# Headie One

Irving Ampofo Adjei (born 6 October 1994), known professionally as Headie One (formerly Headz), is a British rapper and singer. In 2018 he released his second solo mixtape, titled The One, which included the single "Know Better" featuring rapper RV, which became an "underground hit".
He is best known for his tracks "18hunna" featuring rapper Dave, "Only You Freestyle" featuring rapper Drake, "Ain't It Different" featuring rappers AJ Tracey and Stormzy and his solo single "Both". The track "18hunna" peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart, while "Only You Freestyle" peaked at number 5 on the UK Singles Chart and "Ain't It Different" peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
Headie One has released a series of mixtapes. In 2019, he released his seventh and first mainstream mixtape titled Music x Road, which peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. In 2020, he released the critically-acclaimed joint project 'GANG' with Fred Again before releasing his debut album titled Edna—an album that pays homage to his mother, Edna Duah—which peaked at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart.

## Early life

Adjei was born on 6 October 1994 in North Middlesex Hospital, North London. Adjei grew up in the Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham, London. He is of Ghanaian origin and can speak Twi. His mother Edna Duah died when Adjei was three, and he was therefore raised by his father and sister.
In his youth, he was "obsessed" with football and played for local team Haringey Borough F.C. He was due to have a trial with Stevenage F.C. before an ankle fracture led to his exit from the sport.
He first began rapping in his early teens, though only began focusing on it after his first release from prison. His moniker derives from a childhood nickname due to his head's resemblance to a 50p coin.

## Career
### 2010–2019: Career beginnings and mixtapes

Adjei began releasing music in the early 2010s under the name Headz, including as part of a group named Star Gang. In 2014, he released his only mixtape under that alias, titled Headz or Tails. 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). Together they formed part of OFB, a UK drill group based in the Broadwater Farm estate.
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".$^{[6]}$ This was his first release that was signed to Relentless Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music.$^{[7]}$ In May, he was featured on "Missing", a Belly Squad track that peaked at number 84 on the UK Singles Chart.$^{[8]}$ This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.$^{[9]}$ In November, he performed on his first national UK tour.$^{[10]}$
In January 2019, his single "18Hunna", featuring Dave, entered the UK chart at number 6 – the highest a drill artist ever charted prior to "Body" by Russ Millions and Tion Wayne.$^{[11][12]}$ In March, Adjei released his sixth mixtape, and third with RV, Drillers x Trappers II.$^{[13]}$ It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21.$^{[14]}$ "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.$^{[11]}$ In July, he featured on the "I Spy" single by Krept and Konan, which peaked at number 18.$^{[15]}$

### 2019–2020: Music x Road

In August 2019, Adjei released his seventh mixtape in five years, Music x Road.$^{[16]}$ The release was praised by critics,$^{[16][17][18]}$ and was noted for being a move away from his usual sound – with NME describing it as being "often far from drill".$^{[17]}$ It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 5 – his highest chart placing to date.$^{[11]}$ Other than the previously released "18Hunna", several tracks from the mixtape also charted, such as "Back to Basics" with Skepta, "Rubbery Bandz" and "Both".$^{[11]}$
In December 2019, he featured on Stormzy's new album Heavy Is the Head on the song "Audacity". In April 2020, Adjei collaborated with Fred Again… to release his mixtape Gang. In July 2020, he released a single featuring Drake called "Only You Freestyle" produced by M1onthebeat which peaked at number 5. In August 2020, his single "Ain’t It Different" with Stormzy & AJ Tracey peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart - his highest charting single to date. The song was certified platinum by British Phonographic Industry on 21 January 2021.

### 2020–present: Edna and Too Loyal for My Own Good

In October 2020, his debut album Edna topped the UK charts.$^{[19]}$ 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",$^{[20]}$ while The Times described Adjei as the "breakout star of drill".$^{[21]}$
On 1 October 2021, he released his ninth mixtape, Too Loyal for My Own Good. He later released the single "Came In The Scene" on 5 May 2022. this was followed up by the single "Can't Be Us" with Abra Cadabra and Bandokay on 5 August 2022. Following a number of features with European artists, Adjei released his tenth mixtape No Borders: European Collaboration Project on 11 November 2022, featuring Luciano, Koba LaD, Gazo, and more.
On 8 December 2022 he released the single "50s". Following months of anticipation and previews, he released the single "Martin's Sofa" on 13 January 2023.
On 4 May 2023, he was presented with the Brits Billion Award by the British Phonographic Industry for achieving over 1 billion career streams in the UK.

## Personal life

Adjei is an avid supporter of Manchester United.

## Legal issues

As a teenager, Adjei had been imprisoned three times, including for dealing crack cocaine and heroin, most recently in 2014.
On 8 January 2020, Adjei was sentenced to six months for possession of a knife and imprisoned for a fourth time. He was released early in April 2020.

## Controversy

In January 2018, he was reportedly attacked by rivals at the University of Bedfordshire. A video of the assault was posted on Snapchat and then YouTube, resulting in an "all-out gang war". Headie responded with a diss track "Know Better".
In March of that year, his concert at the Barbican Centre was shut down by the Metropolitan Police. The police had previously linked his music in connection with rising knife crime in London. 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." 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.
On 17 November 2020, Adjei was involved in an altercation with rapper Tion Wayne on board a flight from Dubai to London in which the rapper Morrisson tried to break up shortly after boarding.
On 23 November 2022, Adjei was involved in a fight against rapper E1 (3x3) at the Sony Music Building in London. An employee said "It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life. You don’t expect to go to work and to be dragged into something like this…there was blood on the floor [...] It was terrifying." Sony issued a statement, saying "Sony Music takes the safety of its staff very seriously. This is now a police matter, so we cannot comment further."

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | UK | UK R&B | AUS | BEL | CAN | IRE | NLD | Certifications |
| Edna | Released: 9 October 2020 Label: Relentless Format: CD, digital download, streaming | 1 | 2 | 22 | 84 | 86 | 3 | 36 | BPI: Gold |
| The Last One | Released: 28 June 2024 Label: Columbia, Sony Format: CD, digital download, streaming | 52 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | |

### Mixtapes

List of commercial mixtapes, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
| Title | Album details | UK | UK R&B | IRE | Certifications |
| Headz or Tails | Released: 29 March 2014 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming | — | — | — | |
| The One | Released: 2 February 2018 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming | — | — | — | |
| The One Two | Released: 22 June 2018 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming | 32 | 14 | — | |
| Music x Road | Released: 23 August 2019 Label: Relentless Format: Digital download, streaming | 5 | 4 | 71 | BPI: Silver |
| Too Loyal for My Own Good | Released: 1 October 2021 Label: Relentless Format: Digital download, streaming | 26 | 5 | 93 | |

### Collaborative mixtapes

List of collaboration mixtapes, with release date, label, and selected chart positions shown :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | UK | UK R&B |
| Sticks & Stones (with RV) | Released: 25 December 2016 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming | — | — |
| Drillers x Trappers (with RV) | Released: 17 July 2017 Label: Starish Entertainment Format: Digital download, streaming | — | — |
| Drillers x Trappers II (with RV) | Released: 22 March 2019 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download, streaming | 21 | 9 |
| Gang (with Fred again..) | Released: 3 April 2020 Label: Relentless Format: Digital download, streaming | 49 | 10 |
| Strength to Strength (with K-Trap) | Released: 22 September 2023 Label: One Records, Thousand8 Format: Digital download, streaming | 4 | 1 |

### Compilations

List of compilation albums, with release date and label shown :
| Title | Album details |
| No Borders: European Compilation Project | Released: 11 November 2022 Label: Relentless Format: Digital download, streaming |

### Singles
#### As lead artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions and certifications, and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | UK R&B | AUS | BEL Bub. | CAN | GER | IRE | NLD | NZ Hot | US Bub. | Certifications | Album |
| "On Sight" | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Headz or Tails |
| "Golden Boot" (with RV) | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | The One |
| "Know Better" (with RV) | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI: Silver | The One |
| "Tracksuit Love" (with Kenny Allstar) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Block Diaries |
| "18Hunna" (featuring Dave) | 2019 | 6 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 75 | — | — | — | BPI: Gold | Music x Road |
| "All Day" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Music x Road |
| "Back to Basics" (featuring Skepta) | 2019 | 42 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI: Silver | Music x Road |
| "Both" | 2019 | 13 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 64 | — | — | — | BPI: Platinum | Music x Road |
| "Charades" (with Fred Again) | 2020 | 57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Gang |
| "Rose Gold" | 2020 | 49 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Only You Freestyle" (with Drake) | 2020 | 5 | 2 | 51 | 24 | 37 | — | 13 | 54 | 6 | 18 | BPI: Gold MC: Gold | Edna |
| "Ain't It Different" (featuring AJ Tracey and Stormzy) | 2020 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 16 | — | 53 | 5 | 52 | 4 | — | BPI: Platinum ARIA: Platinum IFPI AUS: Gold IFPI DEN: Gold | Edna |
| "Breathing" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Edna |
| "Princess Cuts" (featuring Young T & Bugsey) | 2020 | 11 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 29 | — | — | — | BPI: Gold | Edna |
| "Back To Back" (with RV) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Rico Vondelle |
| "Siberia" (featuring Burna Boy) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Edna (Deluxe) |
| "Daily Duppy" (with GRM Daily) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Pound Signs" | 2021 | 49 | 17 | — | — | — | — | 82 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "2 Chains" | 2021 | 59 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Too Loyal for My Own Good |
| "Cry" | 2021 | 66 | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Too Loyal for My Own Good |
| "Came in the Scene" | 2022 | 67 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "My Way" (with Smallgod, Eugy and Medikal) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Connecting The Dots |
| "22 Carats" (with Gazo) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | No Borders: European Compilation Project |
| "Cloud" (with Luciano) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | No Borders: European Compilation Project |
| "Bigger Than Life" (with Frenna) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | No Borders: European Compilation Project |
| "Can't Be Us" (with Abra Cadabra and Bandokay) | 2022 | 27 | 8 | — | — | — | — | 66 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Illegal" | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "50s" | 2022 | 40 | 12 | — | — | — | — | 81 | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Martin's Sofa" | 2023 | 9 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | BPI: Silver | The Last One |
| "Guilty" (with RV) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Inconspicuous (Deluxe) |
| "Rivals" (with Bandokay) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | M.A.R.K |
| "Catfish" (with K-Trap and M1onTheBeat) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Strength to Strength |
| "Park Chinois" (with K-Trap) | 2023 | 39 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Strength to Strength |
| "Triple Threat" (with K-Trap and Clavish) | 2023 | 31 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Strength to Strength |
| "Skinfade" (with M1onTheBeat) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | M1onTheBeat The Mixtape |
| "Socials" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Cry No More" (featuring Stormzy) | 2024 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | 59 | — | 13 | — | | The Last One |
| "Play For Keeps" (with RV and Abra Cadabra) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Fresh Prince of Tottenham 2 |
| "I Still Know Better" | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | The Last One |
| "Tipsy" (featuring Aitch) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | The Last One |
| "Gang Ties" (with Onefour) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||||||

#### As featured artist

List of singles, with year released, selected chart positions and certifications, and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | UK R&B | BEL Bub. | CAN | FRA | IRE | NLD | US | Certifications | Album |
| "Missing" (Belly Squad featuring Headie One) | 2018 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI: Silver | Bon Appétit |
| "I Spy" (Krept and Konan featuring Headie One and K-Trap) | 2019 | 18 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | BPI: Gold | Revenge Is Sweet |
| "Don't Rush" (Young T & Bugsey featuring Headie One) | 2019 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 64 | 31 | 24 | 91 | 56 | BPI: Platinum MC: Gold SNEP: Gold AFP: Platinum IFPI SWI: Gold RIAA: Gold | Plead The 5th |
| "Audacity" (Stormzy featuring Headie One) | 2019 | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | 8 | — | — | BPI: Gold | Heavy Is the Head |
| "Impress Me" (Scribz Riley featuring Headie One) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Chop It" (Dezzie featuring Headie One, Sykes Beats and ONE RECORDS) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Opp Diddy Bop" (Dezzie featuring Headie One and ONE RECORDS) | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Uno Uno |
| "Don't Judge Me" (FKA twigs featuring Headie One and Fred again..) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Sinner" (Smallgod featuring Headie One, O'Kenneth, Kwaku DMC and Lp2loose) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles |
| "Wandsworth to Bullingdon" (Fredo featuring Headie One) | 2021 | 36 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Independence Day |
| "Ring My Line" (King Promise featuring Headie One) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | 5 Star |
| "Aston Martin" (Shiva featuring Headie One) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "10von10 (Remix)" (Pajel featuring Headie One and Luciano) | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Seelenfrieden |
| "Warzone" (M Huncho featuring Headie One) | 2022 | 41 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Chasing Euphoria |
| "Local" (Abra Cadabra featuring Headie One and Bandokay) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album single |
| "Let's Talk Money" (Slim featuring Headie One) | 2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Still Working 2 |
| "I Know You Care" (Nemzzz featuring Headie One) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Do Not Disturb (Deluxe) |
| "Sexyy Red" (Booter Bee featuring Headie One) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | True Stories |
| "Zeros" (cassö and Jazzy featuring Headie One) | 2024 | 92 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | TBA |
| "YO" (Remix) (Chy Cartier featuring Headie One) | 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | TBA |
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. ||||||||||||

### Promotional singles

List of promotional singles, with year released and album name :
| Title | Year | Album |
| "Shellings Riddim" (with Tel Money and Lowkey) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "The Jugg" (with RV) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "90 on the M" (with Colo) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Live in the T" | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Profit" (with BKO & Dun D) | 2017 | Non-album singles |
| "Banter on Me" | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Free Bradders" (with Mikabeats, RV, Skat and Tuggzy) | 2018 | The One |
| "In to Win", | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Issa Mood" (featuring Not3s) | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Of Course" | 2018 | Non-album singles |
| "Not Over Yet (Remix)" (KSI featuring Headie One and Nines) | 2022 | Non-album singles |
| "More Money More Problems" | 2023 | Non-album singles |

### Other charted songs

List of non-single chart appearances, with year released and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | UK | NZ Hot | Album |
| "Rubbery Bandz" | 2019 | 86 | — | Music x Road |
| "Hard to Believe" | 2019 | 79 | — | Top Boy (A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series) |
| "Gang" (with Fred Again) | 2020 | 51 | — | Gang |
| "Parlez-vous anglais" (featuring Aitch) | 2020 | 24 | — | Edna |
| "Siberia" (featuring Burna Boy) | 2021 | 35 | 27 | Edna |
| "Extra Sleeve" (K-Trap featuring Headie One) | 2022 | 71 | — | The Last Whip II |

### Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with year released, other artist(s) and album name shown :
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
| "No Convo" | 2017 | K-Trap | K-Trap Presents The Last Whip Mixtape |
| "Drill" | 2018 | Loski, RV | Call Me Loose |
| "Ugly Faces (Remix)" | 2018 | Smoke Boys, RV | Dont Panic II |
| "Art Of War" | 2018 | Fumez the Engineer, M Huncho, RV | The Mix-tape 2 |
| "Why" | 2019 | Carns Hill, K-Trap, LD, Blade Brown | Hurt Your Parents Feelings |
| "Touring" | 2019 | Slim | Still Working |
| "No Caller" | 2019 | K-Trap | No Magic |
| "Kris Jenner" | 2019 | RV | Savage |
| "Hard To Believe" | 2019 | None | Top Boy (A Selection of Music Inspired by the Series) |
| "Once In A While" | 2019 | OFB, Bandokay | Frontstreet |
| "Money Moves" | 2019 | Lil Berete | 1 Way Out |
| "PCX" | 2020 | DigDat | Ei8ht Mile |
| "Head Huncho" | 2020 | M Huncho | Huncholini the 1st |
| "Porsche" | 2020 | Yxng Bane | Quarantine: The Lost Files |
| "Money, Power, Respect" | 2020 | Jonna Fraser | Calma |
| "Ringaling" | 2020 | Nines, Odeal | Crabs in a Bucket |
| "Impress Me" | 2020 | Scribz Riley | Wish Me Luck |
| "Opp Biddy Bop" | 2021 | Dezzie | Uno Uno |
| "Street Politics" | 2021 | Dezzie, K-Trap | Uno Uno |
| "Spaghetti" | 2021 | Hamza, Gazo | 140 BPM 2 |
| "Done Know" | 2021 | Chip | Snakes & Ladders |
| "Arrived" | 2021 | Luciano | Aqua |
| "Wandsworth to Bullingdon" | 2021 | Fredo | Independence Day |
| "Air BnB" | 2021 | M1llionz | Provisional Licence |
| "Fuk How You Feel" | 2021 | Akz | The Come Up 1 |
| "10von10 (Remix)" | 2022 | Pajel | Seelenfrieden |
| "Ring My Line" | 2022 | King Promise | 5 Star |
| "Thalasso" | 2022 | Doums | Pull á capuche et billets mauves |
| "Life Lessons" | 2022 | Luciano | Majestic |
| "Extra Sleeve" | 2022 | K-Trap | The Last Whip II |
| "Operation Fortress" | 2023 | D-Block Europe | DBE World |
| "Sexyy Red" | 2024 | Booter Bee | True Stories |
| "59901R" | 2024 | Potter Payper | Thanks for Hating |
| "Say Less" | 2024 | Chivv | Alvast Bedankt |

## Filmography
### Web

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2018 | Shiro's Story | Ty's Friend | Part 3 (Short YouTube Series); Cameo | |