OFB (rap group) explained
OFB |
Background: | group_or_band |
Origin: | Broadwater Farm, London, England |
Years Active: | 2016 - present |
Label: | Rattrap Reality |
Current Members: | See list |
OFB, short for Original Farm Boys, is a British hip hop collective based in Broadwater Farm, North London. OFB is one of the most prominent UK drill groups.[1] [2] [3]
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 an offshoot group 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, Double Lz and SJ are the younger members within OFB, initially signifying their status using the name Y.OFB (Young OFB), before later dropping the "Y." and co-opting the "OFB" prefix older members of the group used. Bandokay, whose real name is Kemani Duggan, is the son of Mark Duggan, the man whose death by police shooting led to the 2011 England riots. Bandokay credited music for keeping him away from crime, and stated his desire to be away from police as a motivator:
Bandokay credited fellow OFB rapper Headie One as a major influence, as well as UK drill group 67 and American rapper Lil Durk. Double Lz noted Giggs, American rapper Quando Rondo, and the Chicago drill scene in general as influences.[7]
In January 2019, Headie One released "18Hunna", featuring Dave, which entered the UK chart at number 6 - the highest a drill artist, at the time, had ever charted, and has gained over 15 million views on YouTube, as of February 2022.[8] [9] Following RV's release from prison,[10] on 22 March 2019, RV and Headie One released a third mixtape called Drillers x Trappers II.[11] It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21.[12] "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.[13]
In 2019, the OFB released their first collective mixtape titled Frontstreet, named after a road in Broadwater Farm that locals call "Front Street". Dazed Digital called the mixtape "one of the best British debuts of the decade". In 2019, following the release of SJ's "Youngest In Charge", which has gained over 27 million views on YouTube as of February 2022, it was revealed SJ had been arrested was currently facing trial for a murder charge;[14] while waiting for his trial, SJ was offered a £150k deal with an unknown record label.[15] SJ was later convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years.[16] His sentence would later be reduced to a minimum of 19 years in 2021, which was announced via his Instagram account.[17] Like many other drill groups, OFB has had its songs taken down by YouTube at the 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.
Current members
The list below includes confirmed members of OFB
Former members
Legal issues
In February 2019, Boogie B, real name Demario Williams, was jailed for life with minimum term of 20 years for the murder of Dotty, real name Lewis Blackman, which occurred in February 2018. Two other defendants got sentenced for 18 years and the last one for 11.[42] [43] His case is frequently mentioned in the lyrics of OFB rappers.
In 2020, SJ, whose real name is Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow, alongside four others (Sheareem Cookhorn, Tyrell "Trills" Graham, Shane "Sneakz" Lyons and Ojay "O'Sav" Hamilton),[44] [45] was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck in Wood Green. The convicted group was reportedly linked to Tottenham gang NPK.[46] Fights broke out in the dock and the public gallery in reaction to the sentencing. Carl Stanbury, the partner of Lyons' mother, later received seven months in jail for jumping from the public gallery in protest.[47] SJ’s sentence was later reduced to a minimum of 19 years in 2021, which was announced via his Instagram account.[17] Before his sentence, he received a reprimand for the possession of a bladed article at age 14.[44]
In 2022, Bandokay and Double Lz were charged with violent disorder following a 2021 incident at a Selfridges store, in which two people were stabbed.[48]
In 2024, Bandokay was arrested at Gatwick Airport over firearms offences. On 15th of January he appeared at Thames Magistrates' Court and was charged with possession of a handgun and ammunition without a licence.[49] On 3 July he pleaded guilty for possession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Two days later, Bandokay, real name Kemani Duggan, was given a five years jail sentence.[50]
Discography
Mixtapes
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Notes and References
- News: UK drill rappers OFB: 'No one helps us round here. Music is the only way'. Thapar. Ciaran. 2019-09-06. The Guardian. 2019-12-15. en-GB. 0261-3077. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217134655/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/sep/06/uk-drill-rappers-ofb-no-one-helps-us-round-here-music-is-the-only-way. 2019-12-17. live.
- Web site: The 20 best albums of 2019. Dazed. 2019-12-11. Dazed. en. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215164722/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/47070/1/the-20-best-albums-of-2019. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: The Drop: The Best UK Drill of November 2019. 2019-11-14. Passion of the Weiss. en-US. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215182618/https://www.passionweiss.com/2019/11/14/the-drop-the-best-uk-drill-of-november-2019/. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: Heart of a lion: the rise of Headie One. The Face. en-gb. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108132845/https://theface.com/music/headie-one-drill-rap-volume-4-issue-001. 2019-11-08. live.
- News: Watch RV and Headie One's football-themed video for 'Match Day'. Daly. Rhian. 21 March 2019. NME. 9 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324030654/https://www.nme.com/news/music/rv-headie-one-football-themed-video-match-day-2465089. 24 March 2019. live.
- Web site: The One Two. Official Charts Company. 18 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190119182750/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/the-one-two/. 19 January 2019. live.
- Web site: 1 April 2021. Get To Know Bandokay & Double Lz, The Fresh-Faced Stars Of OFB. 22 September 2020. complex.com. 1 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210401132505/https://www.complex.com/music/ofb-bandokay-double-lz-interview. live.
- Web site: Headie One. Official Charts Company. 30 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121614/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/52982/headie-one/. 19 January 2019. live.
- Web site: Who is Headie One and what is the '18 Hunna' challenge?. 15 January 2019. The Official Big Top 40. Global. 18 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121104/https://www.bigtop40.com/features/headie-one-18-hunna-challenge-age-instagram/. 19 January 2019. live.
- Web site: What Do You Mean You Haven't Heard Of... RV?. 12 March 2019. SCAN. 15 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191107193910/https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/2019/03/12/what-do-you-mean-you-havent-heard-of-rv/. 7 November 2019. live.
- Web site: Headie One And RV Return With 'Drillers x Trappers II' Mixtape. Oke. Tobi. 22 March 2019. Complex. 26 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190326125431/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/03/headie-one-rv-dxt-ii. 26 March 2019. live.
- Web site: Drillers and Trappers 2 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190330143441/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/albums/drillers-and-trappers-2/ . 2019-03-30 . Official Charts Company.
- Web site: match day full Official Chart History . https://web.archive.org/web/20191107200729/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/match-day/ . 2019-11-07 . Official Charts Company.
- Web site: The Ones: Bandokay and Double Lz's "Mad About Bars". Pitchfork. 7 October 2019 . en. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191450/https://pitchfork.com/levels/bandokay-double-lz-mad-about-bars-new-song-listen/. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow: Drill rapper jailed for murder offered £150k record deal while in prison awaiting trial. Ellie. Harrison. 30 January 2020. independent.co.uk. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: Five jailed for Wood Green murder. Mynewsdesk. en. 2020-04-07. 2020-04-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20200407045531/http://news.met.police.uk/news/five-jailed-for-wood-green-murder-392682. live.
- Web site: OFB's SJ Gets His Sentence Reduced From 21 Years To 19 Years. 27 March 2021. theshadeborough.com. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: 2020-03-14. OFB's DSavv & Akz shut up "Pocket Rocket". 2020-12-23. GRM Daily. en-GB. 2020-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223134044/https://grmdaily.com/ofb-d-savv-akz-pocket-rocket/. live.
- Web site: UK drill rappers OFB: 'No one helps us round here. Music is the only way'. Ciaran. Thapar. 6 September 2019. theguardian.com. 18 February 2022.
- Web site: OFB's Blitty Offloads Raw New Tune "3'S". 22 July 2021. grmdaily.com. 22 September 2021. 22 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722104744/https://grmdaily.com/blitty-3s/. live.
- Web site: (OFB) BOOGIE B LETS OFF NEW HEATER “ALGEBRA PROBLEMS”. 6 November 2023. grmdaily.com. 12 July 2024.
- Web site: Bradz (OFB) returns with 'Next Graft' visuals. 2020-12-23. Link Up Tv. en. 2020-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20201001020642/https://www.thelinkup.com/content/2175/bradz-ofb-makes-a-return-with-next-graft-visuals. live.
- Web site: OFB's Dee One Delivers Cold 'Next Up? Freestyle. GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 8 May 2019 . 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191451/http://grmdaily.com/video/dee-one-next-up-freestyle. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: OFB'S LOWKEY, D1, HEADIE ONE, KASH & BRADZ WAGE "WAR" IN NEW VISUALS. GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 18 June 2017 . 22 February 2022.
- Web site: OFB's Delsa Drops Off Visuals For 'Spill'. Courtney. W. grmdaily.com. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: Dezzie unveils brand-new 'Bad Breed' visuals. Link Up Tv. en. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191453/https://www.thelinkup.com/content/586/dezzie-unveils-brand-new-bad-breed-visuals. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: OFB's DZ and YF drop 'Back 2 Back'. 2020-12-23. Link Up Tv. en. 2020-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20201223133901/https://www.thelinkup.com/content/3198/ofb-s-dz-and-yf-drop-back-2-back. live.
- Web site: The New New: 14 U.K. Rappers You Should Know - XXL. Rathod. Nikita. XXL Mag. en. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191451/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2018/08/new-new-u-k-rappers-you-should-know/. 2019-12-15. live.
- News: UK drill rapper Headie One jailed for six months for carrying knife . . 8 January 2020 . 18 February 2022. Beaumont-Thomas, Ben.
- Web site: OFB's Izzpot drops visuals for new track "Free S". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 12 January 2020 . 2020-01-24. 2021-09-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923231340/https://grmdaily.com/ofb-izzpot-free-s/. live.
- Web site: PREMIERE: OFB'S KASH ONE7 OFFLOADS VISUALS FOR ALL-NEW TUNE "SIRENS". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 20 December 2021 . 2021-12-26.
- Web site: OFB's Kush provides hard tune "No Biggie". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 3 November 2019 . 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191450/http://grmdaily.com/video/ofb-kush-no-biggie. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: Drillers x Trappers II: RV and Headie One release mixtape and 'Match Day'. 2019-03-22. Plugsville. en-GB. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215192953/https://www.plugsville.com/drillers-x-trappers-ii-rv-headie-one-mixtape-match-day/. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: The Ones: OFB Munie's "Lightwork Freestyle". Pitchfork. 7 August 2019 . en. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191452/https://pitchfork.com/levels/ofb-munie-lightwork-freestyle-new-song-listen/. 2019-12-15. live.
- News: Knife attackers use YouTube to issue death threats from prison. Shingi Mararike. Tom Harper and. 2019-03-10. The Sunday Times. 2019-12-15. en. 0956-1382. https://web.archive.org/web/20190824194613/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/knife-attackers-use-youtube-to-issue-death-threats-from-prison-rxq9pkqll. 2019-08-24. live.
- Web site: HERITAGE: Before They Were Charting, Headie One And RV Were Repping Tottenham To The Fullest In This Classic Cypher (2010). trenchtrenchtrench.com. en-US. 18 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20191108134732/https://trenchtrenchtrench.com/news/heritage-before-they-were-charting-headie-one-and-rv-were-repping-tottenham-to-the-fullest-in-this-classic-cypher-2010. 8 November 2019. live.
- Web site: Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow: Drill rapper jailed for murder offered £150k record deal while in prison awaiting trial. Ellie. Harrison. 30 January 2020. indepenedent.co.uk. 22 September 2021. 27 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210127022616/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/jayden-oneill-crichlow-drill-rapper-murder-record-deal-prison-trial-a9309356.html. live.
- Web site: Headie One Links Up with Skat for OFB Collab, "Water". 2018-10-15. Versus.uk.com. en-GB. 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191455/https://versus.uk.com/2018/10/headie-one-links-skat-ofb-collab-water/. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: OFB's ZeZe Unveils 'Reality' Visuals. Courtney. W. 4 November 2020. grmdaily.com. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: OFB's Munie & Zilla join forces for "Can't Save These Shots". GRM Daily - Grime, Rap music and Culture. 27 June 2019 . 2019-12-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20191215191450/http://grmdaily.com/video/munie-zilla-cant-save-these-shots. 2019-12-15. live.
- Web site: Premiere: OFB's JS Comes Through With 'Ride Out' Visuals. Courtney. W. 19 June 2020. grmdaily.com. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: Boys 'laughed and joked' after fatally stabbing teenager in street outside party. Samuel. Osborne. 15 February 2019. independent.co.uk. 14 July 2024.
- Web site: Lewis Blackman murder: Teenagers jailed after stabbing. 15 February 2019. bbc.com. 14 July 2024.
- Web site: Killed in 2019: Who has been brought to justice?. Steve. Swann. Thomas. Mackintosh. 12 November 2020. bbc.com. 26 October 2021.
- Web site: Unmasked: Teenage killer is drill rapper offered £150k record deal while in prison charged with murder. Tristan. Kirk. 29 January 2020. standard.co.uk. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck: Fight breaks out in court as killers jailed. 27 January 2020. bbc.com. 25 October 2020.
- Web site: Old Bailey protest: Carl Stanbury jailed for jumping into court. 24 February 2020. bbc.com. 25 October 2021.
- Web site: Mark Duggan's brother and son accused of being in Selfridges brawl where two people were stabbed. Tristan. Kirk. 31 January 2022. standard.co.uk. 6 February 2022.
- Web site: Mark Duggan's rapper son arrested at Gatwick Airport over firearms offences. Anthony. France. 22 January 2024. standard.co.uk. 6 February 2024.
- Web site: Mark Duggan's rapper son jailed over gun crime. James. McCarthy. 5 July 2024. bbc.com. 6 July 2024.
- Web site: OFB full Official Chart History Official Charts Company . . www.officialcharts.com . 23 July 2022.
- United Kingdom. OFB. 6 October 2022.
- Web site: Archibald-Powell . Naimah . Premiere: OFB's Bandokay, Double Lz & Izzpot Step Up For Highly-Anticipated 'Daily Duppy' . . 13 October 2022 . 15 February 2021.
- Web site: Evans . Elle . OFB's Bandokay & Double Lz Team Up For "Hashtag" . . 13 October 2022 . 26 February 2021.
- Web site: RATED AWARDS 2020: HERE ARE THE NOMINEES!. Courtney. W. 29 June 2020. grmdaily.com. 17 November 2021.