Music Moose

• 

North London Driller Headie One has been on everyone’s radar in the UK since his 2019 breakout album ‘ Music X Road ‘ which some may class as the most genre defying album since J Hus’s ‘ Common Sense ‘. This time round Headie calls upon producer ‘Fred Again’ for his latest efforts ‘ Gang ‘ . 

The mixtape takes us through Headie’s road to redemption. Headie continues to narrate us through his constant battle between music and road, this time Fred Again gives Headie’s sentiments more depth through his raw production, giving us a more vulnerable side of Headie. 

 The first track ‘Told’ gives us an introspective Headie , who recalls all the words frequently told throughout his life; “Loyalty First” and “Family First’, which are words often heard when in a gang. Headie refers to these two sentiments as the code he lives by. This is often the reality for many young men who grow up in these same conditions as Headie. 

However on the second track ‘Gang’, Headie reflects on the consequences of his choices. How did it just start as “growing together” to drilling and trapping. This lifestyle even leads Headie to put himself in his father’s shoes, who must constantly worry if his son is dead or alive. All the time spent locked up gave Headie “more than enough time to think of a plan” to make it out.  

These themes of reflection lead onto asking for forgiveness on ‘ Jude Me (Interlude) ‘. 

Headie and FKA Twigs both sing for forgiveness from their partners and ask in return for closure and love. The journey Headie has been on was never simple but with clarity, Headie has a more holistic view on life. 

Similarly on the Sampha assisted track ‘SOLDIERS’ the chorus finds Sampha sing to take his hand and lift him from his hell (gang life). The track serves as a form of gospel speaking to those who are still enslaved in gang culture or those struggling to leave, can still ‘march on’. Headie calls those who want to leave the lifestyle ‘soldiers’ and reminds them that the grass is greener on the other side. This is definitely a sign of redemption that was yet to come after Music X Road ‘. 

One of the strong points of the mixtape is the alternative production from producer Fred Again, who gives Headies sound a more experimental approach. Moreover, tracks such as ‘ Smoke’ featuring Jamie XX and ‘Tyrone (Interlude) ’ include several House music elements but still keep some elements of drill, which in effort give more grit to the continued genre bending throughout the mixtape. Another highlight includes ‘ Charades ‘ , the song hints to Headie’s longevity in rap long after the trend of drill , which Fred has spotted and is already laying the ground work. 

Gang is a solid effort from Headie and Fred, their chemistry is already undeniable as Headie trust Fred to lead him on to the right path. The mixtape leaves the door open for more possible inclusion of different genres as Headie continues to improve his artistry.