Ty.

Nigerian-British rapper and spoken word artist Ty was praised for his clever, mature lyrics and mild-mannered flow, as well as his inventive productions, which incorporated influences such as jazz, dub, Latin rhythms, and broken beat. Confident and playful while avoiding the braggadocio or machismo of much commercial hip-hop, his agile, literate rhymes addressed everyday subjects such as relationship problems and self-identity, as well as bigger issues like gun violence and racism. He earned respect from critics (his second album, 2003's Upwards, was nominated for the prestigi...