Headie One
Headie One | |
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![]() Adjei on Mixtape Madness in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Irving Ampofo Adjei[1] |
Born | [2] Tottenham, London, England | 6 October 1994
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 2010–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts |
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Website | headie |
Irving Ampofo Adjei[4] (born 6 October 1994), known professionally as Headie One, is a British rapper. In 2018, he released the mixtape The One, which included the single "Know Better", featuring rapper RV, that became an "underground hit".[5] He is a member of the drill rap group OFB.
Headie One is best known for his track "18Hunna" featuring rapper Dave, which peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. He has released seven mixtapes, four solo mixtapes and three mixtapes with fellow OFB rapper RV. In 2019, Headie One released his seventh and first mainstream mixtape titled Music x Road, which peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. He has since released Edna which peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart, an album which pays homage to his mother, Edna Adjei.[6][7]
Early life[]
Adjei grew up on the "infamous"[8] Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham, London.[9] He is of Ghanaian origin.[10]
In his youth he was "obsessed" with football and played for local team Haringey Borough F.C.[11] He was due to have a trial with Stevenage F.C. before an ankle fracture led to his exit from the sport.[11] Adjei is an avid supporter of Manchester United.[12]
He first began rapping in his early teens, though only began focusing on it after his first release from prison.[13] His moniker derives from a childhood nickname due to his head's resemblance to a 50p coin.[9]
Career[]
Adjei began releasing music in the early 2010s under the name Headz, including as part of a group named Star Gang.[2][14] In 2014 he released his only mixtape under that alias, titled Headz or Tails.[15] Also part of Star Gang was fellow Tottenham rapper RV – he and Headie One became frequent collaborators, including co-releasing the mixtapes Sticks & Stones (2016) and Drillers x Trappers (2017).[16] Together they formed part of OFB, a British drill crew based in the Broadwater Farm estate.[8]
In February 2018, he released his next solo mixtape as Headie One, titled The One. This included "Know Better" with RV, which became an "underground hit".[5] This was his first release that was signed to Relentless Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.[17] In May he was featured on "Missing", a Belly Squad track that peaked at number 84 on the UK Singles Chart.[18] This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.[19] In November he performed on his first national UK tour.[20]
In January 2019, his single "18Hunna", featuring Dave, entered the UK chart at number 6 – the highest a drill artist has ever charted.[6][21] In March Adjei released his sixth mixtape, and third with RV, Drillers x Trappers II.[22] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21.[23] "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.[6] In July he featured on the "I Spy" single by Krept and Konan, which peaked at number 18.[24]
In August 2019 Adjei released his seventh mixtape in five years, Music x Road.[7] The release was praised by critics,[7][25][26] and was noted for being a move away from his usual sound - with NME describing it as being "often far from drill".[25] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 5 – his highest chart placing to date.[6] Other than the previously-released "18Hunna", several tracks from the mixtape also charted, such as "Back to Basics" with Skepta, "Rubbery Bandz" and "Both".[6]
In December 2019, he featured on Stormzy's new album Heavy Is the Head on the song "Audacity".
In July 2020, he released a single featuring Drake called "Only You Freestyle" produced by M1onthebeat.
In October 2020, his debut album Edna topped the UK charts.[27] The album was dedicated to his late mother of the same name. It has garnered plenty of praise within the music world. NME praised the "melancholy, minor-key trap beats requisite of in-vogue modern hip-hop",[28] while The Times described Adjei as the "breakout star of drill".[29]
Controversies[]
As a teenager Adjei had been imprisoned three times,[9][13] including for dealing crack cocaine and heroin, most recently in 2014.[17][30]
In January 2018 he was reportedly attacked by rivals at the University of Bedfordshire.[9][20] A video of the assault was posted on Snapchat and then YouTube, resulting in an "all-out gang war".[30] Headie responded with a diss track "Know Better".[9]
In March of that year, his concert at the Barbican Centre was shut down by the Metropolitan Police.[9] The police had previously "singled out" his music in connection with rising knife crime in London.[31] In an interview in April, Headie claimed that "Only a fool would say that drill music is the root of the problem of violence in the capital."[31] Associations between London gang culture ("the war between Tottenham and Wood Green"), drill music and social media were examined in a BBC Radio Four programme File on Four 8 March 2020, focused on three violent murders.[32][33]
On 8 January 2020 Adjei was sentenced to six months for possession of a knife and imprisoned for a fourth time.[1] He was released early in April 2020.[34]
On 17 November 2020 Adjei was involved in an altercation with rapper Tion Wayne on board a flight from Dubai to London shortly after boarding.[35]
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [36] |
AUS [37] |
BEL [38] |
CAN [39] |
NLD [40] | |||
Edna |
|
1 | 22 | 84 | 86 | 36 |
Mixtapes[]
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
UK [36] | ||
Headz or Tails |
|
— |
Sticks & Stones (with RV) |
|
— |
Drillers x Trappers (with RV) |
|
— |
The One |
|
— |
The One Two |
|
— |
Drillers x Trappers II (with RV) |
|
21 |
Music x Road |
|
5 |
Gang (with Fred again..) |
|
49 |
Singles[]
As lead artist[]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [36] |
CAN [47] |
US Bub. [48] | ||||
"On Sight"[49] | 2014 | — | — | — | Headz or Tails | |
"Golden Boot" (with RV) |
2016 | — | — | — | The One | |
"Know Better" (with RV) |
— | — | — | |||
"18Hunna" (featuring Dave)[50] |
2019 | 6 | — | — | Music x Road | |
"All Day"[51] | — | — | — | |||
"Back to Basics" (featuring Skepta) |
42 | — | — | |||
"Both"[52] | 13 | — | — |
| ||
"Charades" (with Fred Again) |
2020 | 57 | — | — | Gang | |
"Rose Gold" | 49 | — | — | Non-album single | ||
"Only You Freestyle" (with Drake) |
5 | 37 | 18 |
|
Edna | |
"Ain't It Different" (featuring AJ Tracey and Stormzy) |
2 | — | — | |||
"Breathing" | — | — | — | |||
"Princess Cuts" (featuring Young T & Bugsey)[54] |
11 | — | — |
| ||
"Pound Signs"[55] | 2021 | 49 | — | — | Non-album single | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
As featured artist[]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [36] |
IRE [56] |
CAN [47] |
US [57] | ||||
"I Spy" (Krept and Konan featuring Headie One and K-Trap)[58] |
2019 | 18 | — | — | — |
|
Revenge Is Sweet |
"Don't Rush" (Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One) |
19 | 28 | 64 | 56 |
|
Plead The 5th | |
"Audacity" (Stormzy featuring Headie One) |
6 | 8 | — | — |
|
Heavy Is the Head | |
"Impress Me" (Scribz Riley featuring Headie One) |
2020 | — | — | — | — | TBA | |
"Don't Judge Me" (FKA twigs featuring Headie One and Fred again..) |
2021 | — | — | — | — | ||
"Wandsworth to Bullingdon" (Fredo featuring Headie One) |
2021 | 36 | — | — | — | Non-album single | |
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Promotional singles[]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
UK [36] | |||
"Shellings Riddim" (with Tel Money and Lowkey)[59] |
2017 | — | Non-album singles |
"The Jugg" (with RV)[60] |
— | ||
"90 on the M" (with Colo)[61] |
— | ||
"Live in the T"[62] | — | ||
"Profit" (with BKO & Dun D)[63] |
— | ||
"Banter on Me"[64] | 2018 | — | |
"Free Bradders" (with Mikabeats, RV, Skat and Tuggzy)[65] |
— | The One | |
"In to Win",[66] | — | Non-album singles | |
"Issa Mood" (featuring Not3s)[67] |
— | ||
"Of Course"[68] | — |
Other charted songs[]
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [36] |
NZ Hot [69] | |||
"Rubbery Bandz" | 2019 | 86 | — | Music x Road |
"Hard to Believe" | 79 | — | Top Boy – A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series | |
"Gang" (with Fred Again) |
2020 | 51 | — | Gang |
"Parlez-vous anglais" (featuring Aitch) |
24 | — | Edna | |
"Siberia" (featuring Burna Boy) |
2021 | 35 | 27 |
Guest appearances[]
Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
---|---|---|---|
"Drill" | 2018 | Loski, RV | Call Me Loose |
"Ei8ht Mile"[70] | 2020 | DigDat | Ei8ht Mile |
"Head Huncho" | M Huncho | Huncholini the 1st | |
"Spaghetti" | 2021 | Hamza, Gazo | 140 BPM 2 |
"Wandsworth to Bullingdon" | 2021 | Fredo | Independence Day |
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (8 January 2020). "UK drill rapper Headie One jailed for six months for carrying knife". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Crone, David. "Headie One Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "Home". Epic Records.
- ^ https://www.umusicpub.com/us/Digital-Music-Library/album/104796/new-album
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- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Headie One". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Horner, Al (23 August 2019). "Headie One: Music X Road review – UK drill kingpin gets introspective". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Thapar, Ciaran (2 August 2018). "Making the banned: MK The Plug and M1 On The Beat are UK drill's brightest hope". Fact. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Halls, Eleanor (14 July 2018). "Is drill the most controversial genre of music?". GQ. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Headie One Talks Uni Incident, New Music, Labels plus more [NFTR] (YouTube Video). Not For The Radio. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Davey, Jacob (17 September 2019). "VERSUS Jerseys: Headie One". Versus. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ Smyth, David (1 November 2019). "Headie One: 'If I just stuck to drill, I'd be holding back my talents'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Patterson, Joseph JP (15 November 2018). "Headie One, Man Of Few Words, Lets His Bars Do All The Talking". Complex. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Star Gang - Youngers From Farm Ft. Young RV and Instagram as 247_tt (YouTube Video). ColdCashMG. 15 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ Headie One [@headieone] (30 March 2014). "Download my debut mixtape 'Headz or Tails' !!! mixtapemadness.co.uk/Headz/HeadzOrTails/1794" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (21 March 2019). "Watch RV and Headie One's football-themed video for 'Match Day'". NME. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bassett, Jordan (18 April 2019). "The Big Read – Headie One: "If you make a mistake, you've got to move quickly"". NME. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
- ^ "Belly Squad ft Headie One". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "The One Two". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Simpson, Dave (5 November 2018). "Headie One review – a feelgood celebration despite the bleak lyrics". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
- ^ "Who is Headie One and what is the '18 Hunna' challenge?". The Official Big Top 40. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ Oke, Tobi (22 March 2019). "Headie One And RV Return With 'Drillers x Trappers II' Mixtape". Complex. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ "DRILLERS AND TRAPPERS 2". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "KREPT/KONAN/HEADIE ONE/K-TRAP". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Bassett, Jordan (22 August 2019). "Headie One – 'Music x Road' review". NME. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ Fletcher, Harry (23 August 2019). "Headie One: Music X Road review – Drill meets dancehall, and Headie's ahead of the game". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ "Headie One tops album chart with debut album, Edna". BBC News. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ "Headie One – 'Edna' album review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Hodgkinson, Will. "Headie One: Edna review — authentic vision of life on the margins". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Simpson, John; McStay, Josh (12 April 2018). "Puma and JD Sports linked to 'crack den' party". The Times. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.(Subscription required.)
- ^ Jump up to: a b Cotter, Lucy (15 April 2018). "Drill star says 'only a fool would link music to wave of violent crime'". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Taking the Rap". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
- ^ "The rapper's track that sparked a wave of killings". BBC News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (3 April 2020). "Headie One has been released from prison". NME. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Headie One and Tion Wayne in 'altercation' on Dubai flight – reports say". The Independent. 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "HEADIE ONE - full Official Charts History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "Discografie Headie One". ultratop.be. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ "Headie One – Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Discografie Headie One". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Headie One" and select "Search by Keyword"). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "The One by Headie One". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "The One Two by Headie One". iTunes. Archived from the original on 4 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Drillers x Trappers II by RV & Headie One". iTunes. 22 March 2019. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Music x Road by Headie One". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Premiere: It's an all-black affair in Headie One and Fred Again's "GANG" VISUALS". Complex. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Headie One – Chart History: Billboard Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Headie One Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "Headie One - The Official Website - Bio". headie.one. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "18HUNNA (feat. Dave) - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "All Day - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ Damian, Jones (15 August 2019). "Watch Headie One's Ultra Nate sampled video for new single 'Both'". NME. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ Dre D. (8 October 2020). "Headie One Rallies Young T & Bugsey For New Afroswing Single "Princess Cuts"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Kenneally, Cerys (25 June 2021). "Headie One unveils new single 'Pound Signs'". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Headie One Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "I Spy (feat. Headie One & K-Trap) - Single by Krept & Konan". iTunes. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Shellings Riddim – Single by Tel Money, Headie One & Lowkey on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "The Jugg – Single by Headie One & RV on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "90 on the M – Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Live in the T – Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Profit – Single by BKO, Dun D & Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Banter on Me – Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Free Bradders – Single by Mikabeats, Headie One, RV, Skat & Tuggzy on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "In to Win – Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Issa Mood – Single by Headie One & Notes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "Of Course – Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Ei8ht Mile by DigDat". iTunes. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- People from Tottenham
- Rappers from London
- Living people
- English male rappers
- English people of Ghanaian descent
- Black British male rappers
- UK drill musicians
- British trap musicians
- 1994 births
- Relentless Records artists