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Plan B (musician)

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Plan B

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

Drew has also been successful as an actor, with supporting roles in Adulthood (2008), Harry Brown (2009) and 4.3.2.1 (2010). His second studio album The Defamation of Strickland Banks (2010) went straight into the UK album chart at #1.

Early life

Born and brought up in in Forest Gate, East London, Ben Drew's mother worked for a local authority and his father (Paul Ballance) played in a local punk rock band. When Ben was six, his 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 leaving at 15, he was transferred to Tom Hood School,[2] a specialist Science College 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

2005–2007: Early career and debut album

Plan B first appeared with the track "Cap Back", produced by DJ Damo Potts The Best DJ IN THE WORLD!! (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 début 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 Paul aldred And Shaun Bennet for the use of "The Woo Riddem!",[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 23 June 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 26 June 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 30 October 2006 (with a new version of "No More Eatin'" and two b-sides). On 11 December 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 with producers Sem, Beni G from The Mixologists and Analog Kid.[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]

2008–present: Commercial breakthrough

With a supporting role in the film Adulthood (2008), Plan B recorded three songs for the film’s soundtrack – “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 Shifty (2009) 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 in January 2010, and reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart.[8]

He supported Noel Gallagher at the second night of his solo gigs at The Royal Albert Hall on 26 March 2010.[10]

He played in Bangor at the Radio 1 Big Weekend on the 23 May 2010 in the New Music We Trust stage

After the success of his latest concept soul album, “The Defamation of Strickland Banks,” the record company has made it clear that they are no longer interested in him creating the music he originally set out to make. In fact, the company announced that they were “over the moon” when he decided to launch the record independently.

“I was offended but I said, ‘Alright, cool’. This is the compromise – I take that hip-hop record, I put it out on my own label and you own none of it,” Plan B, real name Ben Drew, told BBC Newsbeat. “I’ll promote it off the back of my soul record and that’s what I’m doing.”

The new album, called “The Ballad of Belmarsh,” is a hip-hop laden “series of events,” that depicts the story of Plan B’s alter-ego, Strickland Banks. He has said that he recognizes the fact that the upcoming hip-hop album will probably not have the same appeal or be as successful as his previous soul album, which has sold over 500,000 copies, which he is OK with.

“I know ‘The Ballad Of Belmarsh’ is not going to work commercially, I know radio ain’t going to play it but I’m still going to put it out there because I love it. It’s a piece of art,” he said. “It’s probably going to sell about 100,000 copies – no more. But I’m cool with that.”

While simultaneously occupying himself with the launch of his new album, Plan B has also begun working on his full arena UK tour, which will take place in March of next year.

Musical style

On Soccer AM on 9 January 2010, Drew confirmed that he strongly believes his follow-up CD will be a reggae album, and he will commit to it. [11]

In an interview with Contactmusic, [12] B stated that he may do a reggae album in the future, but it was also entirely possible he would do a Dubstep album.

Earlier on in the very same interview, he confirmed he hasn't quit hip-hop music, as the Strickland Banks soul album is just a one-off, and that there will be a couple more hip hop albums in the near future. "Just straight forward Plan B hip hop that you're used to, we have a couple of them coming out before I decide to do that." said Drew.

He followed that up by saying "I wanna get the Strickland Banks campaign out the way; I want to shoot a short film around it, so the videos and that go together as a sort of musical feature film. I want to then release The Ballad Of Belmarsh [his follow-up hip hop record] and then I want to shoot my film, my directorial début, Ill Manors and that's also music-based, a musical again. It will be the reverse of Strickland Banks, so the film will come out first and the soundtrack will come out after that, so I've got a busy year ahead of me doing all that. Then 2011 I guess I'll start work on something new".

He has been cited by head and founder of Acid Jazz Records Eddie Piller as one of the figureheads of New Mod mixing hip-hop and soul music.

Discography

Main article: Plan B discography
Studio albums

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”.[14]

After previously appearing in Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard’s short film Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches) in 2005,[15] Ben Drew’s first major film role was as a supporting character (Dabs) in Noel Clarke’s Adulthood (2008).[16] His song “Kidz” was previously included in the soundtrack to Kidulthood (2006) which led to Drew being cast in the sequel. In 2008, Ben Drew also directed his first short film Michelle[17] 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[16] starring Michael Caine. In 2010, Ben Drew appeared in Noel Clarke's film 4.3.2.1[16] and began production on his musical film The Defamation of Strickland Banks[18] and his first full-length feature film Ill Manors.

Speaking in March 2010 to noted UK soul-writer Pete Lewis – Deputy Editor of the award-winning Blues & Soul – Drew expanded on his first full-length feature film 'Ill Manors': "It's a hip hop, music-based feature film which has six short stories that all kinda mix together to make one BIG story – and each mini-story will be represented by a different hip hop track. It'll all be narrated by me, and it'll actually be the reverse of 'The Defamation Of Strickland Banks' – in that with 'Ill Manors', the film will come out first and the soundtrack will come afterwards. And again the soundtrack will be a film for the blind, in that you'll be able to listen to it and it'll tell you the story of the film."[19]

Filmography

As actor

Feature films
Year Film Role Director(s) Notes
2008 Adulthood Dabs Noel Clarke
2009 Harry Brown Noel Winters Daniel Barber
2010 4.3.2.1 Terry Noel Clarke
2011 Turnout John Lee Sales In production
Short films and music videos
Year Film Role Director(s) Notes
2005 Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches) Lead role Iain Forsyth, Jane Pollard Short film
2008 Michelle Himself, narrator Ben Drew Short film
2009 "Sour Times" (by Riz MC) Himself (cameo) DNR Films Music video
2010 "Let You Go" (by Chase & Status feat. Mali) Drug dealer (cameo) thirtytwo Music video
TBA The Defamation of Strickland Banks Strickland Banks Ben Drew In production

As director

Year Film Notes
2008 Michelle Short film
TBA The Defamation of Strickland Banks In production
2011 Ill Manors In production

Awards and nominations

Plan B awards and nominations
Totals[a]
Nominations27
Note
  1. ^ Certain award groups do not simply award one winner. They acknowledge several different recipients, have runners-up, and have third place. Since this is a specific recognition and is different from losing an award, runner-up mentions are considered wins in this award tally. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
BET Hip Hop Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Plan B Best UK Artist Nominated
BT Digital Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Plan B Best Male Artist Nominated
"She Said" Best Song Nominated
MOBO Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 Plan B Best Newcomer Nominated
Best UK Male Nominated
2010 Plan B Best UK Act Nominated
Best UK R&B/Soul Won
The Defamation of Strickland Banks Best Album Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Plan B Best New Act Pending
"Prayin'" Best Video Pending
Q Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Plan B Best Male Artist Nominated
Breakthrough Artist Won
The Defamation of Strickland Banks Best Album Nominated
"End Credits" (with Chase & Status) Best Video Won
UK Festival Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 Plan B Best Breakthrough Artist Pending
UK Music Video Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 "Prayin'" Best Art Direction in a Video Won
Best Cinematography in a Video Nominated
Best Editing in a Video Nominated
Best Pop Video Won
Best Styling in a Video Nominated
"She Said" Best Pop Video Nominated
"Stay Too Long" Best Cinematography in a Video Won
Best Editing in a Video Nominated
Best Styling in a Video Won
Best Telecine in a Video Nominated
Best Urban Video Nominated
Urban Music Awards
Year Nominee / work Award Result
2010 The Defamation of Strickland Banks Best Album Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "Shocked? Try listening to this, Mr Cameron". London: The Telegraph. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite news}}: 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. ^ Petridis, Alexis (14 December 2005). "Eminem meets the Arctic Monkeys". London. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Text "publisherThe Guardian" ignored (help)
  5. ^ Jones, Steve (15 March 2007). "Plan B: Not to be confused with Eminem". USA Today. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite news}}: 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 "Acoustic Hip-Hop from East London!".
  8. ^ a b c d e "Plan B – Music Charts". αCharts.us. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  9. ^ Petridis, Alexis (23 June 2006). "Plan B, Who Needs Actions When You Got Words?". London: The Guardian. Retrieved 10-01-2010. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/who-we-are/media-centre/press-releases/teenage-cancer-trust-announces-support-acts-for-1/
  11. ^ "Soccer AM, Interview (subscription required)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Plan B, Interview". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  13. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a211368/plan-b-i-havent-abandoned-hip-hop.html
  14. ^ Plan B interviewed by CMU's Chris Cooke CMU Beats
  15. ^ "Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches)". BFI. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  16. ^ a b c "Ben Drew". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Plan B – Michelle". DNR Films. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  18. ^ "Plan B – The Defamation of Strickland Banks". DNR Films. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
  19. ^ Plan B interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2010
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