Kae Tempest
Kae Tempest (born Kate Calvert; 22 December 1985) is a British spoken word performer, poet, recording artist, novelist, and playwright based in southeast London.[1][2]
Formerly performing as Kate Tempest, they adopted the name Kae Tempest in 2020 following a public announcement identifying as non-binary.
Tempest debuted as a spoken word artist at age 16 after attending the BRIT School and has since built a career blending poetry, rap, and music, with early works like the epic poem Brand New Ancients earning the Ted Hughes Award for New Poetry in 2013.[3][4]
Their recording career includes four studio albums, two of which—Everybody Down (2014) and Let Them Eat Chaos (2017)—received Mercury Prize nominations, highlighting Tempest's influence in fusing literary spoken word with hip-hop production.[5][6]
Additional accolades encompass a Costa Book Award nomination and recognition as a Next Generation Poet, underscoring Tempest's contributions to contemporary British performance art despite operating outside mainstream commercial rap circuits.[7]