020, the 98s made their debut as a group with the single "Homerton2Holly".[6] Their second and third singles, "Taco" and "Pay Attention," were released on 27 August and 10 September.[7][8] On 24 September 2020, they released their debut album, Class of 98s.[9] On 12 February 2021, they released the single "WeDa1s".[10]

On 13 December 2023 Kay-O (real name Kammar Henry-Richards), HitMan (real name Jeffrey Gyimah), Ka’mani Brightly-Donaldson and Joao Pateco-Te were found guilty of murder. The killing happened on 13 August 2022 in Walthamstow.[11][12]

Members

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Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details
Class of 98s
  • Released: 24 September 2020
  • Label: 98s
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

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Title Year Album
"Homerton2Holly"
(with Jimmy, Stally, DA, Hitman, Mazza, Kay-O & Billy Billions)
2020 Class of 98s
"Taco"
(with V9, Billy Billions, AlChubbino, Jimmy & Stally)
"Pay Attention"
(with Stally, Jimmy, V9, DA & Kay-O)
"Family"
(with V9, Alchubbino, Jimmy & Billy Billions)
"Wait a Minute"
(with Billy Billions, AlChubbino & Kay-O)
"Plugged In"
(with Fumez the Engineer, Stally, Mazza, Billy Billions & DA)
Non-album single
"WeDa1s"
(with Kay-O, AlChubbino, Jimmy, Stally, Billy Billions, Hitman, DA & Mazza)
2021 TBA

Individual discography

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Artist Title Details
Kay-O This Sh#ts Ments
  • Released: 26 October 2018
  • Label: TSM Records
  • Format: Digital download
V9 Homerton Sensei
  • Released: 20 May 2019
  • Label: Double S Records
  • Format: Digital download
Kay-O Murk With A Mouth
  • Released: 1 November 2019
  • Label: TSM Records
  • Format: Digital download
V9 Yūdokuna
  • Released: 29 May 2020
  • Label: Venomous
  • Format: Digital download
Unknown T Rise Above Hate
  • Released: 17 July 2020
  • Label: A Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Unknown T Adolescence
  • Released: 30 July 2021
  • Label: A Stay Solid Music, Island
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
V9 Murk With A Mouth
  • Released: 22 November 2021
  • Label: GRM Daily Lmt, V9
  • Format: Digital download
Kay-O Fine Line
  • Released: 26 November 2021
  • Label: TSM Records
  • Format: Digital download
Billy Billions Me vs Me
  • Released: 10 March 2022
  • Label: TallyVision
  • Format: Digital download

References

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  1. ^ Crone, David. "98s Biography". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "98S RELEASE HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED PROJECT 'CLASS OF 98S'". GRM Daily.
  3. ^ "GRM EXCLUSIVE: 98S DISCUSS DEBUT MIXTAPE, BEING MORE THAN A DRILL GROUP & PLANS FOR 2021". GRM Daily.
  4. ^ "GRM KO, V9, Jimmy & More Join Tim Westwood For New 'Crib Session' Freestyle". GRM Daily.
  5. ^ Akilu, Rahel. "UK Drill Crew 98s Tell Us About Their School Days". Vice.
  6. ^ "PREMIERE: 98S' KO, JIMMY, BILLY BILLIONS, HITMAN, DA, STALLY & MAZZA CONNECT FOR "HOMERTON2HOLLY"". GRM Daily.
  7. ^ "PREMIERE: 98S' V9, BILLY BILLIONS, ALCHUBBINO, JIMMY & STALLY HEAD TO BARCELONA IN NEW VISUALS FOR "TACO"". GRM Daily.
  8. ^ "PREMIERE: 98S' STALLY, JIMMY, V9, DA & KO UNLEASH "PAY ATTENTION!" VISUALS". GRM Daily.
  9. ^ "98'S HAVE RELEASED THEIR HIGHLY-AWAITED 'CLASS OF 98' PROJECT". MixtapeMadness.
  10. ^ "RISING DRILL COLLECTIVE #98S PROJECT THEIR CREATIVITY WITH VISUALS TO NEW TRACK 'WEDA1S'". The Link Up.
  11. ^ "Walthamstow: Kacey Boothe's killers found guilty of murder". BBC.
  12. ^ "Drill rapper Kay-O and three others convicted of murder". Hackney Gazette.