ALBUMA Thoroughly Modern Existential CrisisMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMDandinistaMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMThere's a Rumpus Going OnMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMMr.B's Christmas AlbumMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMCan't Stop, Shan't StopMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMThe Tweed AlbumMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
ALBUMO.G. Original GentlemanMr.B The Gentleman Rhymer
Artist Biography
Formerly a member of Brit-pop rappers Collapsed Lung, who scored an unlikely hit with "Eat My Goal" -- popularized during the European Football Championships in 1996 (and eventually a hit in its own right in 1998) -- Jim Burke started performing as Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer in 2007. His moniker is the leading figure of the "chap-hop" phenomenon -- a hip-hop parody where the urban music form is given a Wodehousian English upper-class gent treatment. The "chap-hop" look is tweed, fine-tailoring, and pipe-smoking, and the rhymes, which focus on cricket, tea, and high society, are delivered in "the Queen's English" with banjolele accompaniment.
On a solo mission to teach the hip-hop world some much-needed manners, the tweed-clad first gentleman of hip-hop debuted with Flattery Not Included (2008). By this point, Mr. B was becoming a (very dapper) fixture on the fringe and festival circuit, always ably assisted by his man-servant Carshalton. Naturally championed by dandy style and lifestyle bible The Chap (of which Mr. B is the music editor) further albums appeared -- I Say (2010), The Tweed Album (2012), and Can’t Stop, Shan’t Stop (2013) -- all continuing the polite take on hip-hop (of which Burke is a genuine fan). It goes without saying that the Mr.B the Gentleman Rhymer merchandise range includes cufflinks, mustache wax, pocket squares, and club ties. ~ Matthew Garbutt