| Rak-Su | |
|---|---|
| Contestant Profile | |
| Hometown | Watford, Hertforshire, England |
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| Category | Groups |
| Mentor | Simon Cowell |
| Placement | Winners (1/16) |
| Gallery | |
Rak-Su are an English RnB/Hip hop boyband consisting of friends Ashley Fongo, Jamaal Shurland, Mustafa Rahimtulla and Myles Stephenson from Watford, Hertfordshire who won Series 14 of The X Factor, being mentored by Simon Cowell in the Groups category.
Due to the eliminations of Jack and Joel, Sean & Conor Price and The CutKelvins, they were last act remaining in their category. They were crowned the winners defeating Grace Davies who was part of the Girls category mentored by Sharon Osbourne.
They were the second group and first male group to win the original series. They were also the first act to audition first & win the series.
The X Factor[]
The four friends auditioned for the judges performing an original song and received four yeses. After sailing past Bootcamp and the Six Chair Challenge as part of the Groups category mentored by Simon Cowell, they made it to Judges' Houses and he selected them for his Top 3 for the live shows.
Performances[]
| Episode | Theme | Song | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Free choice | "I'm Feeling You" | Advanced |
| Bootcamp 1 | Group performance | "24K Magic" | Advanced |
| Bootcamp 2 | Solo performance | "Knock, Knock" | Advanced |
| Six Chair Challenge | Free Choice | "Change Your Mind" | Advanced |
| Judges' Houses | Free Choice | "Palm Tree" | Advanced |
| Week 1 | Express Yourself | "Mamacita" | Safe (1st) |
| Week 2 | Viva Latino | "Dimelo" | Safe (1st) |
| Week 3 | George Michael | "Faith" | Safe (2nd) |
| Week 4 | Crazy In Love | "Mona Lisa" | Safe (1st) |
| Week 5: Semi-final | Cool Britannia | "Flowers" | Safe (1st) |
| Get Me to the Final | "I'm Feeling You" | Safe (1st) | |
| Week 6: Final | No Theme | "Mamacita" | Safe (1st) |
| Celebrity Duets/Winner's Single | "Dimelo" (with Naughty Boy & Wyclef Jean) | ||
| Song to Win | "Touché" | Winner | |
| Song of the Series | "Mona Lisa" |
Post The X Factor[]
Following their win, their collaboration was released and entered the Irish charts at #36. It entered the UK charts at #2, being denied the top spot by Ed Sheeran. However, it was highest-placing first week entry for a winning act from the original series since Series 11 winner Ben Haenow entered the UK charts at #1 with his winner's single in 2014 but in terms of first week sales the second lowest selling winner's single beating Louisa Johnson's winner's single.
In February 2018, they joined their fellow Top 6 finalists and wildcard act Sean & Conor Price on the X Factor 2018 Live Tour. In a newly-introduced twist on the tour where the audience could vote for who they thought was the best-performing act each night they topped the vote at the Manchester concert as well as the following three dates.
They supported Little Mix on their "Summer Hits" Arena tour of 2018 before releasing promo song "Pyro Ting" with the DJs Banx and Ranx, which didn't chart. Their first proper song is "I Want you to Freak", produced by the same people. It initially failed to make the top 40 despite good sales, but climbed to 39th after being the first guest performance of the subsequent series, and with top 20 sales.
In November 2018, it was announced that they had parted ways with Syco Music and signed to sister label RCA Records, along with 2011 winners Little Mix.
Discography[]
Singles
| 2017 | "Dimelo" (feat. Naughty Boy & Wyclef Jean) | 2 |
| 2018 | "Pyro Ting" (with Banx & Ranx) | |
| "I Want You to Freak" | 39 |
| The X Factor UK Winners | |||
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| Series 14 Finalists | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alisah Bonaobra • Grace Davies • Holly Tandy • Jack and Joel • Kevin Davy White • Leon Mallett • Lloyd Macey • Matt Linnen • Rai-Elle Williams • Rak-Su • Sam Black • Sean & Conor Price • Spencer Sutherland • Talia Dean • The CutKelvins • Tracy Leanne Jefford | |||