Devlin

James Devlin, known professionally as Devlin, was born on May 7, 1989, in Bermondsey, London, England, and was raised in Dagenham. Early in his career, he became a member of the grime collective ‘O.T Crew,’ which included artists like Dogzilla and Syer Bars. He also joined ‘The Movement,’ a group featuring Wretch 32, Ghetts, and Mercston. These early associations helped establish his presence in the grime scene, building a foundation for his solo endeavors. He independently released his second solo mixtape, ‘The Art of Rolling,’ in 2008.

Devlin’s debut album, ‘Bud, Sweat and Beers,’ was released through Island Records in 2010. The album featured the single “Brainwashed,” which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 31 and the UK R&B Chart at number 11. His second single, “Runaway,” achieved greater success, reaching number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself debuted at number 21 on the UK Albums Chart. A third single from the album, “Let It Go,” featuring Labrinth, charted at number 59 based on digital downloads. Following this success, Devlin released his second studio album, ‘A Moving Picture,’ in 2013, which peaked at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart.

Throughout his career, Devlin has collaborated with numerous significant artists across genres. These collaborations include work with Jessie J on the UK version of “Price Tag” in 2011, and repeated live sessions and recordings with Ed Sheeran, including “(All Along The) Watchtower” in 2012 and “The Great British Bar Off” in 2023. He has also worked with artists such as Zayn Malik, Skepta, Wiley, Tinchy Stryder, Giggs, Example, Professor Green, Tinie Tempah, Griminal, Dot Rotten, and Chip. Beyond music, Devlin has taken on acting roles, notably appearing as Nicky in the 2015 film “Anti-Social” and as Nick in the 2021 short film “Boys.” He also contributed as a writer to the 2020 short film “Legacy.”