Bree Runway
Birth nameBrenda Wireko Mensah
Born (1992-11-18) 18 November 1992
Hackney, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
Years active2015–present
LabelsEMI Records (former)
Websitebreerunwaymusic.com

Brenda Wireko Mensah[2] (born 18 November 1992[3][4]), known professionally as Bree Runway, is an English singer, songwriter and rapper of Ghanaian descent. She signed to EMI Records (former) in 2018 and subsequently released her first commercial EP Be Runway (2019), followed by her debut mixtape, 2000and4Eva (2020), which spawned the single "ATM" featuring Missy Elliott. Runway won the award for Best New International Act at the 2021 BET Awards,[5] and was nominated for the 2022 Brit Award for Rising Star.

Early life

Mensah was born on 18 November 1992 in Hackney, where she was raised.[6] She is of Ghanaian descent. She resided on a street given the nickname "Murder mile" due to high rates of crime and conflict.[6][7] Runway views her upbringing and experiences as her having to have "thick skin", resilience and "having instilled a fight in me" which she is thankful for.[7] At the age of 9, Runway experienced bullying and colourism which caused her to bleach her skin and have a negative chemical reaction to the product.[8] Runway credits those moments as shaping her both as a person and an artist.[6] Runway discussed the positive shift in attitude regarding her skin when she went to a college in South London where she met model Leomie Anderson who encouraged Runway to take pictures of herself and "take charge of our situations".[8]

In an interview, she disclosed that she was only interested in music at school but never thought of herself as a musician. She enrolled in a Music technology subject which taught her the basics of music production. As a result, Runway started making beats and freestyling with her friends. Runway discussed that she purchased a "DIY home studio" setup with her first pay cheque which was where she was singing over self-produced beats and writing her own songs. Earlier material such as RNWY 01 was recorded with her DIY setup and explained that the self-sufficiency taught her what musical sound she wanted to pursue.[9] Runway revealed that Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, once visited her school where she performed for her and was told to keep pursuing a musical career and that she wanted to see her performing at the White House to which Runway responded "Invite me then!".[8]

Career

2015–2019: Career beginnings and Be Runway

Bree Runway made her solo debut with the self-released EPs titled RNWY 01 and Bouji being released in November 2015 and May 2016 respectively.[10][11][12] Runway commercially released her debut single "Butterfly" in November 2016. A music video was released alongside the song, which was shot in Dubai, by model Leomie Anderson and directed by Runway herself.[12]

On 21 September 2017, Bree Runway released "What Do I Tell My Friends?" which debuted alongside a music video.[13] The video would gather major attention, being her first to pass over one hundred thousand views, and praise due to its serious message of exploitation of young females in the fashion industry.[14] Bree Runway was featured on British electronic duo Metroplane's single "Word of Mouth" which was released in February 2018.[15]

Bree Runway signed to Virgin EMI Records in 2018. In May 2019, she released the single "2ON" as her major-label debut.[16] The track would later be included on Paper's critics list of the Top 50 Songs of 2019.[17] Car company Toyota would also use the track in an advertisement for their C-HR Leave Ordinary Behind campaign.[18][1] In July 2019, the single "Big Racks" featuring Brooke Candy was released.[19] Bree Runway released her major-label debut EP Be Runway on 16 August 2019 which was preceded by singles "2ON" and "Big Racks" featuring Brooke Candy.[20][7] A video for the track "All Night" was released five days later, making it the third and final single from the EP.

2020–present: 2000and4Eva and Woah, What a Blur!

On 5 March 2020, Bree Runway released the single "Apeshit" which was met with critical acclaim and drew immediate comparisons to Missy Elliott who would later co-sign the track on Twitter.[9] A censored version of the song titled, "Ain't It", was included on the FIFA 21 VOLTA Football soundtrack.[21] During April 2020, Bree Runway was featured on the cover of Issue 87 of British magazine Notion.[22] On 28 April 2020, Runway announced that her next single would be titled "Damn Daniel" and would be a collaboration with American singer and rapper Baby Tate.[23] The single was released on 30 April, alongside a "quarantine edition" music video.[24] The song was featured on Annie Mac's Future Sounds show on BBC Radio 1 as the "Hottest Record in the World" on 30 April.[25]

On 10 July 2020, Bree Runway was featured on a remix of Rina Sawayama’s single "XS".[26] In July 2020, Bree Runway released the single "Gucci" with American rapper Maliibu Miitch. She also released the single "Little Nokia" in September 2020, which would later go onto be ranked the fourth best song of 2020 by Time.[27][28] In October 2020, Bree Runway was the cover star for the DIY issue of British magazine Hunger.[29] In October 2020, Runway announced the release of her debut mixtape, 2000and4Eva, which was released on 6 November 2020 via Virgin EMI Records.[30] The mixtape's release was preceded and supported by the singles; "Apeshit", "Damn Daniel", "Gucci", "Little Nokia" and "ATM". A music video for the mixtape's fifth single, "ATM" featuring Missy Elliott, was released on 11 January 2021.[31] A solo version of the song, subtitled the "Breemix", was released on 25 January 2021.[32]

On 28 March 2021, Bree Runway announced the release of the single, "Hot Hot", which was released on 31 March 2021.[33] On 20 May 2021, "Space Ghost Coast to Coast", a collaboration with English band Glass Animals was released.[34] In the beginning of September 2021, she was featured on the Jimmy Edgar remix of "Babylon" by Lady Gaga off her remix album Dawn of Chromatica,[35] as well as in the music video for "Have Mercy" by Chlöe.[36] In December 2021, Runway made her debut award show performance at the 2021 MOBO Awards, where she performed "Hot Hot" and teased a new single "Pressure".[37] "Pressure" was released on 7 February 2022.[38] The following month, "Somebody Like You" was released, which served as the second of three releases.[39] On 27 September 2022, Runway announced the release of the single "That Girl", which was released on 29 September. The song served as the lead single from her fourth EP, Woah, What a Blur!, which was released on 8 December 2022.

In February 2023, Runway was the main support act for Lizzo's The Special Tour during select European dates.

Artistry

I always feel the need to correct people anytime they call me an R&B sensation. I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it. I’m not R&B. I need to keep reinforcing this because the world is so obsessed with labelling people and putting them in boxes that sometimes people lose who they are, and then they start obsessing and put themselves in a box. Then people don’t feel comfortable stepping out and being who they are because this is what they are being told is how they should be, and it’s so wrong.

—Bree Runway on genre categorization[40]

Bree Runway has expressed her sound as "genre-bending" as well as "genre fluid" with her material experimenting with a multitude of genres including; pop, trap, dance, R&B, rock, and hyperpop. Despite being signed to a major label, Runway revealed that she is entirely in charge of her creative process.[8] Runway explains that she tries to study genres that she doesn't listen to on a daily basis quoting that there is "inspiration everywhere". When discussing Runway's sound, she emphasizes her disapproval with genre labelling, rejecting the labels of a rapper or an "R&B sensation" and claiming that―if she weren't Black―she wouldn't be labelled as such, while insisting on being dubbed a "popstar".[41]

She cites Lil' Kim, Britney Spears, Madonna, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Kelis and the Neptunes as her biggest influences.[9]

Personal life

Runway identifies as black and queer. She adopted her four-year-old cousin, Nonni, following her aunt's death in 2020. She currently lives in London with her wife and adopted daughter.[42]

Discography

Mixtapes

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
BBC 2020 Sound of 2021 Herself Nominated [43]
BET Awards 2021 Best New International Act Won [5]
Brit Awards 2022 Rising Star Nominated [44]
MOBO Awards 2020 Video of the Year "Apeshit" Nominated [45]
2021 "Hot Hot" Nominated [46]
Best Female Act Herself Nominated
Music Video Festival 2021 Revelation in Direction "ATM" (with Missy Elliot) Nominated [47]
NME Awards 2022 Best New Act in the World Herself Nominated [48]
Best New Act from the UK Nominated
Popjustice £20 Music Prize 2018 Best British Pop Single "Word of Mouth" (with Alex Metric) Nominated [49]
2020 "Damn Daniel" (with Yung Baby Tate) Nominated
2021 "Hot Hot" Nominated
Rated Awards 2021 Female Artist of the Year Herself Nominated [50]
UK Music Video Awards 2021 Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video - UK "ATM" (with Missy Elliot) Nominated [51]

Tours

Supporting

References

  1. 1 2 Lewis, Tia (1 February 2020). "2020: The year of pop/R&B/rap artist Bree Runway?". RNBRIT. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "BBC Music's Sound of 2021: The longlist". BBC. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "Brenda Wireko Mensah (England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008)". FamilySearch. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Runway, Bree (18 November 2016). "Happy Birthday 🎉to me ; this year is all about [...]". Instagram. @breerunway [verified account]. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 "BET Awards 2021 Winners: The Complete List". E! Online. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Tyrell, Nicolas (20 July 2020). "Tell Your Friends: Bree Runway". DIY. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Dunn, Frankie (5 March 2020). "10 things you need to know about Bree Runway, the Hackney star making hot girl pop". i-D. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Pennant, Felicia (31 March 2020). "'I was 9 when I first bleached my skin': Bree Runway on overcoming hate". Dazed. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 Aubrey, Elizabeth (17 March 2020). "Bree Runway: Meet the Missy Elliott-approved rising star whose fearless pop is challenging colourism". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "You NEED to listen to Bree Runway's debut EP 'RNWY 01'". Certified UK. 25 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Fernandez, Malachi (15 May 2016). "[Review x Stream] Bree Runway - Bouji". Certified UK. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  12. 1 2 Fearon, Anna (1 December 2016). "Getting To Know Miss Bouji Bree Runway". Indie Magazine. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  13. ↑ Ali, Jon (3 October 2017). "Queer Necessities: Billboard Pride's October Playlist". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ↑ Knight, David (26 September 2017). "Bree Runway 'What Do I Tell My Friends?' by Fred Rowson". Promonewstv. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Evans, Steph (22 February 2018). "Metroplane and Bree Runway's "Word of Mouth" is worth talking about". Earmilk. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Murray, Robin (24 May 2019). "Hackney DIY Pop Phenomenon Bree Runway Returns With '2ON'". Clash. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Love Michael, Michael (17 December 2019). "PAPER's Top 50 Songs of 2019". Paper. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  18. ↑ "Toyota C-HR Leave Ordinary Behind". Tunebubble. 8 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. ↑ Murphy, Sam (17 July 2019). "Bree Runway's 'Big Racks' Is An Oddball Flex". The Interns. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "Bree Runway's Debut EP 'Be Runway' Is A Genre-Twisting Trip". The Interns. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  21. ↑ "FIFA 21 Soundtrack - EA SPORTS Official Site". Electronic Arts Inc. 28 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "Notion 87 Bree Runway". Notion. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Love Michael, Michael (4 May 2020). "Bree Runway Interview on "Damn Daniel" With Yung Baby Tate". Paper. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  24. ↑ Valentine, Claire (30 April 2020). "Premiere: Bree Runway Shares Ultra-Fun "Damn Daniel" Video Featuring Yung Baby Tate". Nylon. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  25. ↑ ･ﾟBree Runway ☆ [@breerunway] (30 April 2020). "YOOOO!!!! 'DAMN DANIEL' IS @AnnieMac's HOTTEST RECORD IN THE WORRRRLDDD TONIGHT!!! AHHHH" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ Triscari, Caleb (12 July 2020). "Rina Sawayama shares Bree Runway remix of 'XS'". NME. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  27. ↑ Bruce, Jasper (24 September 2020). "Bree Runway drops retro-inspired single 'Little Nokia'". NME. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  28. ↑ "The 10 Best Songs of 2020". Time. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  29. ↑ ･ﾟBree Runway ☆ [@breerunway] (19 October 2020). "PUNK POP☆ BREE RUNWAY, YES TO MY SECOND COVER OF THE YEAR @HUNGERMAGAZINE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. ↑ Langford, Jackson (28 October 2020). "Bree Runway announces new mixtape '2000AND4EVA', with guest artist Rico Nasty". NME. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  31. ↑ "Watch Bree Runway and Missy Elliot's glamorous "ATM" video". The FADER. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  32. ↑ ATM (BREEMIX / SOLO VERSION) - Single by Bree Runway, retrieved 25 January 2021
  33. ↑ Runway, Bree [@breerunway] (28 March 2021). "'HOT HOT' OUT WEDNESDAY 6:10PM BST! 💕💿🔥 https://t.co/sQ5aRXitta" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  34. ↑ Skinner, Tom (20 May 2021). "Listen to Glass Animals team up with Bree Runway on 'Space Ghost Coast To Coast' rework". NME. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  35. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (3 September 2021). "Hear all the killer features on Lady Gaga's 'Dawn of Chromatica' remix album". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  36. ↑ Ermac, Raffy (10 September 2021). "Meet the Gay Model Who Got Spanked in Chlöe Bailey's 'Have Mercy' Video". Out. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  37. ↑ Mukhtar, Amel (7 December 2021). "Bree Runway Reveals The "Animalistic" Inspiration Behind Her MOBO Awards Looks". British Vogue. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  38. ↑ "Bree Runway drops new track 'Pressure'". DIY. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  39. ↑ Ackroyd, Stephen (24 March 2022). "Bree Runway has shared her latest massive single, 'Somebody Like You' | Dork". readdork.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  40. ↑ Johnson, Shakeena (24 September 2020). "#PLTFRM: Bree Runway". Clash. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  41. ↑ Damshenas, Sam (6 November 2020). "Bree Runway is rewriting the rulebook for Black women in pop". Gay Times. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  42. ↑ https://shorefire.com/roster/bree-runway/bio
  43. ↑ O'Connor, Roisin (7 December 2020). "BBC Sound of 2021: Longlist tips Dutchavelli, Alfie Templeman, Bree Runway and The Lathums for success". The Independent. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  44. ↑ "Bree Runway, Holly Humberstone and Lola Young nominated for Brits Rising Star award". the Guardian. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  45. ↑ Keith, James (24 November 2020). "The MOBO Awards Are Back For 2020, Nines, Headie One, Ms Banks & More Nominated". Complex. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  46. ↑ "Vote for your favourite music artist". voting.mobo.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  47. ↑ https://www.musicvideofestival.com.br/en/awards/2021/
  48. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (27 January 2022). "BandLab NME Awards 2022: Full list of nominations revealed". NME. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  49. ↑ "The Popjustice Twenty Quid Music Prize • Popjustice".
  50. ↑ Nazareno, Mia (20 June 2021). "Stormzy, Jorja Smith & More Nominated for 2021 GRM Daily Rated Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  51. ↑ "UK MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS 2021: NOMINATIONS REVEALED AHEAD OF RETURN OF LIVE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 4th" (PDF). UK Music Video Awards. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
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