Singer-songwriter, rapper and record producer Example has been a feature both in the UK and internationally in the hip-hop and grime scene for a number of years. After gaining national recognition thanks to airplay on BBC Radio 1 shows hosted by Zane Lowe and Jo Whiley, Example went on to have a number of UK No. 1 singles and released albums that charted in the UK, Ireland, Europe and the US. Example took his rapping inspiration from ‘90s trailblazers Snoop Dog and the Wu Tang Clan, but mixed that with music that moves between rave, drum and bass, and trance.
In late 2012 he toured the UK with 13 dates that culminated in a huge show at Manchester Arena. Example played in front of tens of thousands of frantic fans at Glastonbury 2013 as well as a number of sold out warm-up gigs before the festival. He was nominated for both BRIT Awards and the BT Digital Music Awards in 2011 and 2012.
Early in his career he worked with Mike Skinner of The Streets, who went on to sign Example to his own record label The Beats for his first album, What We Made. The second album, titled Won't Go Quietly, made a serious dent in the UK album charts and gained him more airplay on BBC Radio 1. The third album, Playing in the Shadows, debuted at No. 1 in the UK album chart and did very well internationally. The second single from the album, “Stay Awake,” was produced by Nero and reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart. Example has become a mainstay of the UK summer festival scene and continues to develop and mould his diverse musical style.
Example may take his rapping inspiration from the US, but his musical roots in London are clearly on display. A mixture of UK hip-hop, industrial rave, grime and acid house has meant that Example's music covers many bases and he has a very diverse range of fans. He has worked with artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, The Streets, The Wanted and Technikal. A keen film-maker, Example has produced short documentaries and hopes to move into the feature film world. He once also tried his hand at stand-up comedy, with a chance to learn from and work with Richard Herring. Example also has helped a number of different charities and has been an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
