Headie One (formerly Headz) and
RV (formerly Young RV) are among the most prominent members of the group. They were both originally rappers in Star Gang, a
road rap group from the 2000s and an offshoot group from the
Tottenham Mandem gang.[4] RV and Headie One have frequently collaborated with each other, including co-releasing the mixtapes Sticks & Stones (2016) and Drillers x Trappers (2017).[5] In February 2018, Headie One released his solo mixtape, The One. The mixtape included the song "Know Better" featuring
RV, which became an "underground hit". This was followed by another solo mixtape, The One Two, in June 2018, which entered the
UK Albums Chart at number 32.[6]
Bandokay,
Double Lz and SJ are the younger members within OFB, initially signifying their status using the name Y.OFB (Young OFB), before later dropping the "Y." and co-opting the "OFB" prefix older members of the group used.[3] Bandokay, whose real name is Kemani Duggan, is the son of
Mark Duggan, the man whose death by police shooting led to the
2011 England riots.[1][2] Bandokay credited music for keeping him away from crime, and stated his desire to be away from police as a motivator:[1]
"Whenever [the police] see me, they stop me, I get what they're trying to do – they're trying to take weapons. But I know they purposely stop me more than anyone else. They know who I am. They know who
my dad is. So that's why I'm trying to go through music and do something positive, so they don't have nothing to say about me."
Bandokay credited fellow OFB rapper Headie One as a major influence, as well as UK drill group
67 and American rapper
Lil Durk.[1] Double Lz noted
Giggs, American rapper
Quando Rondo, and the
Chicago drill scene in general as influences.[7]
In January 2019, Headie One released "18Hunna", featuring
Dave, which entered the UK chart at number 6 - the highest a drill artist, at the time, had ever charted, and has gained over 15 million views on
YouTube, as of February 2022.[8][9] Following RV's release from prison,[10] on 22 March 2019, RV and Headie One released a third mixtape called Drillers x Trappers II.[11] It entered the
UK Albums Chart at number 21.[12] "Match Day", the first single from the mixtape, entered the Singles Chart at number 86.[13]
In 2019, the OFB released their first collective mixtape titled Frontstreet, named after a road in Broadwater Farm that locals call "Front Street".[1][3]Dazed Digital called the mixtape "one of the best British debuts of the decade".[2] In 2019, following the release of SJ's "Youngest In Charge", which has gained over 27 million views on YouTube as of February 2022, it was revealed SJ had been arrested was currently facing trial for a murder charge;[3][14] while waiting for his trial, SJ was offered a £150k deal with an unknown record label.[15] SJ was later convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years.[16] His sentence would later be reduced to a minimum of 19 years in 2021, which was announced via his
Instagram account.[17]
Like many other drill groups, OFB has had its songs taken down by YouTube at the request of the
Metropolitan Police. In 2019, OFB's own YouTube channel was also taken down, before later being reinstated the next day. Bandokay stated they were trying to clean up their music in order to avoid takedowns.[1]
In 2020, SJ, whose real name is Jayden O'Neill-Crichlow, alongside four others (Sheareem Cookhorn, Tyrell "Trills" Graham, Shane "Sneakz" Lyons and Ojay "O'Sav" Hamilton),[42][43] was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for the murder of 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck in
Wood Green. The convicted group was reportedly linked to Tottenham gang
NPK.[44] Fights broke out in the dock and the public gallery in reaction to the sentencing. Carl Stanbury, the partner of Lyons' mother, later received seven months in jail for jumping from the public gallery in protest.[45] SJ’s sentence was later reduced to a minimum of 19 years in 2021, which was announced via his
Instagram account.[17] Before his sentence, he received a reprimand for the possession of a bladed article at age 14.[42]
In 2022,
Bandokay and
Double Lz were charged with violent disorder following a 2021 incident at a
Selfridges store, in which two people were stabbed.[46]
In 2024, Bandokay was arrested at
Gatwick Airport over firearms offences. On 15th of January he appeared at
Thames Magistrates' Court and was charged with possession of a handgun and ammunition without a licence.[47]
On the 3rd of July he plead guilty for posession of firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Two days later, Bandokay, real name Kemani Duggan, was given a five years jail sentence.[48]
Discography
Mixtapes
List of mixtapes, with selected details and peak chart positions