S3 EP2: Headie One discusses his smash hit ‘Know Better’, security concerns, and the truth about his stage name

The Louis Theroux Podcast

Spotify Studios

Comedy, Society & Culture, Arts

4.3 • 696 Ratings

🗓️ 30 September 2024

⏱️ 81 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Louis is joined by rapper and ‘King of Drill’, Headie One. They meet at the Spotify studio to discuss Headie’s life and career, including the tragic events surrounding his track, ‘Know Better’, growing up on the infamous Broadwater Farm estate, and the real origins of his stage name. Plus, Louis gets a lesson in drill slang. Warnings: Strong language and adult themes. Links/Attachments: Hip Hop Raised Me: ‘Pop Smoke UK interview with DJ Semtex’ - Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZ-Hip-6Gw0&ab_channel=HIPHOPRAISEDME Headie One - Know Better - Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/0IX9PL2dUVCHp6L4JQ9Rzq?si=34ecda24bc274eb4 File on 4: ‘Attack on rap star sparked a wave of killings’ - BBC Radio 4 (UK only) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p085qvh3 ‘Is drill the most controversial genre of music?’ - GQ (2018) https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/drill-music-controversy-headie-one-harlem-spartans Headie One x Drake - Only you Freestyle – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQriFAMBRs&ab_channel=HeadieOne Headie One ft Sampha - Memories - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWQOfXfMrJA&ab_channel=HeadieOne Headie One – Psalm 35 – YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvJPWLE3pQg&ab_channel=HeadieOne-Topic Headie One – Martin’s Sofa - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cKPgHCciEA&ab_channel=HeadieOne Credits: Producer: Millie Chu  Assistant Producer: Maan Al-Yasiri and Emilia Gill Production Manager: Francesca Bassett  Music: Miguel D’Oliveira  Audio Mixer: Tom Guest Video Mixer: Scott Edwards Show notes compiled by Sally McLennan Executive Producer: Arron Fellows     A Mindhouse Production for Spotify  www.mindhouse.co.uk  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Mike number one, mic number one. Isn't this a lot of fun?
0:05.1	Hello, Louis Thruh here and welcome to my podcast called.
0:09.0	I had to look down to find out. Oh, the Louis Theroux podcast. That's easy.
0:17.7	I'm joined today by rapper and pioneer of UK drill, Heady One.
0:23.0	Heady's one of the biggest names in the UK scene, hailing from Tottenham in North London.
0:27.6	In 2018, his second mixtape, The One, with the hit single No Better, brought him to the forefront of UK drill and led to collaborations with Drake, Dave, Stormzy,
0:38.5	and A.J. Tracy, among others. His turbulent past frames his music, including two juvenile stints in
0:45.0	prison, and then in 2014 he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for transporting 30,000 pounds
0:50.7	worth of cocaine and heroin into Aberdeen. It was in prison that he began writing
0:55.9	songs. He describes it in our conversation as going away. At the beginning of the chat, we go deep
1:01.6	into what is arguably the biggest controversy around Hedy and his music. Basically, his
1:06.5	breakthrough hit, no better, deals with a confrontation in January 2018 and its aftermath.
1:12.9	After a gig in Luton, Hedy was confronted by boys loyal to the rival Wood Green gang.
1:18.1	A video of the incident spread quickly online with negative comments about Hedy.
1:22.8	The next day, there were two shootings in Wood Green, allegedly in revenge.
1:27.4	And the day after, Hedy released Wood Green, allegedly in revenge.
1:30.7	And the day after, had he released his track, no better.
1:34.3	One of the key lyrics from memory was,
1:37.6	They say it took an L in L, but made a W in W.
1:42.0	Took an L in L, a loss in Luton, a win in Wood Green.
1:44.9	Many of you will already know that.
1:48.3	I'm just filling it in for the older listeners.
	...

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