OFB (group)
OFB, also known as Original Farm Boys, is a British hip hop collective based in Broadwater Farm, London. OFB is one of the most prominent UK drill groups.[1][2][3]
OFB | |
---|---|
Origin | Broadwater Farm, London, England |
Genres |
|
Associated acts | |
Members | See list |
History
Headie One (formerly Headz) and RV (formerly Young RV) are among the most prominent members of the group. They were both originally rappers in Star Gang, a road rap group from the 2000s and split-off from the Tottenham Mandem gang.[4] RV and Headie One have frequently collaborated with each other, including co-releasing the mixtapes Sticks & Stones (2016) and Drillers x Trappers (2017).[5] In February 2018, Headie One released his solo mixtape, The One. The mixtape included the song "Know Better" featuring RV, which became an "underground hit". This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.[6]
Bandokay, DoubleLz, and SJ form a sub-group within OFB, initially using the name Y.OFB (Young OFB) signifying their status as younger members of the group, before later dropping the "Y." and co-opting the "OFB" prefix older members of the group used.[3] OFB rapper Bandokay, whos real name is Kemani Duggan, is the son of Mark Duggan, the man whose death by police shooting led to the 2011 England Riots.[1][2] Bandokay credited music for keeping him away from crime, and stated his desire to be away from police as a motivator:[1]
"Whenever [the police] see me, they stop me, I get what they’re trying to do – they’re trying to take weapons. But I know they purposely stop me more than anyone else. They know who I am. They know who my dad is. So that’s why I’m trying to go through music and do something positive, so they don’t have nothing to say about me."
Bandokay credited fellow OFB rapper Headie One as a major influence, as well as UK drill group 67.[1]
In January 2019, Headie One released "18Hunna", featuring Dave, which entered the UK chart at number 6 - the highest a drill artist has ever charted.[7][8] Following RV's release from prison,[9] on 22 March 2019, RV and Headie One released a third mixtape called Drillers x Trappers II.[10] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21.[11] "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.[12] He publicly revealed his face for the first time in the music video "Why Always Me".[13][14]
In 2019, the OFB released their first collective mixtape titled "Frontstreet", named after a road in Broadwater Farm that locals call "Front Street".[1][3] Dazed Digital called the mixtape "one of the best British debuts of the decade".[2] In 2019, following the release of (OFB member) SJ's "Youngest In Charge", it was revealed SJ was currently facing trial for a murder charge and had been arrested.[3][15] SJ was later convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years.[16]
Like many other drill groups, OFB has had its songs taken down by YouTube at request of the Metropolitan Police. In 2019, OFB's own YouTube channel was also taken down, before later being reinstated the next day. Bandokay stated they were trying to clean up their music in order to avoid takedowns.[1]
Members
The list below includes confirmed members of OFB:
References
- Thapar, Ciaran (2019-09-06). "UK drill rappers OFB: 'No one helps us round here. Music is the only way'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2019-12-17. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- Dazed (2019-12-11). "The 20 best albums of 2019". Dazed. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "The Drop: The Best UK Drill of November 2019". Passion of the Weiss. 2019-11-14. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "Heart of a lion: the rise of Headie One". The Face. Archived from the original on 2019-11-08. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- 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.
- "The One Two". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- "Headie One". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "Who is Headie One and what is the '18 Hunna' challenge?". The Official Big Top 40. Global. 15 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- "What Do You Mean You Haven't Heard Of... RV?". SCAN. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 15 December 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" Archived 2019-03-30 at the Wayback Machine. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- "match day | full Official Chart History" Archived 2019-11-07 at the Wayback Machine. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
- "Bally On Me: Why UK drill rappers cover their faces". The Face. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- Wynter, Courtney (28 February 2019). "Premiere: RV Makes Big Return With "Brand New/Why Always Me" Visuals". GRM Daily. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "The Ones: Bandokay and Double Lz's "Mad About Bars"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "Five jailed for Wood Green murder". Mynewsdesk. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
- "OFB's Dee One Delivers Cold 'Next Up? Freestyle". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "Dezzie unveils brand-new 'Bad Breed' visuals". Link Up Tv. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- Rathod, Nikita. "The New New: 14 U.K. Rappers You Should Know - XXL". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "OFB's Izzpot drops visuals for new track "Free S"". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- "OFB's Kash asks "You Alright?" in latest video". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "OFB's Kush provides hard tune "No Biggie"". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "Drillers x Trappers II: RV and Headie One release mixtape and 'Match Day'". Plugsville. 2019-03-22. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "The Ones: OFB Munie's "Lightwork Freestyle"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- Shingi Mararike, Tom Harper and (2019-03-10). "Knife attackers use YouTube to issue death threats from prison". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Archived from the original on 2019-08-24. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "Headie One Links Up with Skat for OFB Collab, "Water"". Versus.uk.com. 2018-10-15. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- "OFB's Munie & Zilla join forces for "Can't Save These Shots"". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. Archived from the original on 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2019-12-15.