Adjei grew up on the "infamous" Broadwater Farm housing estate in Tottenham. He is of Ghanaian origin. His moniker derives from a childhood nickname due to his head's resemblance to a 50p coin. He first began rapping in his early teens, though only began focusing on it after his first release from prison.
He began releasing music in the early 2010s under the name Headz, including as part of a group named Star Gang. In 2014 he released his only mixtape under that alias, titled "Headz or Tails." Also part of Star Gang was fellow Tottenham rapper RV - he and Headie One became frequent collaborators, including co-releasing the mixtapes Sticks & Stones (2016) and Drillers x Trappers (2017). Together they formed part of OFB, a drill crew based in the Broadwater Farm estate.
In February 2018, he released his next solo mixtape as Headie One, titled The One. This included "Know Better" with RV, which became an "underground hit". In May he was featured on "Missing", a Belly Squad track that peaked at number 84 on the UK Singles Chart. This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 32.
In January 2019, his single "18HUNNA", featuring Dave, entered the UK chart at number 6 - the highest a UK drill artist has ever charted. In March he released his sixth mixtape, and third with RV, Drillers x Trappers II. It entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21. "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86. On 25th July 2019, Headie One released the official YouTube video for his 'Rubbery Bandz' single.
2 Chains
Headie One Lyrics
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(Ayo, Twintwo, this is a bad boy beat) yo
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro and it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a Gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry (turn, turn)
But it's an unbeaten season, I feelin' like Wenger in '03 (turn, turn, turn, turn)
I know them opp boys feelin' it (turn)
Middle finger to the Trident (su-su-su-su)
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (One)
I feel like The Weeknd
I look in the mirror, it's blindin' lights (turn)
Baby said that when I step, I'm clashin' (turn, turn)
I wear too much ice with ice (turn, turn)
She wanna step out, C's are matchin' (su-su-su-soo)
Gang wanna step out, GP's matchin'
Done the right thing, and I twinned them C's
And I twin them machines (you're welcome)
And the opps wanna rain on me, Ashanti (One)
I never punked a paigon, he was civilian on my landin'
And something got drilled on a Sunday (One)
'Course I ain't know what happened (su-su-su-soo)
I was chilling in my gaff with gangdem
Was listenin' to Kirk Franklin (turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up)
Cah I trust in God and wap beam
Harry B, find blocks and carton
Show the opps 'bout the four-door trucks and transits
Just free Bradz, Nige is back on sortin' tactics
Summertime out with the two-two gyaldem
Havin' so much drip, it's a water fountain (One)
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro and it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a Gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry (turn, turn)
But it's an unbeaten season, I feelin' like Wenger in '03 (turn, turn, turn, turn)
I know them opp boys feelin' it (turn)
They're injury-prone, or they're losin' teammates (turn, turn)
Middle finger to the Trident (su-su-su-su)
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (One)
I feel like The Weeknd
That boy got drilled on the weekend (One)
On Main Street, feds still knockin'
Cah I'm still neck deep in the deep end (told me turn)
Little bro scratched it off
Corona mask, no glazzy, don't value his freedom
Heard a shopkeeper was shocked
Behind the till like Kel & Kenan (oh my God)
All of this beef, we should've been vegan (turn)
All them opps, the manna like thievin' (turn, turn, turn, turn, turn up)
Bought that broom, manna want sweepin'
Some of these lucky they're breathin' (told me turn)
HMP had a street nigga readin'
Back then, it was basic
Now, I'm sat at BRITs
My suit tapered, and my fade tapered (steady)
I'm meant to be famous (One)
But I still zim-zimma, who's got the keys to the Bimmer? (Turn up, turn up)
Pissed that I had to de-link this Insta model
She was way too inner
Can't believe it was baguettes for dinner (su, su-su-su-soo)
Uh, now, there's baguettes on my pinky finger (One)
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro and it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a Gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry (turn, turn)
But it's an unbeaten season, I feelin' like Wenger in '03 (turn, turn, turn, turn)
I know them opp boys feelin' it (turn)
They're injury-prone, or they're losin' teammates (turn, turn)
Middle finger to the Trident (su-su-su-su)
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (One)
(M1onthebeat)
(Ayo, Twintwo, this is a bad boy beat)
The Headie One song "2 Chains" starts off with a command to "turn up", and uses the repetition of the word "turn" throughout the song to signify a change or transformation. Headie One raps about having two chains on him and smoking, but the smoke isn't on him, indicating he's not smoking himself. He mentions turning someone into a "Gunner," a reference to the Arsenal football club and two of its legendary players, Ljungberg and Henry. With his unbeaten streak, he feels like Arsenal's manager, Wenger in 2003. He also mentions his enemies feeling the pressure of his success and how he's not coming out carrying a tray.
Headie One explains how he feels like The Weeknd, whose music often features themes of love, drugs, and partying. He mentions looking in the mirror and seeing "blinding lights," a reference to The Weeknd's hit song of the same name. He raps about wearing too much ice and how a girl he knows wants to step out with matching clothing. He also talks about the violence he encounters on the daily and how it challenged him to be tough.
The song also makes a reference to the Coronavirus pandemic, with Headie One mentioning his friend wearing a Corona mask and how a shopkeeper was shocked. He also references several other cultural figures, including Kel and Kenan from the popular '90s tv show, as well as Kirk Franklin, a famous gospel singer. The song's hook talks about the title of the song, with Headie One repeating that he has two chains on him and that his enemies are feeling the pressure of his success. Overall, the song is a statement about Headie One's swagger and success, and how he's risen above his rivals through hard work and perseverance.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Adjei
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Great One
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro, it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry
But it's an unbeaten season, I'm feelin' like Wenger in '03
I know them opp boys feelin'
They're injury-prone, or they're losin' teammates
Middle finger to the Trident
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (one)
I feel like Thе Weeknd
I look in the mirror, it's blindin' lights (turn)
Baby said that when I step, I'm clashin' (turn, turn)
I wеar too much ice with ice (turn, turn)
She wanna step out, C's are matchin' (su-su-su-soo)
Gang wanna step out, GP's matchin'
Done the right thing, and I twinned them C's
And I twin them machines (you're welcome)
When the opps wanna rain on me, Ashanti (one)
I never dunked a paigon, he was civilian on my landin'
Heard somethin' got drilled on a Sunday (one)
'Course I ain't know what happened (su-su-su-soo)
I was chilling in my gaff with gangdem
Was listenin' to Kirk Franklin (turn up, turn up, turn up, turn up)
'Cah I trust in God and wap beam
How we beefin' five blocks and countin'?
Show the opps 'bout the four-door trucks and transits
It was free Bradz, now he's just back home sortin' tactics
Summer time out with the two-two, glidin'
Havin' so much drip, it's a water fountain (one)
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro, it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry
But it's an unbeaten season, I'm feelin' like Wenger in '03
I know them opp boys feelin'
They're injury-prone, or they're losin' teammates
Middle finger to the Trident
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (one)
I feel like The Weeknd
That boy got drilled on the weekend (one)
I'm mainstream, feds still knockin'
'Cah I'm still neck deep in the deep end (told me turn)
Little bro scratched it off
Corona mask, no gloves, he don't value his freedom
Had a shopkeeper all shocked
Behind the till like Kel and Kenan (Kel and Ke)
All of this beef, we should've been vegan (turn)
All them opps, the manna like thievin'
Bought that broom, manna weren't sweepin'
Some of these lucky they're breathin' (told me turn)
HMP had a street nigga readin' (uh, augh)
Back then, it was basic
Now, I'm sat at BRITs
My suit tapered, and my fade tapered (steady)
I'm meant to be famous (one)
But I still zim-zimma, who's got the keys to the Bimmer?
Pissed that I had to de-link this Insta model
She was way too inner
Can't believe it was baguettes for dinner (su, su-su-su-soo)
Uh, now, there's baguettes on my pinky finger (one)
Two chains on me (two, two)
Smoke on bro, it ain't on me (turn)
Turn him to a gunner, he ain't Ljungberg, he ain't Henry
But it's an unbeaten season, I'm feelin' like Wenger in '03
I know them opp boys feelin'
They're injury-prone, or they're losin' teammates
Middle finger to the Trident
My young boy don't know his release date
Come look at the club, it's fryin'
We ain't comin' out here with no tray (ah, ah)
Lord knows I feel like The Weeknd (one)
SeriousBlack
When Headie is on a drill beat, he is so clear man, no one does it like him
Man Dem
I thought it meant he featured 2chainz 😂😂😂
CHRIS W10
Milo Cf that’s what all the set 8s thought
CHRIS W10
Nah let’s be honest headie ain’t the clearest in drill with how he says his words, but I’m financially he probably is cl 💷
Klaus Naci
Stop gassing him 😂 he nothing crazy
Sweat Or Smile Fitness
@CHRIS W10 set 8s hahaha
renji
when it's produced by M1 u already know it's gonna be good 😂
CC
Word
Amz Vlog
Boss man
Roșu
On god