Benjamin Coyle-Larner, better known by the spoonerism of Loyle Carner, is a rap artist and actor from South London. He went to the Brit School on a drama scholarship and started a drama degree at the Drama Centre, but dropped out after his stepdad’s death to focus on music.
His first proper gig was when he supported MF Doom, aka one of the most admired figures in rap, at The Button Factory in Dublin in October 2012. His first EP, A Little Late, came out two years later. He supported Joey Bada$$ and then did the 2015 festival season including Glastonbury. In 2015 he toured and collaborated with Kate Tempest, and supported Nas at the O2 Arena in London in October 2016 – and he hasn’t even released his debut album yet (Yesterday’s Gone, released on January 20th).
Grime caught his attention, and especially people like Kano, Lethal Bizzle, Skepta. His lyrics are sensitive, unexpected for most who aren’t into that scene but with understandable with themes in songs like ‘Cantona’ and ‘BFG’ of death and sadness and the complete honesty he puts into them. He learnt to express himself in childhood school rap battles and he’s only gone on to improve since. He’s going to be huge this year – make sure you go and see him!
Tickets for his tour are available here.
