Aitch says he wants to 'set examples' during BRIT Awards acceptance speech
MASSIVE congrats to Aitch!
Last updated 12th Feb 2023
Rapper Aitch won his first BRIT Award at the weekend as he took home the award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act at The BRIT Awards 2023 with Mastercard on Saturday 11th February. He was clearly thrilled with the result and during his acceptance speech he reflected on his UNBELIEVABLE career success so far as well as how he wants to "set examples" for others.
The 23-year-old musician, who released his epic debut album 'Close To Home' and went on a tour of the same name last year, was the first winner to be announced at the ceremony. He thanked fans and also had an important message in his speech, saying: “First of all I just want to big up the fans for voting, of course thank you very much.
“Not to get all cliche, I just want to say not many people where I’m from, especially my side of Manchester, get the opportunity to stand up here and receive such an amazing gift or reward.
Watch Aitch's speech from The BRIT Awards 2023:
“I think that’s the main reason I do it, to set examples, to make people know that, it’s possible no matter where you’re from and just because not 5 million people have done it before you, that you can do it. So yeah big up everyone.
“And yeah one more thing, I think everyone should be proud of themselves in the room just for being here and I think sometimes we need to kick back and reflect on how well everyone is doing, because I don’t do that personally enough. So big up everyone, respect. 0161 in the building. All love. Thank you.”
What a result for Aitch!
Take a look at these facts about Aitch:
Aitch wasn't always so smooth on Instagram
Aitch is extremely active on social media, but if you scroll back to his very first post, he wasn't as smooth as he comes across now. He also wasn't always so well dressed on Instagram as his first post on the 'gram was a very cheeky video of him covered by just a towel.
Aitch regularly treats his fans
He really loves his fans, no really! In 2021, Aitch treated a fan to a shopping spree at Selfridges for her birthday and documented the whole thing on Tik Tok. Do you think he'll repeat the gesture?
He used to be a labourer
Aitch knows what it's like to do a hard day's graft. Before making the big time in the world of music and rap, he worked with his Grandad as a labourer.
He's known for his freestyles
If you cast your minds back to 2018, Aitch went viral after dropping a freestyle rap, at just 18-years-old. The video catapulted him to fame, and kickstarted a pretty epic career.
He's not afraid to speak his mind
Aitch will tell it how it is! In 2021, the rapper spoke out against criticism surrounding the 'Learning Curve' artwork'. Following negative comments about the diverse models featuring in his 'Learning Curve' music video, he spoke out on Spotify's Who We Be TALKS_ podcast, where he admitted he found it "hard to witness."
He said: "All the negative stuff was mad to see; obviously, rappers get hate all the time, but it was a lot, and it was also s--t to see men hating on girls that much, it's hard to witness."
He’s a Manchester boy
He's often jetting all over the world and enjoying global success, but Aitch still lives in his hometown of New Moston, Manchester. He was born and raised in the major city, and speaking to NME he said: "The Manchester scene is getting bigger and bigger and artists are getting more views online a lot quicker. It feels like it's gradually moving forward."
'Rain' with AJ Tracey is his most viewed music video
With over a whopping 61 million views, Aitch and AJ Tracey's track 'Rain' serves as the rapper's most viewed music video on YouTube at the minute.
His other most viewed videos include 'Taste (Make It Shake)' (48 million), 'Straight Rhymez' (26 million), 'Buss Down' (20 million) and 'Baby' (18 million).
Watch the official music video for 'Rain' here on YouTube.
He has a sister
Aitch likes to keep his personal life private, however touched all of our hearts in August 2022 when he released his track 'My G'. The song is dedicated to his sister, Gracie Armstrong, who has Down Syndrome, with Aitch revealing that all the funds generated from the song were donated to the Down's Syndrome Association.
Introducing the music video, Aitch writes: 'This song is dedicated to Gracie Armstrong. You have the biggest heart in the world! Don't change for no one. Love you kid x'.
Gracie has been spotted regularly on Aitch's TikTok and Instagram Stories - and it's clear the pair are incredibly close!
Watch the official music video for 'My G' here on YouTube.
He's won a BRIT Award for Best Hip Hop/Rap/Grime Act
On 11th February, Aitch won Best Hop/Rap/Grime Act at The BRIT Awards 2023! The rapper gave an inspiring acceptance speech, telling fans: "I just want to say not many people where I'm from, especially my side of Manchester, get the opportunity to stand up here and receive such an amazing gift or reward. I think that's the main reason I do it, to set examples, to make people know that, it's possible no matter where you're from and just because not 5 million people have done it before you, that you can do it. So yeah big up everyone."
He has performed with Coldplay
As 'A Sky Full Of Stars' legends Coldplay brought their 'Music Of The Spheres' world tour to Manchester in June 2023, the band celebrated the city's musical talent by bringing none other than Aitch onto the stage! Standing alongside the band, Aitch performed his hit 'Buss Down', much to the delight of the adoring crowd!
We also got the chance to catch up with Aitch on the red carpet where KISS presenter Harriet Rose played 'Say it or shot it' and was keen to find out more about Aitch's past relationship with Amelia Dimoldenberg and the rumours that it was all a PR stunt...
Watch Aitch play 'Say it or shot it'
Check out the red carpet looks from The BRIT Awards 2023:
Harry Styles
Sam Smith
Maya Jama
Leigh-Anne Pinnock
Amelia Dimoldenberg
Lewis Capaldi
Lizzo
Harriet Rose
Mimi Webb
FLO
Ellie Goulding
Michelle Visage
Nella Rose
Tom Grennan
Mo Gilligan
Jessie J
Kim Petras
AJ Odudu
David Guetta
Ella Henderson
Sam Ryder
Stormzy
MNEK
Becky Hill
Aitch
Wet Leg
Zara McDermott
Nova Twins
Sam Thompson
Fatboy Slim
James Barr
Daisy May Cooper
Laura Whitmore
Lucien Laviscount
Shania Twain
Who won at the BRIT Awards 2023?
You can see all of this year's winners including Aitch below.
RISING STAR
WINNER: FLO
When it was announced that they had won, FLO said: "From growing up watching the BRITs, to finding each other and forming FLO, releasing our first body of work in 2022 and winning a BRIT award in the same year!! We are so shocked and grateful. We are the first group to win the BRITs Rising Star! We've just made history and couldn't have done it without our wonderful fans and supportive families. It's truly a dream come true. We feel so empowered creating the music we love and we hope others feel that too."
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: DAVID GUETTA
David Guetta said of the award: "I am very honoured to receive Producer of the Year. I have always felt a strong connection to British music and culture. The UK music scene is full of world class artists and producers so to be recognised like this means a lot to me. Thank you so much!"
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: KID HARPOON
Kid Harpoon co-wrote and co-produced Harry Styles' 'Harry's House'. He said: "To be acknowledged by the BRITs this year for songwriting, a beautiful and complex craft, is unbelievable. It's a dream come true to create for a living, I cannot wait to celebrate with everyone on Saturday."
HIP HOP, GRIME, RAP ACT
WINNER: AITCH
Aitch said: "First of all I just want to big up the fans for voting, of course thank you very much.
"I think that's the main reason I do it, to set examples, to make people know that, it's possible no matter where you're from and just because 5 million people haven't done it before you. So yeah big up everyone."
NOMINEES
Central Cee
Dave
Loyle Carner
Stormzy
INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER: BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé: "Thank you so much for this incredible recognition, I would like to say thank you to all my fans out there in Britain for your continued support over the years and the renaissance begins. I'll see y'all on tour, thank you so much for this honour."
NOMINEES
Burna Boy
Kendrick Lamar
Lizzo
Taylor Swift
DANCE ACT - supported by KISS FM
WINNER: BECKY HILL
Becky said: "The biggest thanks of all has to go to my fans who for another year have helped me win a BRIT Award and imposter syndrome kicked straight in when the nominees were announced.
"I was so scared and when I read all their comments I was so touched, so thank you so much. Thank you!"
NOMINEES
Bonobo
Calvin Harris
Eliza Rose & Interplanetary Criminal
Fred Again...
POP / R&B ACT
WINNER: HARRY STYLES
Harry Styles addressed the crowd: "Thank you so, so much for this. First of all, I know this was a fan voted award, so to all my friends who voted thank you. I have so many wonderful memories of the BRITs so thank you for another one and it is so good to be home. Thank you so, so much."
NOMINEES
Cat Burns
Charli XCX
Dua Lipa
Sam Smith
BEST NEW ARTIST
WINNER: WET LEG
The winners of the Best New Artist said: "That rock 'N' roll, it just won't go away, it might hibernate from time to time, and sink back into the swamp. No, but also it's nice, thank you so much. It's really cool to be doing this on an indie label, shout out Domino."
NOMINEES
Kojey Radical
Mimi Webb
Rina Sawayama
Sam Ryder
ARTIST OF THE YEAR WITH YOUTUBE SHORTS
WINNER: HARRY STYLES
Harry thanked his family as well as saying: "Niall, Louis, Liam and Zayn, thank you so much. I'm really really grateful and I'm very aware of my privilege up here tonight, so this award is for Rina, Charlie, Florence, Mabel and Becky. Thank you so much."
NOMINEES
Central Cee
Fred again..
George Ezra
Stormzy
INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
WINNER: FONTAINES D.C.
Unable to attend, they said: "Thanks for voting us Best International Group, sorry we couldn't be there, we're in Australia currently. We sent our best man, Carlos, so hopefully he's behaving himself."
NOMINEES
Blackpink
Drake & 21 Savage
First Aid Kit
Gabriels
GROUP OF THE YEAR
WINNER: WET LEG
For their second acceptance speech of the night, Wet Leg said: "They build smooth ships, they build big ships, but they don't build friendships.
"This is really cool, thanks very much."
NOMINEES
The 1975
Arctic Monkeys
Bad Boy Chiller Crew
Nova Twins
INTERNATIONAL SONG OF THE YEAR
WINNER: BEYONCÉ - 'BREAK MY SOUL'
Beyoncé accepted her second award saying: "Thank you, thank you so much for loving 'Break My Soul', the only intention for this song was to dance so thank y'all for joining this dance of freedom and individuality. I'd like to give a special thank you to The-Dream for co-creating this song with me, I hope y'all having a beautiful night. God bless you and see you all soon."
NOMINEES
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha - 'I'm Good (Blue)'
Fireboy DML & Ed Sheeran - 'Peru'
Gaitan / Castillo / Adassa / Feliz - 'We Don't Talk About Bruno'
Gayle - 'abcdefu'
Jack Harlow - 'First Class'
Lizzo - 'About Damn Time'
Lost Frequencies / Calum Scott - 'Where Are You Now'
OneRepublic - 'I Ain't Worried'
Taylor Swift - 'Anti-Hero'
ALTERNATIVE / ROCK ACT supported by Absolute Radio
WINNER: THE 1975
The 1975 took to the stage to accept their award saying: "Thank you so much, this is the first BRIT that we've won that has been voted by the fans so that means a lot, thank you very much."
Lead singer Matt Healy then went on to thank their team for all their support for the band.
NOMINEES
Arctic Monkeys
Nova Twins
Tom Grennan
Wet Leg
SONG OF THE YEAR
WINNER: HARRY STYLES - 'AS IT WAS'
As he accepted his third award of the night, Harry greeted the crowd with a cheery "Hello!". He continued: "This album and this song was the most fun I've ever had making music. I want to thank Rob Stringer for lending me his house to record this in, write it in.
"I want to thank Tom and Tyler and everyone, all my friends who support me. Thank you to everyone who listened and thank you Lewis!"
NOMINEES
Aitch / Ashanti - 'Baby'
Cat Burns - 'Go'
Dave - 'Starlight'
Ed Sheeran & Elton John - 'Merry Christmas'
Eliza Rose / Interplanetary Criminal - 'B.O.T.A. (Baddest Of Them All)'
George Ezra - 'Green Green Grass'
Lewis Capaldi - 'Forget Me'
LF System - 'Afraid To Feel'
Sam Smith & Kim Petras - 'Unholy'
MASTERCARD ALBUM OF THE YEAR
WINNER: HARRY STYLES - 'HARRY'S HOUSE'
For his final acceptance speech, Harry said: "There's literally no one I love more in the world than Stanley Tucci (who presented the award). Thank you so much, this night has been really, really special to me and I will never forget it.
"Thank you for the welcome home, I will never forget it. I am so proud to be a British artist out in the world and here celebrating British artists."
NOMINEES
The 1975 - 'Being Funny In A Foreign Language'
Wet Leg - 'Wet Leg'
Stormzy - 'This Is What I Mean'
Fred again.. - 'Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022)'
You can hear songs by Aitch on KISS.
Now read:
The BRIT Awards 2023: Winners revealed 🏆
Aitch: Get to know the 'My G' rapper
The best bits from The BRIT Awards 2023 🔥