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LD (rapper)

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LD
Birth nameCassiel Nii Akwei Wuta-Ofei[1][2]
Also known as
  • Scribz
  • Lil Dice[3]
Born (1992-04-09) 9 April 1992 (age 32)[4]
OriginBrixton Hill, London, England[5]
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active2009–present
Member of67

Cassiel Nii Akwei Wuta-Ofei (born 9 April 1992), known professionally as LD or Scribz, is a British rapper. Named as the "godfather of UK drill" and as a founding member of the UK drill scene,[5][7] LD rose to fame in 2014 with the release of his debut single "Live Corn" and the release of "Let's Lurk" alongside 67 in 2016, featuring Giggs.

Wuta-Ofei has been imprisoned twice for two separate criminal convictions. His rapping style often includes heavy, Andante chanting with lyrics inspired by real events in his life and those of his entourage. LD is known for his distinct, powerful vocals and signature mask.

Early life

[edit]

Cassiel Wuta-Ofei was born in 1992 and was raised by his mother and grandmother. He has three brothers and two sisters.[3]

Career

[edit]

In 2014, 67 would rise to fame, with Wuta-Ofei – under the alias Scribz – as its frontman. In the same year, he was handed an ASBO,[8] which forbade him from performing in public under the name Scribz; this would result in him changing his alias to LD. In addition, he would start wearing a Phantom of the Opera-style mask, which was discovered in an office during an SB.TV session.[7][9] In the same year, he would release "Live Corn"; according to Huck, the song "had the wider industry paying attention [to LD] almost instantly".[5]

In September 2018, LD released The Masked One, which spent one week the UK Albums Chart at number 69.[10] Following its release, an article by HotNewHipHop noted that he "contains the image, flow and delivery to become [67's] defining breakout artist".[11] The mixtape was followed in 2021 by Who's Watching.[12] In an interview with VICE, he stated that it was named as such because "you never know who's watching you", also saying that it was his last story of him against the police.[8] He would also release several remixes of his single "Rich Porter" following Brexit; an article by GRM Daily states the remixes were made in order to "keep his musical connections [in the European Union]".[13]

Following his release from prison in late 2021, LD released "First Day Out".[14]

Criminal convictions

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In 2014, Wuta-Ofei was issued an ASBO that banned him from making and performing music for two years.[15][16] Following this, Wuta-Ofei donned a mask and changed his artist name to LD, with his first tune under the new moniker being "Live Corn".[17] In 2016, Wuta-Ofei's ASBO order came to an end, resulting in him releasing a song called "Wicked and Bad", in which he sent for opposing gangs. Within the song, he mentioned that Scribz and LD are the same person. In 2017, Wuta-Ofei was jailed for six months for possession of a knife.[18][4]

In December 2019, Wuta-Ofei was found guilty of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (crack cocaine and heroin) and jailed for 4 years and six months.[19][20] He was released from prison in November 2021.[14]

Discography

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Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[21]
All I See Is Smoke
(as Scribz)
  • Released: 2013
 —
6.7
(with Dimzy and Monkey)
  • Released: 29 January 2015
The Masked One
  • Released: 20 September 2018
  • Label: Trakstrs
 69
Who's Watching
  • Released: 26 February 2021
 —

References

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  1. ^ Skala, Jemina (9 January 2021). "LD TEASES NEW ALBUM 'WHO'S WATCHING' WITH LATEST TRACK 'OUTRO'". mixmag.net. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  2. ^ "FELL IN LOVE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b Davies, Sam (26 February 2021). "LD (67): the UK drill figurehead speaks from prison". Dazed. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Man jailed for possession of a knife". Metropolitan Police. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 2 January 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Balram, Dhruva (26 February 2021). "LD, godfather of drill, speaks out from behind bars". Huck. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  6. ^ Valentina, Cee (22 July 2022). "The Man Behind The Mask: A Conversation With LD About Drill Music, Counseling And The Future". Def Pen. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  7. ^ a b Trotman, Samuel (3 January 2022). "SAVING FACE: A TIMELINE OF MASKED MUSICIANS WHO PIONEERED FACE-COVERING". Highsnobiety. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b Bassil, Ryan (26 February 2021). "LD, the UK's Original Drill Rapper, Calls Us From Jail". Vice. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  9. ^ Davies, Sam (14 December 2021). "Mask Off: how UK drill subverts reality, fantasy, and public image". Dazed. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Album Charts". The Official UK Charts Company. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  11. ^ Blair, Robert (9 May 2019). "UK Artist Recommendations Based On American Rappers You Like". hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  12. ^ Keith, James (26 February 2021). "LD Claims 'Godfather Of Drill' Title With New Album 'Who's Watching'". Complex Networks. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  13. ^ W, Courtney (9 April 2021). "67'S LD SHARES BREXIT REMIXES OF "RICH PORTER" WITH FRANCE'S ZIAK, SPAIN'S MC BUZZ & MORE". grmdaily.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  14. ^ a b Powell, Jon (24 November 2021). "67's LD celebrates his "First Day Out" with new visual". revolt.tv. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  15. ^ Walker, Joe (29 November 2016). "Beautiful South: 67 and RAY BLK on their London". Clash. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  16. ^ Dymoke, Alex (25 August 2017). "67 interview: This is not a gang. This is a logo. This is a company. This is a brand". Evening Standard. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  17. ^ "What is UK drill? A primer on the rising British rap sound". Red Bull. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  18. ^ Thapar, Ciaran (24 October 2018). "67's LD on the state of uk drill music". i-D. Vice Media. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Inner London Crown Court - Sentencing". TheLawPages.com. 6 December 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  20. ^ Thompson, Harry (9 December 2019). "Croydon musician jailed for county-lines drug supply". Eastlondonlines. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  21. ^ "LD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
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