Written By: Sik Frydas

Over the past decade and a half, Guvna B has carved out a distinctive space in UK music as a thoughtful, considered voice in hip-hop. Born Isaac Borquaye in Custom House, East London, the rapper, singer, author, and broadcaster first emerged in the late 2000s with his debut project, quickly earning recognition for blending sharp lyricism with conscious, relatable storytelling.

A three-time MOBO Award winner, he has released a string of albums that tackle everything from personal growth and community issues to joy and resilience, while also building a career as a broadcaster and writer, including his bestselling book, Unspoken, on toxic masculinity.

Now, with his tenth studio album, This Bed I Made, Guvna B steps into his most vulnerable chapter yet. In this in-depth interview, the artist reflects on why this level of raw honesty only felt possible after years of mistakes and growth. He discusses the emotional weight behind the project’s accompanying film, the grounding influence of fatherhood, and the power of collaborating with figures like Dr Gabor Maté to break down barriers around mental health for people from backgrounds like his.

Musically, the album sees him evolve toward richer live instrumentation, drawing inspiration from authentic voices such as Navy Blue, Loyle Carner, and Ezra Collective. As he prepares to perform at the iconic Ronnie Scott’s, this conversation reveals an artist who has moved from wearing protective layers to embracing full transparency.

This is your tenth album and one of your most exposing. Why now, not earlier in your career?

“I lived a lot of my life wearing a mask. Earlier on, when you’re an impressionable young person still plucking up the courage to live life, it feels very vulnerable sharing your deepest and darkest. I had to get older, make some mistakes, lose some things I loved, to think, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose, bro. I might as well live as honestly as possible.’ I got to that point through just living.”

In the film there’s the motif of a coin with masks on it. What did that represent?

Guv: I wrote the film with the director Christoph Davis, and the motif was his idea. It came out of a conversation about how, with dependency and addiction and shame, you wake up and don’t know what’s going to trigger you, whether it’s going to be a good day or a bad day. The idea of the coin was that it’s not always down to your intention. Sometimes it’s a default factory setting your body resets to, and that can be hard to navigate.

Do you think your best work has come from pain?

“100%, man. Out of pain there’s a lot of positivity. Sometimes if you don’t feel that, you can’t push yourself into the season of life you need to be in. You have to use the pain to move forward, like fuel and ammunition. When I look back at the work that’s resonated most, it’s always been the stuff about pain. Although there was one I did with Ezra Collective, “These Days,” that’s just a happy song, and people love that one too. So it’s not just the pain.”

Has having kids forced you to look on the bright side?

“Kids are a reminder that nothing in life is that deep. They can be sad one second, and the next day you’re their best friend. They’re quick to forget, always optimistic. As adults we need to be more like kids. But it’s also such a responsibility raising kids in this generation, so I want to be the best I can be.”

You worked with Dr Gabor Maté on this album. How have those kinds of conversations changed for you?

“Growing up, council estate culture, you hear names like the Samaritans. Then someone like Dr Gabor Maté says something wise, but there’s something ingrained in us where we think, “That’s not for us. I’m not calling that number, that’s not for people like us.” When someone like me, from my background, collaborates with people in those worlds, it sends a message to people of a similar upbringing that, “Oh, that is for us. We can tap into that too.” It signposts people in the right way.”

Your last album was about something that happened to you. This one you had a hand in. What was it like switching modes?

“A completely different feeling, a humbling experience, because no one likes saying, “My bad, I messed up.” You’ve got to kill a lot of ego to get there. But that’s been good for me, because if I can’t do that, I can’t move forward or learn. When you stand on stage and say, “My dad passed away,” immediately you get love, love, love. But when you say, “I messed up, I should have known better”… it just shows me no one’s perfect.”

How much of the album flowed pen to paper versus redrafting?

“The lyrics flowed very naturally, not much drafting at all. But the music — there was a lot of redrafting, because it’s a new sound for me. I wanted more live instruments, so most of it was recorded with live drums and live bass, and we got really particular with takes. One tune, “Rest My Head,” the first single, there were like 11 versions.”

What were you listening to that shaped the sound?

“Rappers with a lot of substance. My number one on Spotify was Navy Blue, who’s got a similar journey to me. People like Loyle Carner, Kofi Stone. What helps their music connect is that authentic live influence. And one of my closest friends is in Ezra Collective, every time I see them live there’s a quality you don’t get from headphones. I wanted people to feel that.”

Where are you excited to perform this album?

“I’ve got two shows in one night at Ronnie Scott’s. An iconic venue, one night I think my dad will be proud of. You’ve got Stevie Wonder, Amy Winehouse, real class musicians with a message who’ve played there. I’m looking forward to that one.”

The post GRM Exclusive: Guvna B Discusses New Album, Why He’s Leaning Into Vulnerability Now & More appeared first on GRM Daily.