Bree Runway

Brenda Mensah[1] known professionally as Bree Runway, is an English singer, rapper and songwriter born and raised in Hackney, London. Bree Runway was signed to EMI Records in 2018 after the release of single "What Do I Tell My Friends?" and consequently released the EP Be Runway in late 2019.[2] In early 2020, Bree Runway released singles "Apeshit" and "Damn Daniel", the latter being a collaboration with Yung Baby Tate.[3][4] These singles were followed by the release of the song "Gucci" with Maliibu Miitch, on July 23, 2020.[5]

Bree Runway
Birth nameBrenda Mensah
BornLondon Borough of Hackney, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active2015–present
LabelsEMI Records
Associated acts
Websitebreerunwaymusic.com

Early life

Bree Runway grew up in Hackney, residing on a street given the nickname "Murder mile" due to high rates of crime and conflict. Runway views her upbringing and experiences as her having to have "thick skin", resilience and "having instilled a fight in me" which she is thankful for.[6] At the age of 9, Runway experienced bullying and colorism which caused her to bleach her skin and have a negative chemical reaction to the product. Runway credits those moments as shaping her both as a person and an artist.[1] Runway discussed the positive shift in attitude regarding her skin when she went to a college in south London where she met model Leomie Anderson who encouraged Runway to take pictures of herself and "take charge of our situations".[7]

Runway disclosed that she was only interested in music at school but never thought of herself as a musician. She enrolled in a Music technology subject which taught her the basics of music production. As a result, Runway started making beats and freestyling with her friends. Runway discussed that she purchased a "DIY home studio" setup with her first pay cheque which was where she was singing over self-produced beats and writing her own songs. Earlier material such as RNWY 01 was recorded with her DIY setup and explained that the self-sufficiency taught her what musical sound she wanted to pursue.[8] Runway revealed that Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, once visited her school where she performed for her and was told to keep pursuing a musical career and that she wanted to see her performing at the White House to which Runway responded "Invite me then!"[7]

Career

2015-2019: Career beginnings and Be Runway

Bree Runway would emerge onto the music scene with the self-released EPs titled RNWY 01 and Bouji being released on November 28, 2015 and May 9, 2016 respectively.[9][10] Runway released her debut single "Butterfly" on November 14, 2016.[11] A music video was released alongside the song, which was shot in Dubai, by model Leomie Anderson and directed by Mensah herself.[12]

On September 21, 2017, Bree Runway released "What Do I Tell My Friends?" which debuted alongside a music video.[13] The video would gather major attention, being her first to pass over one hundred thousand views, and praise due to its serious message of exploitation of young females in the fashion industry.[14] Bree Runway was featured on Metroplane's single "Word of Mouth" which was released on February 23, 2018.[15]

Bree Runway would sign to Virgin EMI Records in 2018. On May 24, 2019, Mensah released the single "2ON". The track would be the first single of Runway's to be released under a major label and would later be included on Paper Magazine's Top 50 Songs of 2019.[16] The song would also be featured in an advertisement for car company Toyota.[17] On July 5, 2019, "Big Racks" featuring Brooke Candy was released. Both singles were debuted with accompanying music videos.[18][19] Bree Runway released her label debut EP Be Runway on August 16, 2019 which was preceded by singles "2ON" and "Big Racks" featuring Brooke Candy.[20] A video for "All Night" was released 5 days later.[21]

2020-present: Singles and upcoming EPs

On March 5, 2020, Bree Runway released the single "Apeshit" which was met with critical acclaim and drew immediate comparisons to Missy Elliott who would later co-sign the track on Twitter.[8][22] American singer and rapper Doja Cat would also show support by encouraging fans to watch the music video and Google Runway.[23][24]

During April 2020, Bree Runway was featured on the cover of Issue 87 of Notion Magazine.[25] On April 28, 2020, Runway announced that her next single would be titled "Damn Daniel" and would be a collaboration with American singer and rapper Yung Baby Tate. A teaser was released which included a preview of the music video.[26] The single was released on April 30, alongside a "quarantine edition" music video.[27] The song was featured on Annie Mac's Future Sounds show on BBC Radio 1 as the "Hottest Record in the World" on April 30.[28]

On July 10, 2020, Bree Runway was featured on a remix of Rina Sawayama’s single "XS".[29] On July 19, 2020, Bree Runway announced the release of the single "Gucci" with American rapper Maliibu Miitch. The single was revealed alongside its cover art by having fans enter the song’s title into her website as a password.[30] The song was released on July 23, 2020.

When asked in an interview what is coming up next for Bree Runway, she discussed the intentions of releasing two more EPs followed later by an album.[8]

Artistry

Bree Runway has expressed her sound as "genre-bending" as well as "genre fluid" with her material experimenting with a multitude of genres including; pop, trap, dance, R&B, rock, PC Music and country. Despite being signed to a major label, Runway revealed that she is entirely in charge of her creative process.[7] Runway explains that she tries to study genres that she doesn't listen to on a daily basis quoting that there is "inspiration everywhere".

She cites Lil' Kim, Britney Spears, Madonna, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, Kelis, Lady Gaga and The Neptunes as her biggest influences.[8]

Discography

Extended Plays
List of extended plays, with selected details
Title Extended play details
RNWY 01
Bouji
  • Released: May 9, 2016[10]
  • Label: Self released
  • Format: Digital download
Be Runway

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected details
Title Year Album
"Butterfly"[11] 2016 Non-album singles
"What Do I Tell My Friends?"[31] 2017
"2ON"[32] 2019 Be Runway
"Big Racks"[33]
(featuring Brooke Candy)
"All Night"[34]
"Apeshit"[35] 2020 TBA
"Damn Daniel"[36]
(with Yung Baby Tate)
"Gucci"[5]
(with Maliibu Miitch)
Title Year Album
"XS" (Remix)[29]
(Rina Sawayama featuring Bree Runway)		 2020 non-album single

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Word of Mouth"[37] 2018 Metroplane Non-album single
"Swing" 2019 Brooke Candy Sexorcism

Music videos
List of music videos, showing year released and directors
Title Year Director(s) Ref.
"Butterfly" 2016 Bree Runway [38]
"What Do I Tell My Friends?" 2017 Fred Rowson [13]
"2ON" 2019 [39]
"Big Racks"
(featuring Brooke Candy)		 [19]
"All Night" Tash Tung [21]
"Apeshit" 2020 Will Hooper [40]
"Damn Daniel"
(with Yung Baby Tate)		 Gemma Yin [41]
"Gucci"
(with Maliibu Miitch)		 Tash Tung [42]
"Gucci"
(Dance Video)		 Unknown [43]


References
  1. Subscribe. "Tell Your Friends: Bree Runway". diymag.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  2. "Bree Runway's Debut EP 'Be Runway' Is A Genre-Twisting Trip". The Interns. 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  3. "Bree Runway Lights A Fire With Future Chart-Invader "Apeshit"". Complex. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  4. Valentine, Claire. "Premiere: Bree Runway Shares Ultra-Fun "Damn Daniel" Video Featuring Yung Baby Tate". Nylon. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  5. "Gucci". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
  6. Dunn, Frankie (2020-03-05). "10 things you need to know about Bree Runway, the Hackney star making hot girl pop". i-D. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  7. "'I was 9 when I first bleached my skin': Bree Runway on overcoming hate". Dazed. 2020-03-31. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  8. "Bree Runway: Meet the Missy Elliott-approved rising star whose fearless pop is challenging colourism". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  9. "RNWY 01". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  10. "Bouji". SoundCloud. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  11. "Butterfly - Single by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  12. INDIE, Team (2016-12-01). "GETTING TO KNOW MISS BOUJI BREE RUNWAY // PHOTOGRAPHY ANNA FEARON". INDIE Magazine. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  13. "Bree Runway - What Do I Tell My Friends?". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  14. "Bree Runway 'What Do I Tell My Friends?' by Fred Rowson | Videos | Promonews". Promonewstv. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  15. Evans, Steph (2018-02-22). "Metroplane and Bree Runway's "Word of Mouth" is worth talking about". EARMILK. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  16. "PAPER's Top 50 Songs of 2019". PAPER. 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  17. "☆ Bree Runway 💿💧✨ on Instagram: "BREE RUNWAY?? 2ON?? TOYOTA?? WORLDWIDE?! MAD! 🌐✨"". Instagram. Retrieved 2020-05-03.
  18. "Bree Runway - 2ON (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  19. "Bree Runway - Big Racks (feat. Brooke Candy)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  20. "Be Runway - EP by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  21. "Bree Runway - All Night". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  22. Elliott, Missy (2020-03-03). "Yes I'm seeing it! Lol keep shinning mama". @MissyElliott. Retrieved 2020-04-30.
  23. DIMMADOME, DOJA (2020-03-11). "Bree Runway. Google that". @DojaCat. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  24. DIMMADOME, DOJA (2020-03-09). "WATCH APESHIT BY @breerunway NOW". @DojaCat. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  25. "Notion 87 Bree Runway". Notion. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  26. "Bree Runway - Damn Daniel (Teaser)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  27. "Bree Runway, Yung Baby Tate - Damn Daniel (Official Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  28. Runway ☆, ･ﾟBree (2020-04-30). "YOOOO!!!! 'DAMN DANIEL' IS @AnnieMac's HOTTEST RECORD IN THE WORRRRLDDD TONIGHT!!! AHHHH pic.twitter.com/jbvGvCDCOV". @breerunway. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
  29. "XS (Bree Runway Remix) [feat. Bree Runway] - Single by Rina Sawayama". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  30. "Website". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  31. "What Do I Tell My Friends? - Single by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  32. "2ON - Single by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  33. "Big Racks (feat. Brooke Candy) - Single by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  34. "All Night". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  35. "APESHIT - Single by Bree Runway". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  36. "Damn Daniel - Single by Bree Runway & Yung Baby Tate". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  37. "Word of Mouth (feat. Bree Runway) - Single by Metroplane". Music.apple.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  38. "Watch the video from Bree Runway - Butterfly". Certified-uk.com. November 14, 2016.
  39. Pykeren, Sam Van. "Bree Runway is giving us the righteous pop music we need right now". Motherjones.com. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  40. "Virtually famous: Bree Runway". Evening Standard. April 3, 2020.
  41. "Damn Daniel". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  42. "Bree Runway Is a Literal Gem in Her New Music Video". PAPER. 2020-07-24. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  43. "Gucci (Dance Video)". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
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