Headie One

Irving Adjei (born 6 October 1994), known professionally as Headie One, is a British rapper and songwriter from Tottenham, North London. In 2018, he released the mixtape The One; it included the single "Know Better" featuring rapper RV, which became an "underground hit".[1]

Headie One
Adjei on Mixtape Madness in 2017
Background information
Birth nameIrving Adjei
Born (1994-10-06) 6 October 1994
Tottenham, London, England
Genres
Years active2010–present
LabelsRelentless
Associated acts
Websitewww.headie.one

Headie One is best known for his track "18Hunna", which peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and features Dave. He has released seven mixtapes - four solo, and three with fellow rapper RV. In 2019, Headie One released his seventh and first mainstream mixtape Music x Road which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart.[2][3]

Early life

Adjei grew up on the "infamous"[4] Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham.[5] He is of Ghanaian origin.[6]

In his youth he was "obsessed" with football and played for local team Haringey Borough F.C.[7] He was due to have a trial with Stevenage F.C. before an ankle fracture led to his exit from the sport.[7] Adjei is a lifelong Tottenham Hotspur supporter having been born in the area.

He first began rapping in his early teens, though only began focusing on it after his first release from prison.[8] His moniker derives from a childhood nickname due to his head's resemblance to a 50p coin.[5]

Music career

Adjei began releasing music in the early 2010s under the name Headz, including as part of a group named Star Gang.[9][10] In 2014 he released his only mixtape under that alias, titled Headz or Tails.[11] 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).[12] Together they formed part of OFB, a UK drill crew based in the Broadwater Farm estate.[4]

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".[1] This was his first release that was signed to Relentless Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.[13] In May he was featured on "Missing", a Belly Squad track that peaked at number 84 on the UK Singles Chart.[14] This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.[15] In November he performed on his first national UK tour.[16]

In January 2019, his single "18Hunna", featuring Dave, entered the UK chart at number 6 - the highest a drill artist has ever charted.[2][17] In March Adjei released his sixth mixtape, and third with RV, Drillers x Trappers II.[18] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21.[19] "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.[2] In July he featured on the "I Spy" single by Krept and Konan, which peaked at number 18.[20]

In August 2019 Adjei released his seventh mixtape in five years, Music x Road.[3] The release was praised by critics,[3][21][22] and was noted for being a move away from his usual sound - with NME describing it as being "often far from drill".[21] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 5 - his highest chart placing to date.[2] Other than the previously-released "18Hunna", several tracks from the mixtape also charted, such as "Back to Basics" with Skepta, "Rubbery Bandz" and "Both."[2]

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.

Controversy

Adjei has been imprisoned three times,[5][8] including for dealing crack cocaine and heroin - most recently in 2020.[13][23]

In January 2018 he was reportedly attacked by rivals at the University of Bedfordshire.[5][16] A video of the assault was posted on Snapchat and then YouTube, resulting in an "all-out gang war."[23] Headie responded with a diss track "Know Better."[5]

In March of that year, his concert at the Barbican Centre was shut down by the Metropolitan Police.[5] The police had previously "singled out" his music in connection with rising knife crime in London.[24] 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."[24] 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.[25][26]

On 8 January 2020 Adjei was imprisoned for six months for possession of a knife.[27] He was released early in April 2020.[28]

Discography

Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected details and chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[29]
Headz or Tails —
Sticks & Stones
(with RV)		 —
Drillers x Trappers
(with RV)
  • Released: 17 July 2017
  • Label: Starish Entertainment
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 —
The One
  • Released: 2 February 2018[30]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 —
The One Two
  • Released: 22 June 2018[31]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 —
Drillers x Trappers II
(with RV)
  • Released: 22 March 2019[32]
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 21
Music x Road
  • Released: 23 August 2019[33]
  • Label: Relentless
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 5
Gang
(with Fred Again)
  • Released: 3 April 2020[34]
  • Label: Relentless
  • Format: Streaming, digital download
 49

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[29]
"On Sight"[35] 2014 — Headz or Tails
"Golden Boot"
(with RV)		 2016 — The One
"Know Better"
(with RV)		 —
"18Hunna"
(featuring Dave)[36]		 2019 6 Music x Road
"All Day"[38] —
"Back to Basics"
(featuring Skepta)[39]		 42
"Both"[40] 13
"Charades"
(with Fred Again)		 2020 57 Gang
"Rose Gold" 49 TBA
"Only You Freestyle"
(with Drake)		 5
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
List of singles as a featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[29]		 IRE
[41]
"I Spy"
(Krept and Konan featuring Headie One and K-Trap)[42]		 2019 18— Revenge Is Sweet
"Don't Rush"
(Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One)		 1928 Plead The 5th
"Impress Me"
(Scribz Riley featuring Headie One)		 2020 —— TBA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Promotional singles
List of promotional singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
"Shellings Riddim"
(with Tel Money & Lowkey)[43]		 2017 Non-album single
"The Jugg"
(with RV)[44]
"90 on the M"
(with Colo)[45]
"Live in the T"[46]
"Profit"
(with BKO & Dun D)[47]
"Banter on Me"[48] 2018
"Free Bradders"
(with Mikabeats, RV, Skat & Tuggzy)[49]		 The One
"In to Win"[50] Non-album single
"Issa Mood"
(featuring Not3s)[51]
"Of Course"[52]

Other charted songs
List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[29]
"Rubbery Bandz" 2019 86 Music x Road
"Hard to Believe" 79 Top Boy – A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series
"Audacity"
(Stormzy featuring Headie One)		 6 Heavy Is the Head
"Gang"
(with Fred Again)		 2020 51 Gang

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, showing year released, other artist(s) and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Drill" 2018 Loski, RV Call Me Loose
"Ei8ht Mile"[53] 2020 DigDat Ei8ht Mile
"Head Huncho" M Huncho Huncholini the 1st
gollark: <@259981416928903168> Your obsidian's all gone.
gollark: Where exactly is this shop of yours?
gollark: 6 Krist per 64?
gollark: Six sixty-fourths?
gollark: What does 6/64KST mean?

References
  1. Brydon, Grant (7 January 2019). "Slay In Their Lane: Nine Artists Who Will Dominate 2019". Clash. Music Republic. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. "Headie One". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  3. 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.
  4. Thapar, Ciaran (2 August 2018). "Making the banned: MK The Plug and M1 On The Beat are UK drill's brightest hope". Fact. The Vinyl Factory. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  5. Halls, Eleanor (14 July 2018). "Is drill the most controversial genre of music?". GQ. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  6. Headie One Talks Uni Incident, New Music, Labels plus more [NFTR] (YouTube Video). Not For The Radio. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  7. Davey, Jacob (17 September 2019). "VERSUS Jerseys: Headie One". Versus. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  8. Patterson, Joseph JP (15 November 2018). "Headie One, Man Of Few Words, Lets His Bars Do All The Talking". Complex. Complex Media. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. Wacey, Rob. "Headie One Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  10. Star Gang - Youngers From Farm Ft. Young RV (YouTube Video). ColdCashMG. 15 January 2011. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  11. Headie One [@headieone] (30 March 2014). "Download my debut mixtape 'Headz or Tails' !!! mixtapemadness.co.uk/Headz/HeadzOrTails/1794" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. 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.
  13. Bassett, Jordan. "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.
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  15. "The One Two". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
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  18. 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.
  19. "DRILLERS AND TRAPPERS 2". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  20. "KREPT/KONAN/HEADIE ONE/K-TRAP". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  21. Bassett, Jordan. "Headie One – 'Music x Road' review". NME. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  22. 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.
  23. 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.)
  24. Cotter, Lucy (15 April 2018). "Drill star says 'only a fool would link music to wave of violent crime'". Sky News. Sky Limited. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  25. "BBC Radio 4 - File on 4, Taking the Rap". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  26. "The rapper's track that sparked a wave of killings". BBC News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  27. "UK drill rapper Headie One jailed for six months for carrying knife | Rap". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  28. Reilly, Nick (3 April 2020). "Headie One has been released from prison". NME. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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  33. "Music x Road by Headie One". iTunes. Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  34. "Premiere: It's An All-Black Affair In Headie One And Fred Again's "GANG" Visuals". Complex. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  35. "Headie One - The Official Website - Bio". headie.one. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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  37. "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.
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  40. Jones, Damian (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.
  41. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  42. "I Spy (feat. Headie One & K-Trap) - Single by Krept & Konan". iTunes. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  43. "Shellings Riddim - Single by Tel Money, Headie One & Lowkey on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  44. "The Jugg - Single by Headie One & RV on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  45. "90 on the M - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  46. "Live in the T - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  47. "Profit - Single by BKO, Dun D & Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  48. "Banter on Me - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  49. "Free Bradders - Single by Mikabeats, Headie One, RV, Skat & Tuggzy on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  50. "In to Win - Single by Headie One on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  51. "Issa Mood - Single by Headie One & Notes on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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  53. "Ei8ht Mile by DigDat". iTunes. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
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