Most people know Dean Blunt for his experimental music, notable features and mysterious public image. But what fewer people know is that he has a vast catalogue of side projects. While some of them are official, there are many cryptic profiles under Blunt’s label “World Music” which have been linked to the artist himself. This is a look at some of Dean Blunt’s most notable side projects.
Babyfather
Babyfather is an official side project of Dean Blunt and described as an experimental hip-hop trio. The trio consists of Dean Blunt, DJ Escrow and Gassman D. Spotify’s artist description suggests that DJ Escrow and Gassman D may both be alter egos of Blunt himself. The first release dates back to 2015 and consists of a 10-track album called “UK2UK”.
Babyfather has continually released music since its start and recently dropped a four-track EP named “icl”.
Blue Iverson
Blue Iverson was a project that Blunt initiated while in Los Angeles, around 2016. The debut release, which is also the project’s only release, is called Hotep and was released in the spring of 2017. The project includes the guitarist Jeff Gitelman (credits on Jennifer Lopez, Mac Miller and more), vocals from Jennah Bell and Akua and productions as well as mixing from Blunt himself.
Blue Iverson leans into soul and R&B. The album cover for Hotep is a depiction of Lauryn Hill, which Blunt has expressed a lot of admiration for. The project has become one of Blunt’s most streamed side projects.
Bo Khat Eternal Troof Family Band
Bo Khat Eternal Troof Family Band is a group of people that according to Blunt himself “turn up every Wednesday and practice for five or six hours, record that, chuck out all the off-cuts that are really bad and put it out as a release”. The group consists of Blunt, Inga Copeland, Stanislav Lordanov, Simon Mercer and Santi Bronze. Whether all band members are real or fictional characters remains unclear.
The band has released two EPs in 2019 and 2020 which consist of short-form instrumental tracks. For those interested, there is a short jam session recorded and uploaded to YouTube from 2010.
Hype Williams
Hype Williams originally emerged as a duo consisting of Dean Blunt and Russian-Estonian singer/songwriter Inga Copeland created in 2005. The name was inspired by the legendary hip hop music video creator Harold “Hype” Williams. The project has also been described as a relay project where different artists can release music under the alias but with “permission from an individual referred to as Denna Frances Glass”. Whether Denna is a real person remains unclear.
The self-described “art project” has released several albums and EPs over its 21-year existence. The latest album, “L’s”, was released in 2020 and consisted of 14 tracks. Throughout the years, several Hype Williams live shows have been played, including a Boiler Room set from 2010 which can be found on YouTube.
Unofficial side projects
There are several releases under Dean Blunt’s label “World Music” which are cryptic and uncredited. For instance, fans have been speculating that The Crying Nudes may be a trio consisting of Dean Blunt, Vegyn and Fine Glindvad, although this is unconfirmed. Miserabella has also been linked by fans to Blunt and Nina, a rumoured ex-girlfriend and former collaborator, although this too remains unconfirmed.
Conclusion
Dean Blunt’s side projects show the versatility and creative ability of the British artist. With different side projects like Babyfather, Blue Iverson and Bo Khat Eternal Troof Band, he has managed to create a universe within music. Through his label World Music, Blunt has been able to blur the lines between official and unofficial releases. Maybe the British artist simply prefer to remain an underground artist.