Aitch
Aitch in 2018
Aitch in 2018
Background information
Birth nameHarrison James Armstrong[citation needed]
Born (1999-12-09) 9 December 1999 (age 24)
New Moston, Manchester, England[1]
GenresBritish hip hop
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present
Labels
Websitewww.aitchofficial.com

Harrison James Armstrong (born 9 December 1999), known professionally as Aitch, is a British rapper from Manchester. He rose to fame in 2018 with the track "Straight Rhymez".[2] His debut studio album Close to Home (2022) reached number two on the UK Albums Chart.[5]

Aitch has released nine top 100 singles in the UK, including "Taste (Make It Shake)" and "Baby", which both peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.[6][7][8] The name "Aitch" derives from the pronunciation of the letter 'h', which is the first letter of his given name.[7]

Early life

Harrison James Armstrong was born on 9 December 1999 in Moston, Manchester.[9] He is a supporter of the football club Manchester United.[10] After leaving school he went to college and played sports, but eventually dropped out and worked in construction with his grandfather.[11]

Career

2015: Beginnings

Aitch first garnered attention in 2015 when a YouTube video of him rapping to friends gained local popularity. He originally did not want the video published, but changed his mind when his video gained 10,000 views. His friend continued uploading Aitch's freestyles to see if it would gain more views.[12]

2016–2018: Freestyles, On Your Marks and Breakthrough

Aitch made multiple appearances on the P110 YouTube channel, starting in September 2016 with a freestyle.[13] He then premiered his song "Back To Basics" on the channel in June 2017.[14] On 9 December 2017, Aitch released his EP, On Your Marks.[15] In May 2018, he released his breakthrough track "Straight Rhymez", which gained him national attention.[16]

2019–present: AitcH2O, Polaris and Close to Home

In August 2019, he released his song "Taste (Make It Shake)" which became his biggest song at the time, peaking at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. He then released his second EP, AitcH2O, in September, which reached number three on the UK Albums Chart.[17] In March 2020, he collaborated with AJ Tracey and Tay Keith on the track "Rain" which peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart..[18] In May his third EP, Polaris was released.[19] In June 2021, Aitch released the single "Learning Curve".[20] He followed this up with "Party Round My Place" in September.[21]

In 2021, Aitch appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

On 3 February 2022, Aitch was featured on ArrDee's single "War".[22] The single debuted at number 6 on the UK Official Singles Top 100 Chart[23] and debuted at number 21 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100[24] on 11 February 2022. On 10 March 2022, Aitch released the single "Baby" featuring American singer Ashanti (who is credited as co-lead on the single) which heavily samples the latter's 2003 hit "Rock wit U (Awww Baby)".[25] After less than 24 hours, the single debuted at number 65 on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart Top 100.[26] It debuted on the UK Official Singles Top 100 on 18 March 2022, placing at number 2.[23]

In August 2022, Aitch released "My G", featuring Ed Sheeran, which is about Aitch's sister Gracie who has Down syndrome.[27] His debut studio album, Close to Home was released on 19 August 2022, and reached number two on the UK Albums Chart.[28]

On 9 September 2023, he performed during the half time of the Sidemen Charity Match at the London Stadium.

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[28] 		AUS
[29] 		BEL
(FL)
[30] 		IRE
[31] 		NLD
[32]
Close to Home 2 52 169 24 46

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[28] 		IRE
[31]
On Your Marks
  • Released: 9 December 2017[33]
  • Label: NQ Records
  • Format: CD, digital download, streaming
 — —
AitcH2O
  • Released: 6 September 2019[34]
  • Label: Since 93[3]
  • Format: CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming
 3 18
Polaris 7 50
Lost Files
  • Released: 17 November 2023[37]
  • Label: Infinitum Records, NQ Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming, USB
 — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[28] 		AUS
[38] 		IRE
[31] 		LBN
[39] 		SCO
[40]
"Blitzed"[41]
(featuring Kay Rico) 		2018 — — — — — Non-album singles
"Vibsing"[42] — — — — —
"Daily Duppy"[43]
(featuring GRM Daily) 		— — — — —
"Trust Me"[44] — — — — —
"Straight Rhymez"[45] — — — — —
"Miss Me with It"[46] — — — — —
"Wait"[47] 2019 — — — — —
"On the Way Home"[48]
(with Jaykae featuring Bowser Boss) 		73 — — — —
"Taste (Make It Shake)" 2 — 12 — 8 AitcH2O
"Buss Down"[49]
(featuring ZieZie) 		8 — 55 — 74
"Mice"[50] 2020 34 — 78 — — Non-album single
"Rain"
(with AJ Tracey featuring Tay Keith) 		3 61 10 — 23 Polaris
"Raw"[52] 57 — — — —
"Goyard Batman"[53]
(with Lil Pump and The Plug) 		— — — — — Non-album single
"Safe to Say"[54] 56 — 85 — — Polaris
"Learning Curve"[55] 2021 27 — 74 — — Non-album singles
"GSD"[56] 52 — — — —
"Party Round My Place"[57]
(with Avelino) 		56 — — — —
"War"[58]
(with ArrDee) 		2022 6 — 28 — — Pier Pressure
"Baby"
(with Ashanti) 		2 — 5 — — Close to Home
"Just Coz"[60]
(with Giggs) 		42 — — — — Non-album single
"1989"[61] 23 — 62 — — Close to Home
"In Disguise"[62]
(with Bakar) 		— — — — —
"My G"
(with Ed Sheeran) 		6 — 32 — —
"Psycho"
(with Anne-Marie) 		5 — 8 19 — Unhealthy
"Round 2"[63] 2023 — — — — — Non-album singles
"Hide N Seek"[64]
(with Toddla T featuring Taet) 		— — — — —
"Tip Toes"[65]
(with Clavish) 		52 — — — —
"Scary"
(with A1 x J1) 		88 — — — —
"Landslide"[66]
(with Nafe Smallz) 		— — — — — Lost Files
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[28] 		AUT
[67] 		GER
[68] 		IRE
[31] 		SCO
[40] 		SWI
[69]
"Strike a Pose"[70]
(Young T & Bugsey featuring Aitch) 		2019 9 — — 11 31 —
  • BPI: 2× Platinum[35]
 Plead the 5th
"Kilos"[71]
(Bugzy Malone featuring Aitch) 		20 — — 61 — — Non-album singles
"French Kisses"[72]
(ZieZie featuring Aitch) 		35 — — 76 — —
"Kids to Adults"[73]
(Tasha featuring Aitch) 		2020 — — — — — —
"12:12 AM / Patients (F*****g Up a Friday)"[74]
(Everything Is Recorded featuring Aitch and Infinite Coles) 		— — — — — — Friday Forever
"UFO"[75]
(D-Block Europe featuring Aitch) 		11 — — 52 — — The Blue Print: Us vs. Them
"House & Garage"[76]
(Morrisson featuring Aitch) 		2021 46 — — — — — Guilty
"Bad"[77]
(Pa Salieu featuring Aitch) 		82 — — — — — Non-album single
"Bamba"
(Luciano featuring Aitch & Bia) 		2022 — 1 1 — — 1 Majestic
"Let's Go"
(Tion Wayne featuring Aitch) 		30 — — 84 — — Non-album singles
"Grey (Remix)"
(Yung Filly featuring Aitch) 		2024 — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album Notes
"AitcH2O Freestyle"[80] 2019 Non-album singles
  • Freestyle released coinciding with the announcement of the AitcH2O EP release date and AitcH20 Tour.[81]
"101Barz Freestyle"[82] 2020
  • Recording of the freestyle performed for the 101Barz YouTube channel.[83]
"Murdaside (Remix)"
(with Mazza L20 and Potter Payper) 		2024

Other charted and certified songs

List of other charted songs, showing year released, certifications and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[28] 		IRE
[31]
"Already"
(featuring Tyreezy) 		2019 43 — AitcH2O
"Pop Boy"
(Stormzy featuring Aitch) 		— — Heavy Is the Head
"Ei8ht Mile"
(DigDat featuring Aitch) 		2020 9 34 Ei8ht Mile
"30" 36 91 Polaris
"Parlez-vous anglais"
(Headie One featuring Aitch) 		24 47 Edna
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other artist(s), and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Know Better" (Remix)[84] 2019 Kay Rico Non-album remix
"Keisha & Becky" (Remix)[85] Russ Millions, Tion Wayne, Jay1, Sav'o and Swarmz T Wayne's World 3
"Take Me Back to London" (Sir Spyro Remix) Ed Sheeran, Stormzy, Jaykae Non-album remix
"Ei8ht Mile"[86] 2020 DigDat Ei8ht Mile
"Moving Naughty"[87] GRM Daily, B Young GRM 10
"Parlez-Vous Anglais" Headie One Edna
"Latest Trends" (Remix)[88] 2021 A1 x J1 Non-album remix
"Operation Fortress"[89] 2023 D-Block Europe DBE World

Awards and nominations

Award nominations for Aitch
Year Organisation Award Work Result
2020 NME Essential New Artists for 2020[90] Himself Included
Brit Awards Best New Artist[91] Himself Nominated
2023 Brit Awards British Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act Himself Won
Song of the Year "Baby" Nominated

References

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  83. ^ "Aitch – Studiosessie 334 – 101Barz". 10 April 2020. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020 – via YouTube.
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External links

Aitch
Brit Award for British Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act
Categories