Biography of Plan B

Name: Benjamin Paul Balance-Drew, Stage name Plan B

Age: 28 (22^nd October 1983)

Birth place: Forest Gate, East London

Genre of music: Hip-Hop, Soul, Drum & Bass, Indie, Rock, Grime

Record Label Company: 679, Atlantic, Pet cemetery

“The whole reason I called myself Plan B was that I was doing this sweet-boy Justin Timberlake shit, but I never felt comfortable… When I started rapping, it was easier for me to feel comfortable”

Benjamin Drew or stage name Plan B was born on the 22^nd October 1983 in Forest Gate, East London. He was raised to a mother who worked for a local authority and a Father who played in the 1970’s band ‘The Warm Jets’. At the age of Five Plan B’s dad walked out on the family and went disappearing when he was six.

From 11, Plan B attended Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex and after leaving at fifteen, he was transferred to Tom Hood School. Ben Drew self taught himself how to play guitar at the age of fourteen playing Blur and Oasis songs but then developed to write his own R&B songs. When he reached the age of 18 be was uncomfortable writing R&B and moved on to Rap which there we wrote the song ‘KIDZ’ which was inspired by the death of Damolia Taylor. Plan B first appeared with the track "Cap Back", produced by DJ Wonder, on the grime compilation Album (2005). He then after releases his first single ‘KIDS/Dead and Buried’ on a 7’’ vinyl on his own label pet cemetery records.

With all the tours and mix tapes Plan B rolled out he had the supporting role of Adulthood in 2008 which he made three tracks to the film such as ‘End to the Streets’. In 2009 Ben drew starred in another film Harry Brown as Noel Winters and made End Credits which hit the UK top 10 with Chase and Status who he had previously worked with before to produce Pieces.

After the success of his latest concept soul album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, the record company made it clear that they were 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 told BBC Newsbeat. “I’ll promote it off the back of my soul record and that’s what I’m doing.” The New album the Ballad of Belmarsh is a hip-Hop Album which depicts the story of Plan B’s alter ego, Strickland Banks. Ben Drew said that he recognises the fact that the album would sell as well as the previous soul album, the Album only went to sell 100 copies but Plan be said that he didn’t find the fact that the album didn’t sell well.

Ben Drew won for the 2011 BRIT Awards ‘Best British Male on the 16^th February. Plan B has various tours and a new album coming up in the future. Bulmer’s Cider Signed a Contract with Plan B for Advertising their product.

In Conclusion to this Plan B has had a successful career from having a idol such as He-man and moving on to Michael Jackson to becoming a musician, Rapper, Song-writer, actor and film director in all such a small space of time. From being brought up in Forest Gate we can find that Plan B has lived in London and has been brought up into a rough society, therefore Plan B has taken on the behaviour and was brought up to have a rough personality. There is still a lot to see from the young artist and his other career options coming up in the future.