Jamie Adenuga (born 4 May 1985), known professionally as Jme, is a British grime MC, songwriter, record producer and DJ who was born in Hackney, and raised in Tottenham.[1][2] He is the co-founder of the crew and label Boy Better Know.[3][4] He also serves as a sole owner and director of an associated company, Boy Better Know Limited, which he incorporated in 2008.[5] He was previously part of the grime collective Meridian Crew and later Roll Deep alongside his older brother, Skepta.

Jme
Jme in 2015
Born
Jamie Adenuga

(1985-05-04) 4 May 1985 (age 39)
London, England
Occupations
Spouse
Sarah Cavanagh
(m. 2016)
Children2
Relatives
Musical career
GenresGrime
LabelsBoy Better Know

Early life

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Jamie Adenuga[6] was born on 4 May 1985,[6][7] in Hackney, into a family who are of Nigerian descent.[8] He grew up in Tottenham, North London where he lived in a council house.[9] He attended St. Paul's School and then Winchmore School in Winchmore Hill, Enfield along with his younger brother Jason, elder brother Joseph and sister Julie. Adenuga subsequently graduated from the University of Greenwich having studied 3D digital design.[10][11][7]

Career

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He started out producing by making mobile phone ringtones. He later used Mario Paint and Game Boy Camera. In his song “96 Bars Of Revenge” Adenuga also references himself using Fruity Loops, Pro Tools and Logic Studio. Adenuga also co-owns his own T-shirt chain, bearing the labels of himself,[12] his record label Boy Better Know, and his dormant nightclub Straight Outta Bethnal. He released his debut album Famous? and an album through a major label with the whole of Boy Better Know.

In October 2008, he became one of a small number of unsigned artists to headline at the London Astoria.[13]

Jme released a single, "Over Me", in September 2009. He followed this single with another, "Sidetracked", which featured Wiley, followed by "CD is Dead", which featured Tempa T. These three singles are featured on the album, Blam!, which was released on 4 October 2010.

On 13 February 2011, Jme released a compilation album entitled History: which peaked at 162 on the UK Albums Chart.[citation needed]

In January 2012, Jme released a single, "96 Fuckries", which entered the chart at number 41.[14]

Jme's third studio album, Integrity>, was released on 4 May 2015. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number twelve.[15] It was one of nineteen records nominated for the IMPALA Album of the Year Award.[16]

During 2019, Jme entered an eleven-month hiatus from social media. On 14 November 2019, Jme announced the release of his fourth studio album, Grime MC, which was released on 29 November 2019.[17][18] The album was released exclusively on CD and vinyl during its initial release.[19] Grime MC was positively received by Clash, which gave it 8/10,[20] while Pitchfork called it "the strongest record of his career".[21]

Personal life

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Adenuga is a vegan and teetotaler.[22][23][24] Adenuga is the brother of Beats 1 DJ and radio host Julie Adenuga, fellow grime artist Skepta, and graphic designer and producer Jason.[25][26]

Jme married Sarah Cavanagh, his longtime girlfriend, in August 2016.[27] Their daughter, Rosè, was born in May 2018.[28]

While campaigning for the 2017 UK general election, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn met with Jme to encourage people to register to vote, with Jme saying "I'm on Jeremy's Snapchat to make sure you register to vote."[29][30]

Jme is also known for his involvement with the Sidemen, a British YouTube collective consisting of seven YouTube personalities, and has appeared in their YouTube videos. He has participated in all five of the Sidemen's charity football matches between 2016 and 2023.[31] He featured on the group's song "Christmas Drillings".[32]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
Famous?
Blam!
  • Released: 4 October 2010
  • Label: Boy Better Know
  • Formats: CD, digital download
66
Integrity>
  • Released: 4 May 2015
  • Label: Boy Better Know
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
12
Grime MC
  • Released: 29 November 2019
  • Label: Boy Better Know
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
26

Collaborative albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
Norf Face
(with Capo Lee, Frisco and Shorty)
  • Released: 5 March 2021
  • Label: Norf Face
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Compilation albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
History:
  • Released: 13 February 2011
  • Label: Boy Better Know
  • Formats: CD, Digital download
162

Mixtapes

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  • 2006: Boy Better Know – Edition 1: Shh Hut Yuh Muh
  • 2006: Boy Better Know – Edition 2: Poomplex
  • 2006: Boy Better Know – Edition 3: Derkhead
  • 2006: Boy Better Know – Edition 4: Tropical (Instrumental mixtape)
  • 2011: Boy Better Know – Tropical 2 (Instrumental mixtape)
  • 2015: Jme – 48 Hour Mixtape (Free Stream)

Vinyl

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  • Jme - Five Stars (Stylized as ☆☆☆☆☆)**
  • Jme – Badderman EP
  • Jme – Calm Down
  • Jme – Don't Chat
  • Jme – The Jme EP – Rice and Peas
  • Jme – Joel Shut Your Mouth
  • Jme – Meridian Walk
  • Jme – Serious/Calm Down EP
  • Jme – Serious Serious EP
  • Jme – Waste Man EP
  • Commodo ft. JME- Shift[34]
  • Jme/Grime Reaper – Safe and Sound EP
  • Jme/Skepta – Adamantium EP
  • Jme/Trigz – Berr Quick EP
  • Jme/Trigz – The Nu EP
  • Jme – Integrity>
  • Jme – Integrity> Instrumental
  • Jme – Grime MC

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[35]
UK
Indie

[36]

"Over Me" 2009 Blam!
"Sidetracked"
(featuring Wiley)
2010 14
"CD Is Dead"
(featuring Tempa T)
15
"Jme" 2011
"96 F**Kries" 2012 41 3 Integrity>
"Murking" 90 5 Non-album singles
"Banger"
(featuring Wiley)
2013 5
"If You Don't Know" 97 10
"Work" 133 16 Integrity>
"Integrity" 82 9
"T.R.O.N" Non-album single
"Taking Over? (It Ain't Working)" 2014 15 Integrity>
"Man Don't Care"[38]
(featuring Giggs)
2015 100 10
"Issmad" 2020 Grime MC
"96 of My Life"
"—" denotes single that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
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Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[35]
UK
R&B
"Maybe Ting Refix"
(Ozzie B featuring Lip E, Double S, Shocka, Flirta D, Lethal Bizzle, Jme and Frisco) [40]
2010 Non-album single
"Radio"
(Ed Sheeran featuring Jme)
2011 No.5 Collaborations Project
"Pow 2011"
(Lethal Bizzle featuring Jme, Wiley, Chipmunk, Face, P Money, Ghetts and Kano)
33 10 Best of Bizzle
"Can You Hear Me? (Ayayaya)"
(Wiley featuring Skepta, Jme and Ms D)
2012 3 The Ascent
"German Whip"
(Meridian Dan featuring Big H and Jme)
2014 13 I Am London
"That's Not Me"
(Skepta featuring Jme)
21 Konnichiwa
"Rari WorkOut"
(Lethal Bizzle featuring Tempa T and Jme)
11 2 Non-album single
"Keep Up"
(KSI featuring Jme)
2015 45 7 Keep Up
"Say Nada"
(Shakka featuring Jme)
75 10 The Lost Boys
"House & Pop"
(President T featuring Jme)
2016 T on the Wing
"Box"[45]
(Lethal Bizzle featuring Jme and Face)
Non-album single
"Style & Flows"
(Double S featuring Jme)
The Intent soundtrack
"Running Wild"
(Goldie 1 featuring Jme)
Non-album singles
"My Yard"
(Bossman Birdie featuring Jme)
"Gone Mad"
(Blay Vision featuring Jme)
2017 Turner Avenue
"Off to Work"
(Dapz On The Map featuring Jme)
2018 Champion Settings
"Born on Your Own"
(Maxsta featuring Jme)
Maxtape 2
"Fall Off"
(Big Zuu featuring Jme)
Content with Content
"Angles"
(Miraa May featuring Jme)
2019 Dark
"Pull Up"
(KSI featuring Jme)
94 New Age
"Icey"
(Ironik featuring Jme)
Non-album single
"Red Card"
(Frisco featuring Skepta, Jammer and Jme)
2020 58 The Familiar Stranger
"Don't Know About You"[46]
(B Live featuring Becky Hill and Jme)
2021 Non-album singles
"Christmas Drillings"
(Sidemen featuring Jme)
2022 3
"What You Know About That"
(Dizzee Rascal featuring Jme and D Double E)
2024 Don't Take It Personal
"New Era"
(House of Pharaohs featuring Jme)
Non-album singles
"Know Me Better"
(Vikkstar and Masked Wolf featuring Jme)
"—" denotes single that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

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Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Level Up" 2012 Sway Non-album singles
"Man's Not Hot (MC Mix)" 2017 Big Shaq, Lethal Bizzle, Chip, Krept & Konan
"Right Now"[47] 2018 Chip, Frisco Ten10
"Player One" 2019 P Money, KSI Money Over Everyone III
"Night Time (Remix)" 2020 Master Peace, Sophie DeMasi Non-album single
"Egyptian Cotton" 2022 Example, Local, Westneat We May Grow Old But We Never Grow Up

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 The Naughty List Big Nick Short Film [48]
2024 The Sidemen Story Himself Documentary
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2017 Carnage JME Television Film [citation needed]

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Spicer, Kate (21 February 2010). "The sound of the underground: Grime music has been growing steadily for years. And now it's got fashion, TV, and even Ed Balls in its grip. Kate Spicer meets the makers of a scene that's straight from the street", The Sunday Times, p. 14.
  2. ^ "JME | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ^ Koch, Christian (15 March 2010). "Nice threads: American rapper Pharrell's Pounds 250 hoodies are top sellers at Harvey Nicks and London's homegrown rap artists are launching their own ranges amid massive demand, reports Christian Koch: 'We're in a unique position, we've got a cult following'", Evening Standard, p. 31.
  4. ^ "Skepta's Mission". The FADER. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  5. ^ "BOY BETTER KNOW LTD people – Find and update company information – GOV.UK". Companies House. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Jme's 'Grime MC' Is A Grassroots Triumph". Clash. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b Carter, Brooke (16 March 2018). "JME Net Worth 2018". The Gazette Review. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  8. ^ Adabra, Michelle (25 August 2005). "Boy Better Know Now", New Nation (602): 15.
  9. ^ Rajan, Amol (24 September 2007). "Should grime clean up its act?", The Independent, p. 14.
  10. ^ "Jme". Alumni | University of Greenwich. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  11. ^ Jme, (30 January 2012), Twitter Archived 9 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Flint, Hanna (8 June 2015). "JME's T-shirt with his face on it is as cheeky as the cheeky Nandos he's eating". Metro. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  13. ^ Verma, Rahul (21 November 2008). "Grime's coming of age", The Independent, p. 20.
  14. ^ "Stormzy makes history after freestyle enters Top 40 Chart". www.voice-online.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  15. ^ "Mumford & Sons score their second Number 1 album". Official Charts Company. 10 May 2015. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Young labels featured in shortlist for IMPALA Album of the Year Award". Impala Music. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  17. ^ "JME teases new album, Grime MC, with YouTube video". FACT Magazine. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Jme's 'Grime MC' Album Is Incoming". Clash Music. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  19. ^ "JME announces Grime MC release date, shares tour details". Crack Magazine. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  20. ^ "JME – Grime MC". Clash Magazine. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  21. ^ "Jme: Grime MC". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  22. ^ Jme on Twitter: "I didn't turn. I stopped eating animals. Why? Education RT @Mahesh93: @JmeBBK why did you turn vegan?" Archived 8 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Twitter.com (21 January 2014). Retrieved on 2015-11-02.
  23. ^ The Police vs Grime Music – A Noisey Film Archived 12 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. YouTube (29 May 2014). Retrieved on 2015-11-02.
  24. ^ "Form 696: The Police Versus Grime Music". Vice Media. Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Skepta, JME, Julie ... are the Adenugas Britain's most creative family?". the Guardian. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  26. ^ Williams, Isla (16 October 2020). "Skepta and JME open up on how tough childhood spurred their success". Metro. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  27. ^ Grime Report http://thegrimereport.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/jme-gets-married-congratulations.html Archived 29 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ^ "Skepta's Baby: Everything You Need To Know About The Child". Daily Feed. 11 July 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  29. ^ "Jme met with Jeremy Corbyn to encourage young people to vote". The Independent. 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  30. ^ Jade, Kelly (15 May 2017). "Jeremy Corbyn sits down with grime artist JME to encourage young people to vote". Metro. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  31. ^ "Sidemen FC vs YouTube Allstars Charity Match – Match Report and VoD – KSI, KEEMSTAR, FaZe Adapt and more!". Dexerto.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  32. ^ Partidge, Ken (7 December 2022). "British YouTube Crew Sidemen Take Aim At Santa On New Song "Christmas Drillings"". Genius.
  33. ^ "Jme – Integrity". British Phonographic Industry. 27 January 2017.
  34. ^ "Commodo ft. JME's 'Shift' is Full of Advice for Aspiring Rudebois | Thump". Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  35. ^ a b "JME – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  36. ^ Peak chart positions for singles in the United Kingdom:
  37. ^ "Jme – 96 F**kries". British Phonographic Industry. 20 October 2023.
  38. ^ Knightly, Jessica. (4 May 2015) Watch JME's "Man Don't Care" Video f/ Giggs | Complex UK Archived 3 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Uk.complex.com. Retrieved on 2015-11-02.
  39. ^ "Jme Ft Giggs – Man Don't Care". British Phonographic Industry. 7 August 2020.
  40. ^ Maybe Ting Refix – GMTA, Firecamp, Marvel + Boy Better Know Refix DJ RAPH MASHUP REMIX by djraphrelentless | DJ Raph Relentless | Free Listening on SoundCloud Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Soundcloud.com. Retrieved on 2 November 2015.
  41. ^ "Wiley/Skepta/Jme/Ms D – Can You Hear Me (Ayayaya)". British Phonographic Industry. 14 October 2016.
  42. ^ "Skepta Ft Jme – That's Not Me". British Phonographic Industry. 5 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Lethal Bizzle Ft Jme & Tempa T". British Phonographic Industry. 15 May 2022.
  44. ^ "Shakka Ft Jme – Say Nada". British Phonographic Industry. 10 August 2018.
  45. ^ "Box (feat. JME & Face) – Single by Lethal Bizzle". iTunes Store. Apple. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  46. ^ Ingram, Niamh (23 January 2022). "Listen to B Live's new UKG single, 'Don't Know About You' featuring JME". Mixmag. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  47. ^ "Ten10 by Chip". iTunes (UK). Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  48. ^ "THE WORLD'S BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE: THE NAUGHTY LIST". 24 December 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2024 – via YouTube.
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