ArrDee on Hidden Addiction and Becoming A Dad

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

FlightStory

Relationships, Society & Culture, Leisure

4.7 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2026

⏱️ 122 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

ArrDee reflects on the story behind Oliver Twist, Body and his rise as one of the UK’s most recognisable young rappers. He opens up about growing up in Brighton, being raised by his mum, and the complicated relationship with his father that shaped his need for attention, fame and approval. ArrDee shares how music became his way of expressing pain, why he first hid behind the “cheeky” persona, and what really happened when his career exploded during lockdown. He also speaks candidly about the darker side of early fame, from spending his first major advance to partying, addiction, ketamine, alcohol and the moments where he was trying to numb himself behind the success. ArrDee reflects on the guilt he carries around his brother’s psychosis, the pressure of being labelled an industry plant, and how becoming a father has changed the way he sees himself. From music and addiction to fame, family and fatherhood, this is ArrDee on the boy behind the bravado, and the man he is trying to become. ArrDee, We Need To Talk This conversation includes discussion of addiction and mental health. Please watch with care. Support resources are linked below: CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX Follow ArrDee here: https://www.instagram.com/arrdeegram/ https://www.tiktok.com/@arrdeetik (00:00) Intro (03:33) How ArrDee’s Name Was Born (04:46) Growing Up in Brighton (06:12) ArrDee’s Relationship With His Mum (07:59) Growing Up Without His Father (14:52) The First Song ArrDee Wrote (17:43) The Song That Changed Everything (20:36) How ArrDee Signed His First Record Deal (26:09) What ArrDee Did With His First Record Deal Money (28:02) The Story Behind ArrDee’s Feature on “Body” (33:24) How ArrDee Wrote “Oliver Twist” (35:08) ArrDee Reads a Letter From His Mum (39:53) ID Mobile Ad (41:03) How Fame at 19 Changed ArrDee (44:57) Making “Oliver Twist” Music Video (50:34) Did ArrDee Struggle With Addiction? (52:19) ArrDee Addresses Industry Plant Accusations (54:35) Being a White Rapper in the Music Industry (01:01:58) ID Mobile Ad (01:04:26) ArrDee’s First Time Meeting His Dad (01:24:32) Why ArrDee Became an Independent Artist (01:34:09) ArrDee’s Relationship With His Brother (01:40:16) Fatherhood and Relationship With Ocean (01:46:05) Fatherhood and Sobriety (01:49:38) ArrDee Receives Letter From Ocean (01:53:31) Most Memorable Conversation (01:57:05) Paul’s Takeaways Sponsored by: iD Mobile: Ditch the texts and ‘Make it a Call’ - your voice is more powerful than you thinkhttps://www.idmobile.co.uk/make-it-a-call?affiliate=marketing%7CYouTube_Display%7CMakeItACall_Brand&utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=MakeItACall&utm_content=Brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Childhood is just 18 quick years. Blink and your kids will be all grown up and you don't want to have missed the opportunity to invest in their future.
0:08.2	For Jill and me, making sure our boys had good financial literacy was a real priority.
0:13.0	So, a few years ago, we began working with our sponsor, Go Henry, a money app and debit card designed for kids aged 6 to 18.
0:20.6	What I love about Go Henry is that it's not passive. Kingston and Liam have been able to learn through using it by earning, saving, and making decisions with real money, with Jill and Me still in the background. And GoHenry lets parents set up a junior stock and shares ISA for their kids so they can start investing in their future while still young.
0:37.6	If you're interested, you can explore GoHenry's don't blink challenge to see your child's potential.
0:42.1	Visit gohenry.com. Capital at risk, junior ISA rules and terms and conditions apply.
0:47.5	Investment services are provided by GoHenry Limited, a firm authorized and regulated by a financial
0:52.4	conduct authority. The GoHenry card is issued by IDT Financial Services Limited, a principal member of Visa Europe.
0:59.6	I'm filled with this super guilt.
1:01.6	My older brother going in drug and due psychosis, but like if I could turn back time and
1:06.3	not have fame, but have my brother, I would.
1:10.0	But before we talk about that, we kind of have to go into how it started.
1:14.6	Which is for everybody who hasn't seen, what was your first one?
1:16.6	You see the state of her body.
1:18.6	If I be here, I ain't wearing a Johnny.
1:20.6	I think the lust for fame comes from not having that attention.
1:26.6	As a child, like, I remember my dad was super inebriated.
1:30.3	His heart stopped and he wasn't breathing.
1:32.3	I'm like attempting to do some former CPR.
1:35.3	Obviously, I'm 12.
1:36.3	But I don't think any of us realize how far it was going to go that quickly.
1:40.3	Island Records?
	...

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