Dean Blunt

Although little is known about his personal life, Blunt has said he comes from a family in Hackney, London, that he describes as "Sun readers, working class, kind of ignorant in ways"^[9]. He is of Igbo descent.

Blunt performed music with Russian-Estonian artist Inga Copeland (also known as Lolina) as the electronic duo Hype Williams from 2007 until 2012. Supposedly founded in 2005 as a "relay" project passed between artists every five years, the group has given few interviews, leaving music journalists and the media in doubt as to the exact nature of the project.^[10][11] The group's lineup has remained obscure, although Blunt's artistic style has been heard within newer releases, and a variety of other names have also been invoked as members. A mysterious representative named Denna Frances Glass has alternately been posited as either the manager of the project or a fake identity created by Blunt and Copeland.^[10][11] In 2016, Glass announced that Blunt and Copeland were no longer part of the project, which would be continuing with other members.^[12]

Blunt embarked on his solo career in 2011, releasing a set of albums as well as several EPs and singles. His first few full-length studio albums, The Narcissist II (2012), The Redeemer (2013), and Black Metal (2014), received attention and praise from various music publications.^[13][14] "BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow, his first album under experimental group Babyfather, was named the best album of 2016 by Tiny Mix Tapes and Resident Advisor.^[15][16]

In 2018, Blunt contributed heavily to A$AP Rocky's album Testing, with production and writing credits on "Purity" and "Gunz N Butter" and additional vocals on "Calldrops". Blunt's work on the album followed collaborative singles between the two artists prior, such as the Babyfather track "Benzo Amore".^[17] The pair have since collaborated on multiple recordings.^[18][19][20]

In 2024, the collaborative album Backstage Raver was released with longtime collaborator Joanne Robertson.

On 1 January 2025, Blunt would release Lucre, a collaborative EP with Iceage lead singer Elias Rønnenfelt and producer Vegyn.

Blunt has directed music videos for Actress and Panda Bear.^[21][22]

He has produced theatre works including The Narcissist at HAU1 in Berlin in 2012; Lord Knows at Le Romandie in Lausanne in 2013; and I’m Just Passin Thru To Show Some Love in 2013 and Urban in 2014, both at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.^[23] In October 2017, Blunt also debuted Inna, an opera directed by himself with music from Mica Levi, at the same institute.^[24]

Blunt has put on a number of art exhibitions, including Brixton 28s and New Paintings at Space Studios and W44VY at Arcadia Missa.^[25][26] He has also published a book compiling "excessive expenses made in the most popular VIP clubs in the hip hop scene", entitled Cîroc Boyz: Vol 1.

Blunt is known for his playfulness and obfuscation. In 2015, he sent his bodyguard to accept his Philip Hall Radar Award at the NME Awards.^[27] In 2016, he listed a toy Foxtons estate agents Mini Cooper with a splatter of pink paint filled with marijuana on eBay for £250.^[28] At a New York concert in March 2016, media guests were asked to check in under aliases that they had received with their ticket confirmations.^[29]

Blunt practices Transcendental Meditation and is a vocal proponent of it.^[30]

Solo

• Jill Scott Herring OST (2011)
• The Narcissist (mixtape) (2011)
• The Narcissist II (mixtape) (2012)
• The Redeemer (2013)
• Каменный Остров (Stone Island) (mixtape; released as Дин Блант) (2013)
• Skin Fade (mixtape) (2014)
• Black Metal (2014)
• Babyfather (mixtape) (2015)
• Soul on Fire (EP) (2018)
• Zushi (mixtape) (2019)
• King of R&B (mixtape) (2019)
• Roaches 2012–2019 (compilation) (2020)
• Black Metal 2 (2021)
• Give Me a Moment (EP) (2023)
• 🖤🗑️+4 (EP) (2024)
• Hackney Commercial Waste (compilation) (2024)^[31]

As part of Babyfather

• UK2UK (mixtape) (2015)
• Platinum Tears (mixtape) (2016)
• "BBF" Hosted by DJ Escrow (2016)
• 419 (mixtape) (2016)
• Cypher (mixtape) (2017)
• AUG Freestyle / MANNA (single) (2020)
• 1471 (single) (2022)
• Sleep It Off (single) (2023)
• bluey vuitton (single) (2024)
• teddy boi freestyle (single) (2024)
• NANCY Freestyle (single) (2025)^[32]
• ICL (EP) (2026)

Other

• The Attitude Era (compilation album of unreleased tracks with Inga Copeland) (2012)
• Black Is Beautiful (with Inga Copeland) (2012)
• Watch the Throne (with James Ferraro) (2012)^[33]
• Watch the Throne 2 (with James Ferraro) (2013)^[34]
• Hackney vs Brixton (with Gaika) (2016)^[35]
• Wahalla (with Joanne Robertson) (2017)
• Hotep (as part of Blue Iverson) (2017)
• Muggy Vol.1 (producer of a compilation on Dean Blunt's World Music imprint) (2018)
• Desert Sessions (with Delroy Edwards) (2018)
• BM 2 Kwake Dubs 2021 (remixes and outtakes) (2023)
• Backstage Raver (with Joanne Robertson) (2024)
• The Crying Nudes (with Fine Glindvad as The Crying Nudes) (2024)
• Lucre (EP) (with Elias B. Rønnenfelt & Vegyn) (2025)

As part of Hype Williams

Main article: Hype Williams (band)