D-Block Europe

D-Block Europe, often abbreviated to DBE, is a British hip hop collective consisting of Adam Nathaniel "Young Adz" Williams, Ricky Earl "Dirtbike LB" Banton. Their name originated after being co-signed by Jadakiss, resulting in Jadakiss launching the European staple of his record label D-Block Records, creating D-Block Europe. They started to put out tracks on their own label at the beginning of 2014. The group rose to fame in 2017 after releasing numerous singles including "Large Amounts", "Darling", "Nasty".

D-Block Europe's debut album The Blue Print: Us vs. Them reached number two on the UK Albums Chart on 16 October 2020. Before their Central Cee collaboration (Overseas) debuted inside the Top 10 on 26 November 2021, D-Block Europe were the act with the most hits without a Top 10 managing to chart 29 singles
 into the UK Top 75 with none of them reaching the Top 10. Their second album Lap 5 also reached number two on the UK Albums Chart on 30 September 2022. Following the release of their mixtape DBE World which peaked at number six on the UK Albums Chart, DBE broke the record for the rap act with the most top ten albums in UK history.

Career

2010–2019: Career beginnings, Any Minute Now, Home Alone, PTSD, and Street Trauma 

Adam Nathaniel "Young Adz" Williams, half of D-Block Europe first began to create music in 2010 whereas Ricky Earl "Dirtbike LB" Banton was in and out of the streets at a young age. In 2013, Williams received a life-changing co-sign from New York legend, Jadakiss who saw potential in the young artist. Jadakiss later flew over to London to launch the European staple of his record label D-Block Records, hence the stage name, "D-Block Europe". The collective initially consisted of Young Adz and another rapper, Aero Sinc, however, Banton later joined the group after Williams promised to get off the streets together.

Releasing several singles, DBE's first official mixtape, the Yxng Bane-assisted Any Minute Now was released on 20 July 2018. The album peaked in the top 20 on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 14.

DBE's debut solo mixtape, Home Alone was released on 15 February 2019. The project featured their hit single "Kitchen Kings", which peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart resulting in the mixtape peaking at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart, marking their first appearance in the top 10.

On 4 July 2019, DBE released "Home Pussy", the lead single for their mixtape PTSD. The single peaked at number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. The project's second single, "Nookie" featuring Atlanta native Lil Baby was released on 12 September 2019. The track peaked at number 16 on UK Singles Chart, becoming their second single to reach the peak. The mixtape's final single, "Playing for Keeps" featuring Dave was released just a day prior to the project on 26 September 2019. The track peaked at number 21 on the UK Singles Chart. DBE's third mixtape, the highly acclaimed PTSD was released on 27 September 2019. The project featured AJ Tracey, Chip, Dave, Jackboy, Krept and Konan, K-Trap, Lil Baby, Lil Pino, M Huncho, and Yxng Bane. Peaking at number five on the UK Albums Chart, the project marked DBE's highest charting album.

On 27 December 2019, DBE released "No Cellular Site", the lead single to their third mixtape, Street Trauma which was released the same day. The mixtape peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, making it their third in the top 10.

2020–2021: The Blue Print: Us vs. Them and Home Alone 2 

On 11 June 2020, D-Block Europe released "Free 22", the lead single to their debut studio album, The Blue Print: Us vs. Them. Shortly after, they released "Plain Jain" and "We Won" on 9 July 2020, and 6 August 2020, respectively. Months later, the Aitch-assisted "UFO" was released on 2 October 2020. The track proceeded to peak at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart becoming their highest-peaking track at the time. This was followed by the release of the Raye-assisted "Ferrari Horses" on 9 October 2020, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. On 9 October 2020, DBE officially released their debut full-length studio album, The Blue Print: Us vs. Them which debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart after being blocked from the number-one position from Headie One's debut album, Edna.

On 1 July 2021, D-Block Europe released the Lil Pino-assisted, "Kevin McCallister", the lead single to their fourth mixtape, Home Alone 2, the sequel to their debut mixtape, Home Alone. Months later, on 29 October 2021, D-Block Europe released "No Competition", the mixtape's second single while officially announcing the project. The track peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. Just a month later, on 19 November 2021, DBE released "Overseas" with Central Cee. The track proceeded to peak at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart, making it DBE's highest peak on the charts. The mixtape's final single, "Make You Smile" featuring AJ Tracey was released on 19 November 2021. The track peaked at number 15 on the Singles Charts. Home Alone 2 was officially released on 19 November 2021, peaking at number six on the UK Albums Chart.

2022–present: Lap 5 and DBE World 

On 12 May 2022, DBE released "Black Beatles", the lead single from their second studio album, Lap 5. The second single, "Elegant & Gang" accompanied by Ghost Killer Track was released on 9 June 2022. The track peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. The third single, "Fantasy" was released on 21 July 2022, peaking at number 49 on the UK Singles Chart. Alongside the single's release, the album was officially announced. The album's fourth single, "Man in the Mirror", solely featuring Williams, was released on 16 September 2022, peaking at number 40 on the Singles Chart. The album's final single, "4 the Win" was released just a day prior to the official album. On 23 September 2022, Lap 5 was officially released, debuting at number two on the UK Albums Chart.

On 17 November, D-Block Europe appeared on Clavish's "Rocket Science" which peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, marking their second top ten single.

"Side Effects", the lead single for D-Block Europe's fifth mixtape, DBE World was released on 15 June 2023. The track peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Chart. The mixtape's second single, the highly anticipated "Pakistan" featuring Clavish was released on 29 June 2023. The single peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart, marking DBE's third top-ten single. The mixtape's final single, "Potential" was released just a day prior to the official mixtape, peaking at number 48 on the Singles Chart. On 7 July 2023, DBE World was officially released and proceeded to peak at number six on the UK Albums chart, marking their seventh in the top ten. The mixtape also broke the record for the most top-ten hip-hop albums by an artist in the UK history.

On August 11, 2023, a remix of "Ferrari Horses" with Cassö and Raye, "Prada," was released. The track proceeded to reach #2 on the UK Singles Chart, marking D-Block Europe's highest charting single and their second top 10 in 2023.

Discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Other charted and certified songs

Guest appearances

Filmography

Television

References

English hip hop groups
Black British musical groups
Hip hop collectives
Musical groups from the London Borough of Lewisham
British trap musicians