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Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew (born 22 October 1983), better known by his stage name Plan B, is an English rapper, singer, songwriter, actor and filmmaker. He first emerged as a rapper, releasing his debut album, ''
Who Needs Actions When You Got Words
''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words'' is the debut studio album released by British rapper and songwriter Plan B on 26 June 2006. The album was recorded with producers such as Fraser T Smith, Paul Epworth, The Earlies and The Nextmen. T ...
'', in 2006. His second studio album, ''The Defamation of Strickland Banks
''The Defamation of Strickland Banks'' is the second studio album from English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 12 April 2010 by 679 Recordings. The album is a departure from the sound heard on Plan B's debut album '' Who Needs Act ...
'' (2010), was a soul
The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...
and R&B album, and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
. He has also collaborated with other artists such as Chase & Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music duo composed of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). In addition, Andy Gangadeen is the drummer when the band performs live. MC Rage formerly performed as MC with the group, but left in ...
, most notably on the 2009 top ten single "End Credits
Closing credits, aka end credits or end titles, are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television show, or video game. While opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to or at the ve ...
".
Drew has also had a successful film career as an actor, with roles in ''Adulthood
An adult is an animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. In the human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social an ...
'' (2008), '' Harry Brown'' (2009), '' 4.3.2.1.'' (2010) and ''The Sweeney
''The Sweeney'' is a British police drama television series focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective ...
'' (2012). In 2012, he released the film ''Ill Manors
''Ill Manors'' (stylised as ''ill Manors'') is a 2012 British crime drama film written, co-scored and directed by Ben Drew AKA musician Plan B. The film revolves around the lives of eight main characters, played by Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Ke ...
'', which he wrote and directed. He also made the music, and released a Plan B soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...
, which became his second number-one album.
Early life
Drew was born on 22 October 1983 and raised in London; his mother worked for a local authority and his father, Paul Ballance, played in apunk rock
Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...
band called the Warm Jets during the 1970s. He was five months old when his father walked out on the family, and six years old when his father "disappeared completely". Growing up, Drew felt isolated, stating, "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." He is a fan of Arsenal F.C.
The Arsenal Football Club, commonly known as simply Arsenal, is a professional football club based in Islington, North London, England. They compete in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. In domestic football, Arsenal h ...
From 11, Drew attended the Anglo European School
Anglo European School is a self-governing, co-educational international academy school situated in Ingatestone, Essex. It is a school for boys and girls of all abilities, with 1,306 pupils aged 11 to 19. It was the first state school in Britai ...
in Ingatestone
Ingatestone is a village and former civil parish in Essex, England, with a population of 5,409 inhabitants at the United Kingdom 2021 Census, 2021 Census. Just north lies the village of Fryerning; the two now forming the parish of Ingatestone ...
, Essex. He later transferred to Tom Hood School
Buxton School (formerly Cann Hall Primary School and Tom Hood School) is a mixed all-through school located in Leytonstone, London, England.
The school was formed on 1 January 2010 from an amalgamation of Cann Hall Primary School and Tom H ...
, before being expelled and sent to Tunmarsh Pupil Referral Unit in Newham
The London Borough of Newham () is a London boroughs, London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. It covers an area previously administered by the Essex county boroughs of County Borough of West Ham, West Ham and County ...
, London, for children unable to attend mainstream school. He finally left school with three GCSE
The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academic qualification in a range of subjects taken in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having been introduced in September 1986 and its first exams taken in 1988. State schools ...
s. He taught himself how to play guitar at 14, first playing Blur and Oasis
In ecology, an oasis (; : oases ) is a fertile area of a desert or semi-desert environmentR&B love songs. At 18, feeling uncomfortable with R&B, he turned towards rap and
After touring throughout 2006, playing at
hip hop
Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...
and wrote "Kidz", inspired by the murder of Damilola Taylor.
Drew explained his stage name during an appearance on ''USA Today
''USA Today'' (often stylized in all caps) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth in 1980 and launched on September 14, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headq ...
'' in 2007, stating, "The whole reason for calling myself Plan B was that I was doing this sweet-boy Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and dancer. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Prince of Pop", ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' honored him as the b ...
shit, but I never felt comfortable... when I started rapping, it was easier for me to feel comfortable."
Music career
2005–2009: Early career and debut album
Plan B first appeared with the track "Cap Back", produced by DJ Wonder (formerly ofRoll Deep
Roll Deep (formerly Roll Deep Entourage) are a British grime crew. They were founded in 2001 by Wiley shortly before the disbandment of UK garage crew Pay As U Go Cartel.
The group have had two UK No. 1 singles, " Good Times" and "Green Lig ...
), on the grime
Grime may refer to:
* Dirt, in the form of black, ingrained dust
Music
* Grime music, a genre of music
* ''Grime'' (album), a 2001 album by Iniquity
* "Grime", a 2023 song by Macklemore from ''Ben''
* "Grime", a 2024 song by Kittie from ''Fire
...
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...
''Run the Road
''Run the Road'' is a series of compilations released on 679 Recordings and Vice. It is intended to showcase a wide variety of Grime (music), grime artists from the genre such as Dizzee Rascal, Wiley (rapper), Wiley and Kano (rapper), Kano.
''Run ...
'' (2005). His first single "Kidz"/"Dead and Buried" was also released in 2005 as a limited edition 7" vinyl
In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standa ...
on his own label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product. Labels are most often affixed to packaging and containers using an adhesive, or sewing when affix ...
Pet Cemetery Records. He soon gained a recording contract
A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording act (artist or group), where the act makes an audio recording (or series of recordings) for the label to sell and ...
with 679 Recordings
679 Artists (formally known as Sixsevenine and 679 Recordings) was a Warner Music Group-owned record label based in London, England.
It was started by Nick Worthington who after leaving XL Recordings in 2001, started the company with Warner Mu ...
and released his second double A-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of vinyl records and cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a single usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or ...
single "Sick 2 Def"/"No Good", filming his debut music video for "No Good".
In early 2006, Plan B released a video-only download
In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar systems. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote ...
single for "Missing Links", which later had to be re-recorded because he did not gain sample permission from Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
for the use of "Pyramid Song
"Pyramid Song" is a song by the English rock band Radiohead, released as the lead single from their fifth studio album, '' Amnesiac'' (2001), in May 2001. It features piano, strings, an unusual rhythm, and lyrics inspired by the Egyptian underwo ...
". He also released his first mixtape
In the modern music industry, a mixtape is a musical project, typically with looser constraints than that of an album or extended play. Unlike the traditional album or extended play, mixtapes are labeled as laid-back projects that allow artists mo ...
'' It's Time 4 Plan B'' with the May 2006 issue of ''Hip Hop Connection
''Hip Hop Connection'' (''HHC'') was the longest running monthly periodical devoted entirely to hip hop culture. It was described by rapper Chuck D as "the most important magazine in the world".
History
Under the editorship of Chris Hunt, the m ...
'' magazine. 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)". His début album ''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words
''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words'' is the debut studio album released by British rapper and songwriter Plan B on 26 June 2006. The album was recorded with producers such as Fraser T Smith, Paul Epworth, The Earlies and The Nextmen. T ...
'' was recorded with producers Paul Epworth
Paul Richard Epworth (born 25 July 1974) is an English record producer, songwriter, musician, and remixer. He has worked with artists including Adele, Florence and the Machine, Rihanna, and Maxïmo Park, among many others. He is a member of th ...
, Fraser T Smith and the Earlies, and was released 26 June 2006, charting the following week at number thirty on the UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
. The album gained positive reviews from most critics, including a five-star review from ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
s Alexis Petridis
Alexis Petridis (born 13 September 1971) is an English journalist. He is the head Rock music, rock and pop music critic for ''The Guardian'', and a regular contributor for ''GQ''. In addition to his music journalism for the paper, he has written ...
. In July 2006, "Mama (Loves a Crackhead)" was released as a single, becoming the first Plan B song to appear on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number forty one. In 2006, Paul Epworth and Plan B collaborated again on the track "More Is Enough" by Epic Man (Paul Epworth).
After touring throughout 2006, playing at festivals
A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...
such as Reading and Leeds, a music video was filmed for "No More Eatin'" to accompany the release of Plan B's ''Live at The Pet Cemetery EP'' on 30 October 2006 (including a new version of "No More Eatin'" and two b-sides). On 11 December 2006, he released the ''Remixes'' EP (which included the Hadouken! remix
A remix, also sometimes called reorchestration or rework, is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, poem, or photograph ca ...
of "No More Eatin'"). During his January–February 2007 tour (which included support from Professor Green
Stephen Paul Manderson (born 27 November 1983), better known by his stage name Professor Green or simply Pro Green, is an English pop artist, rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, television personality and mental health activist from London.
Gr ...
, Example
Example may refer to:
* ''exempli gratia'' (e.g.), usually read out in English as "for example"
* .example, reserved as a domain name that may not be installed as a top-level domain of the Internet
** example.com, example.net, example.org, an ...
, Killa Kela and Hadouken!), Plan B released his second mixtape '' Paint It Blacker'', containing bootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. Making and distributing such recordings is known as ''bootlegging''. Recordings may be copied and traded ...
s of songs by artists such as the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...
, Nirvana
Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
, Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
, Coldplay
Coldplay are a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer and percussionist Will Champion, and manager Phil Harvey (band m ...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter, singer, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, soc ...
and José González with producers Sem, Beni G from the Mixologists and Amir Amor. In 2007, Plan B re-released the song "No Good" with new remixes, and a music video was filmed for the b-side "Bizness Woman" (featuring beatboxer
Beatboxing (also, and sometimes, called beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (usually a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice.
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
The Mitchell Brothers were a Ghanaians in the United Kingdom, Ghanaian British Rapping, rap duo from London, England, consisting of cousins Owura "Tony" Nyanin from Manor Park, London, Manor Park and Kofi "Teddy" Hanson from Stockwell. They w ...
.
With a supporting role in the film ''Adulthood
An adult is an animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. In the human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social an ...
'' (2008), Plan B recorded three songs for the film's soundtrack – "End in the Streets", "On It 08" with Adam Deacon
Adam Steven Deacon (born 4 March 1983) is an English actor. He is known for his lead role in the films '' Kidulthood'', sequel ''Adulthood'', and for his directorial debut, '' Anuvahood''.
Career
Deacon was brought up by his English mother in S ...
and "I Need Love" featuring Raleigh Ritchie. Plan B also featured on the Chase & Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music duo composed of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). In addition, Andy Gangadeen is the drummer when the band performs live. MC Rage formerly performed as MC with the group, but left in ...
single " Pieces", which topped the UK Dance Chart
The Dance Singles Chart and the Dance Albums Chart are music charts compiled in the United Kingdom by the Official Charts Company from sales of songs in the electronic dance music, dance music genre (e.g. house music, house, trance music, trance, ...
in 2008 and peaked at number seventy on the UK Singles Chart. In 2009, Plan B recorded " Shifty" with Riz MC and Sway, which was lifted from the soundtrack to Eran Creevy's film '' Shifty'' (2009), starring Riz Ahmed (Riz MC) and Daniel Mays
Daniel Mays (born 31 March 1978) is an English actor having had television roles in ''EastEnders'' (2000), ''Rehab'' (2005), '' Red Riding'' (2008), '' Ashes to Ashes'' (2010), '' Outcasts'' (2011), '' Mrs Biggs'', ''Line of Duty'', '' Des'' ...
. Also in 2009, Plan B played Noel Winters in '' Harry Brown'', and achieved his first Top ten hit single with "End Credits
Closing credits, aka end credits or end titles, are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television show, or video game. While opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to or at the ve ...
", another collaboration with Chase & Status which featured in the soundtrack for ''Harry Brown''.
2009–2014: Strickland Banks era and ''Ill Manors''
Plan B's second album and film ''The Defamation of Strickland Banks
''The Defamation of Strickland Banks'' is the second studio album from English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 12 April 2010 by 679 Recordings. The album is a departure from the sound heard on Plan B's debut album '' Who Needs Act ...
'' was released on 12 April 2010. The lead single from the album, " Stay Too Long", reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart. The next single from the album, "Love Goes Down", was accompanied by an official music video featuring Andy Crane, Paul Young, Abbey M. Butler, Vicky McClure
Vicky Lee McClure (born 8 May 1983) is an English actress, model and presenter. She is known for her roles as Detective Inspector Kate Fleming in the BBC series ''Line of Duty'' (2012–2021) and Lol Jenkins in Shane Meadows's film '' This Is ...
and Kaya Scodelario
Kaya Rose Scodelario-Humphrey (née Humphrey; born 13 March 1992) is a British actress. She first came to prominence co-starring on E4's '' Skins'' (2007–2010, 2013), receiving two Golden Nymph nominations for her portrayal of Effy Stonem. ...
, which had its own premiere on 16 November 2010. He supported Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Gallagher is the primary songwriter, lead guitarist and a co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis (band), Oasis. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel ...
on the second night of his solo shows at the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272.
Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...
on 26 March 2010, and played in Bangor at the Radio 1 Big Weekend on 23 May 2010 on the New Music We Trust stage. He performed a duet of "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues" is a song by English musician Elton John, with music by John and Davey Johnstone and lyrics by Bernie Taupin, released as the first single from John's 17th studio album ''Too Low for Zero''. It was th ...
" with Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...
as part of Elton's BBC Electric Proms
The BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms (formerly the BBC Electric Proms) was an October pop music festival in London run by the BBC for five years, 2006–2010. On 31 January 2011, the BBC announced that the event would be discontinued with immediate ...
performance at the Roundhouse
The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhouse, a circ ...
in London in October 2010.
On 16 February 2011, Drew won Best British Male at the Brit Awards. Later that year he announced that he was working on a new album called ''The Ballad of Belmarsh'', which was to be a hip-hop concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
telling the story of Plan B's alter-ego, Strickland Banks. Work on the album was later put on hold to focus on the film ''Ill Manors'' and it was ultimately shelved completely.
In March 2012, he released the single and video for "Ill Manors
''Ill Manors'' (stylised as ''ill Manors'') is a 2012 British crime drama film written, co-scored and directed by Ben Drew AKA musician Plan B. The film revolves around the lives of eight main characters, played by Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Ke ...
", a song (containing a sample from Peter Fox's " Alles neu") which deals with the 2011 London Riots, and which was described by ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' as "the first great mainstream protest song in years". A soundtrack album
A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television show. The first such album to be commercially released was Walt Disney's ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ( ...
and film of the same name (Drew's first as both writer and director) were released in June 2012, followed by three more singles: " Lost My Way", " Deepest Shame" and " Playing with Fire". In July 2012, Drew issued an apology after he appeared on the cover of ''Shortlist'' magazine wearing a t-shirt
A T-shirt (also spelled tee shirt, or tee for short) is a style of fabric shirt named after the T shape of its body and sleeves. Traditionally, it has short sleeves and a round neckline, known as a '' crew neck'', which lacks a collar. T-shir ...
featuring white supremacist rock band Skrewdriver
Skrewdriver were an English punk rock band formed by Ian Stuart Donaldson in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, in 1976. Originally a punk band, Skrewdriver changed into a white power skinhead rock band after reuniting in the 1980s. Their original ...
.
Drew produced "Pray for Love" by Kwabs, released on 6 May 2014.
2017–present: ''Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose''
On 18 May 2017, Drew released his first single in 5 years titled "In the Name of Man" and announced that he had been in the studio recording an album viaTwitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
. The album, ''Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose
''Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose'' is the third studio album by English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 4 May 2018 by Atlantic Records and 679 Artists
679 Artists (formally known as Sixsevenine and 679 Recordings) was a W ...
'', was released on 13 April 2018. He said in an interview that this album is less hip-hop orientated than his first two albums "....because I feel that I'm not being honest with myself if I'm living the high life and I'm trying to rap about the other side of things". Drew said that he had taken time off from the music industry to focus on fatherhood, and also to connect with friends and family he says he felt alienated from after the release of ''Ill Manors''.I felt spiritually lost at the end of ''Ill Manors''. I hadn't seen my family, really, since 2009. Certain friendships were just completely dissolving. I'd always felt like I was fighting to be taken seriously, fighting for recognition, and suddenly I had it all, and I thought, "Shit, I've got nothing to fight for."
Film career
Acting
After previously appearing in Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard's short film ''Walking After Acconci (Redirected Approaches)'' in 2005, Drew's first major film role was as a supporting character (Dabs) inNoel Clarke
Noel Anthony Clarke (born 6 December 1975) is an English actor, writer, director and producer. Rising to prominence for playing Mickey Smith in ''Doctor Who'' (2005–2006, 2008, 2010), he received critical acclaim for writing, directing, and ...
's ''Adulthood
An adult is an animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. In the human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with social an ...
'' (2008). His song "Kidz" was previously included in the soundtrack to ''Kidulthood
''Kidulthood'' (stylised known as ''KiDULTHOOD'') is a 2006 British teen crime drama film directed by Menhaj Huda from a screenplay by Noel Clarke. It stars Aml Ameen, Red Madrell, Adam Deacon, Jaime Winstone, Femi Oyeniran, Madeleine Fairley, ...
'' (2006), which led to Drew being cast in the sequel.
In 2009, Drew had another supporting role as Noel Winters in the Daniel Barber film '' Harry Brown'', starring Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine (born Maurice Joseph Micklewhite, 14 March 1933) is a retired English actor. Known for his distinct Cockney accent, he has appeared in more than 160 films over Michael Caine filmography, a career that spanned eight decades an ...
. In 2010, Drew appeared in Noel Clarke's film '' 4.3.2.1.''. Drew's most recent role has been co-starring in ''The Sweeney
''The Sweeney'' is a British police drama television series focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective ...
'' film, based on the 1970s British TV show of the same name, alongside Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew Winstone (; born 19 February 1957) is an English television, stage, and film actor with a career spanning five decades. Having worked with many prominent directors, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, Winstone is known ...
, playing the role of George Carter. The film was released on 12 September 2012 and went straight in at number 1 in the box office charts.
Directing
Drew expressed an interest in working in film early in his music career. 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.In 2008, Drew directed his first short film ''Michelle'', which starred
Adam Deacon
Adam Steven Deacon (born 4 March 1983) is an English actor. He is known for his lead role in the films '' Kidulthood'', sequel ''Adulthood'', and for his directorial debut, '' Anuvahood''.
Career
Deacon was brought up by his English mother in S ...
and Ed Skrein
Edward George Skrein (; born 29 March 1983) is an English actor, filmmaker, and rapper. He rose to recognition as the supervillain Francis Freeman / Ajax in the superhero comedy film ''Deadpool'' (2016). He also starred in the films '' The Tra ...
. He also directed the music video for " Pieces" (his collaboration with Chase & Status
Chase & Status are an English electronic music duo composed of Saul Milton (Chase) and Will Kennard (Status). In addition, Andy Gangadeen is the drummer when the band performs live. MC Rage formerly performed as MC with the group, but left in ...
).
Drew began production on his first full-length feature film, ''Ill Manors
''Ill Manors'' (stylised as ''ill Manors'') is a 2012 British crime drama film written, co-scored and directed by Ben Drew AKA musician Plan B. The film revolves around the lives of eight main characters, played by Riz Ahmed, Ed Skrein, Ke ...
'', in September 2010. Speaking in March 2010 to UK soul-writer Pete Lewis (Deputy Editor of the award-winning Blues & Soul
''Blues & Soul'' is a British music magazine, established in 1967 by John Abbey. ''The Independent'' has noted ''Blues & Soul'' as being the equal of magazines such as ''NME'' and '' Q''. ''Billboard'' magazine has called ''Blues & Soul'' "a r ...
), Drew described '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.
Advertising
In June 2011,Hewlett-Packard
The Hewlett-Packard Company, commonly shortened to Hewlett-Packard ( ) or HP, was an American multinational information technology company. It was founded by Bill Hewlett and David Packard in 1939 in a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California ...
signed up Plan B as part of their advertising campaign for their Beats Audio laptops, using a short film exclusive to UK cinemas which showed Plan B with his band in a recording studio deconstructing the song "She Said", which had been a UK chart success a year earlier. Subsequently, in its 24 June issue, the British satirical magazine ''Private Eye
''Private Eye'' is a British fortnightly satirical and current affairs (news format), current affairs news magazine, founded in 1961. It is published in London and has been edited by Ian Hislop since 1986. The publication is widely recognised ...
'' made reference to the ad in its Ad Nauseam column, voicing the magazine's view that Plan B's involvement in the commercial seemed to be at odds with his comments at the Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Welsh entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and Musical composition, composing. They have been presented annually in London by the The Ivors Academy, Ivors Academy, formerly called the Britis ...
regarding music promotion, where he criticised what "…has to go on in order to get your music to get played to the masses" (in reference to his own US stage tour just prior to the awards).
In July 2011, Bulmer's Cider announced that they had signed up Plan B to promote their product, releasing an advert which depicted a live performance by Plan B.
Discography
;Studio albums * ''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words
''Who Needs Actions When You Got Words'' is the debut studio album released by British rapper and songwriter Plan B on 26 June 2006. The album was recorded with producers such as Fraser T Smith, Paul Epworth, The Earlies and The Nextmen. T ...
'' (2006)
* ''The Defamation of Strickland Banks
''The Defamation of Strickland Banks'' is the second studio album from English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 12 April 2010 by 679 Recordings. The album is a departure from the sound heard on Plan B's debut album '' Who Needs Act ...
'' (2010)
* ''Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose
''Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose'' is the third studio album by English singer and rapper Plan B. It was released on 4 May 2018 by Atlantic Records and 679 Artists
679 Artists (formally known as Sixsevenine and 679 Recordings) was a W ...
'' (2018)
Filmography
Awards and nominations
Tours
* Who Needs Actions When You Got Words Tour (2006–2007) * The Defamation of Strickland Banks Tour (2010–2011) * Ill Manors Tour (Grindhouse Tour) (2012–2013) * Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose Tour (2018)References
External links
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Plan B 1983 births Living people 679 Artists artists Actors from the London Borough of Newham Asylum Records artists Atlantic Records artists Brit Award winners Cordless Recordings artists English male film actors English film directors English pop guitarists English male guitarists English male rappers 21st-century male rappers English male singer-songwriters English singer-songwriters English soul singers British hip-hop singers Ivor Novello Award winners Male actors from London Mercury Records artists People from Forest Gate Rappers from the London Borough of Newham Singers from the London Borough of Newham Warner Records artists