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Plan B (musician)

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Plan B

Ben Drew (born 22 October 1983), primarily known as Plan B, is a English singer, rapper and actor from Forest Gate, London. Plan B released his critically-acclaimed début album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words in 2006. His first top ten single was as the featured artist on “End Credits” by Chase & Status.

Ben Drew has also been successful as an actor with supporting roles in Adulthood and Harry Brown and he has also directed and starred in his own film The Defamation of Strickland Banks which will be released in 2010 along with his second studio album of the same name.

Early life

Born and brought up in Forest Gate, East London, Drew's mother was an architect for the local authority and his father (Paul Ballance) played in a local punk rock band. Aged six, Ben's father walked out on the family leaving behind two children. Growing up, Plan B felt outcast from the rest of the school pupils. [1]

"We weren't working class but we weren't middle class, we were in the void in-between. I've always felt like a social outcast."

— Plan B, The Telegraph (June 15, 2006)[1]

From 11, Plan B attended Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex and after being expelled from at 15, he was transferred to Tom Hood School, [2] a pupil-referral centre in Leytonstone, London and left with three GCSEs. Ben Drew taught himself how to play guitar at 14, first playing Blur and Oasis with friends, [3] then going on to write his own R&B love songs. At 18, feeling uncomfortable with R&B, he turned towards rap and hip hop music and wrote "Kidz", inspired by the murder of Damilola Taylor. [4]

"The whole reason for calling myself Plan B was that I was doing this sweet-boy Justin Timberlake [stuff], but I never felt comfortable... When I started rapping, it was easier for me to feel comfortable."

— Plan B, USA Today (March 15, 2007)[5]

Music career

Early career and début album (2005–2007)

Main article: Who Needs Actions When You Got Words

Also an unofficial track that plan b has made was called CHARMAINE (charmaine de la rosa) which is not available to see on video. Plan B first appeared with the track "Cap Back", produced by DJ Wonder (Roll Deep), on the grime compilation album Run the Road (2005).[6] Also in 2005, he released his first single, ("Kidz"/"Dead and Buried") as a limited edition 7" vinyl on his own label Pet Cemetery Records. He soon gained a recording contract with 679 Recordings and released his second double A-side single "No Good"/"Sick 2 Def" with his debut music video filmed for "No Good".[7]

In early 2006, Plan B released a video-only download single for "Missing Links", which had to be re-recorded because he did not gain sample permission from Radiohead for the use of "Pyramid Song",[7] and also released his first mixtape It's Time 4 Plan B in the May 2006 issue of Hip Hop Connection magazine.[6] On June 23, 2006 Plan B made his first television appearance on Later... with Jools Holland performing an acoustic version of "Mama (Loves a Crackhead)".[7] His début album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words, recorded with producers such as Paul Epworth, Fraser T. Smith and The Earlies, was released June 26, 2006 and charted the following week at No. 30 on the UK Albums Chart.[8] The album gained positive reviews from most critics, including a five-star review from The Guardian's Alex Petridis.[9]

In July 2006, "Mama (Loves a Crackhead)" was released as a single which became the first Plan B song to appear on the UK Singles Chart peaking at No. 41.[8] In 2006, Paul Epworth and Plan B collaborated again on the track “More Is Enough” by Epic Man (Paul Epworth).[6] After touring throughout 2006 and playing at festivals such as Reading and Leeds, a music video was filmed for "No More Eatin'" and Plan B released Live at The Pet Cemetery EP on October 30, 2006 (with a new version of "No More Eatin'" and two b-sides). On December 11, 2006 he released Remixes EP (which included the Hadouken! remix of "No More Eatin'").[6]

During his January–February 2007 tour (which included support from Professor Green, Example, Killa Kela and Hadouken!), Plan B released his second mixtape Paint It Blacker containing bootleg recordings of songs by artists such as The Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Radiohead, Coldplay, Leonard Cohen and José González. [6] In 2007, Plan B re-released his song “No Good” with new remixes and a music video was filmed for the b-side “Bizness Woman” (featuring beatboxer Kila Kella). Also in 2007, Plan B featured on songs by other artists such as Professor Green, Killa Kela, Skrein, Shameless and The Mitchell Brothers.[6]

Soundtracks, collaborations and second album (2008–present)

Main article: The Defamation of Strickland Banks

With a supporting role in the film Adulthood in 2008, Plan B recorded three songs on the film’s soundtrack album – “End in the Streets”, “On It 08” with Adam Deacon and “I Need Love” featuring Jacob Anderson. Plan B also featured on the Chase & Status single “Pieces” which topped the UK Dance Chart in 2008 and reached No. 70 on the singles chart.[8]

In 2009, Plan B recorded “Shifty” with Riz MC and Sway.[6] The single was taken from the soundtrack to Eran Creevy’s film of the same name starring Riz Ahmed (Riz MC) and Daniel Mays. Also in 2009, Plan B played Noel Winters in Harry Brown and achieved his first Top 10 hit with “End Credits”,[8] another collaboration with Chase & Status which was used in the soundtrack for Harry Brown.

In late 2009, Plan B announced news of the release of his second album and film The Defamation of Strickland Banks to be released in 2010. The lead single from the album “Stay Too Long” was released January 2010 and reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart.[8]

Plan B first mentioned his second album in an interview with NME in 2006. He explained "I've started this project about a drug addict called David Frost - no relation to the guy on TV - and basically it's the story of this guy and the levels of addiction, rehab, rehab not working, robbing...The trials and tribulations of a fucking smackhead. It's a big story. I might release a first edition, then a second edition...". The David Frost album eventually evolved into the current Strickland Banks film/album.

Musical style

His unique sound is characterised by his use of acoustic guitar and lyrics involving drugs, rape, murder and underage sex. He was placed fourth in the BBC's "Sound of 2006" competition.

Plan B's controversial lyrical content delivered against guitar strumming has seen him dubbed "The British Eminem", or "Eminem meets Damien Rice". Though content wise, Plan states that with most of his songs he is "just telling a story" and that he is "just trying to portray something that's real that happens in everyday life". These stories are largely semi-fictional but include personal content as well. One song of which "Kids" was partially inspired by the murder of 10-year-old Damilola Taylor, in which Plan B tells the story of a 14-year-old who kills, rapes and mugs his victims. Some lyrics in the song allude to this, such as "hand over your money, your phone and your Pokémon cards". Drew points out, in a possibly subtle jibe at American rappers, that his life growing up is not interesting enough to write songs about, so he takes on characters in his songs to make interesting and, hopefully, thought-provoking music.

Discography

Main article: Plan B discography

Studio albums

Mixtapes

  • It's Time 4 Plan B (2006)
  • Paint It Blacker (2007)

Extended plays

  • Live at The Pet Cemetery EP (2006)
  • Remixes (2006)
  • Time 4 Plan B (2007)

Film career

Plan B, earlier in his music career, also expressed an interest in working in film. In an interview about Who Needs Actions When You Got Words, he said: "We’re still promoting this album and I’ve started work on the next one, but I’m really getting into film at the moment. I’m writing this script, and I really want to find some time to focus on it, I really feel that’s what I’m destined to be doing”[10].

After previously appearing in Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s short film Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches) in 2005,[11] Ben Drew’s first major film role was as a supporting character (Dabs) in Noel Clarke’s Adulthood (2008).[12] His song “Kidz” was previously included in the soundtrack to Kidulthood (2006) which lead to Drew being cast in the sequel. In 2008, Ben Drew also directed his first short film Michelle[13] which starred Adam Deacon and Skrein and he also directed the music video for “Pieces” (his collaboration with Chase & Status).

In 2009, Drew had another supporting role as Noel Winters in the Daniel Barber film Harry Brown[12] starring Michael Caine. His second collaboration with Chase & Status, “End Credits” (used in the film itself), was Plan B’s first Top 10 single.[8] In 2010, Plan B will release his second album and short film The Defamation of Strickland Banks[14] written and directed by Ben Drew himself. The film tells the story of a soul singer Strickland Banks who is wrongly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Also in 2010, Ben Drew will appear in Noel Clarke's film 4.3.2.1[12] and direct his first full length feature film Ill Manners. |

Filmography

As actor

Year Film Role Director(s) Notes
2005 Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches) Lead Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard Short film
2008 Adulthood Dabs Noel Clarke
2008 Michelle Unknown Ben Drew Short film
2009 Harry Brown Noel Winters Daniel Barber
2010 4.3.2.1 ... The Countdown Begins Terry Noel Clarke In production
2010 The Defamation of Strickland Banks Strickland Banks Ben Drew In production

As director

Year Film Notes
2008 Michelle Short film
2010 The Defamation of Strickland Banks In production
2010 Ill Manners In production

References

  1. ^ a b "Shocked? Try listening to this, Mr Cameron". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "Plan B aka Ben Drew". BritishHipHop.co.uk. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "Not Ready to Die: An Interview with Plan B". Pop Matters. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "Eminem meets the Arctic Monkeys". Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Text "publisherThe Guardian" ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Plan B: Not to be confused with Eminem". USA Today. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Plan B Discography at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Plan B". tourdates. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Plan B – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved 27-12-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Plan B, Who Needs Actions When You Got Words?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ Plan B interviewed by CMU's Chris Cooke CMU Beats
  11. ^ "Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches)". BFI. Retrieved 18-01-2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ a b c "Ben Drew". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27-12-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Plan B - Michelle". DNR Films. Retrieved 27-12-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks". DNR Films. Retrieved 27-12-2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)


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