Kae Tempest

About

Kae Tempest (born 1985, South London) is an English spoken word artist, rapper, poet, playwright, and novelist whose work cuts across music, theatre, and literature. He came out as non-binary in 2020 and as a trans man in 2025, and his fifth studio album Self Titled (2025) reflects that personal journey directly. His accolades include the Ted Hughes Award (2013), two Mercury Prize nominations, and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song (2024).

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Mercury Prize nominations

Studio albums released (as of 2026)

1×

Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song

What's new

2026-04
Kae Tempest's second novel, Having Spent Life Seeking, was published on 30 April 2026, accompanied by a book tour with dates in London and Bristol.
2025-07
Tempest came out publicly as a trans man in 2025 and reflected on the transition around the release of Self Titled, saying he can 'actually exist in his body' now.
2025-07
Fifth studio album Self Titled was released on 4 July 2025 via Island Records, co-produced with Grammy-winning producer Fraser T Smith.
2025-05
Tempest announced an extensive UK and EU tour for October-November 2025 in support of Self Titled, kicking off at Bozar in Brussels on 12 October.
2024
Kae Tempest won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song in 2024.