Plan B is the recording name of Ben Drew, a rapper from Forest Gate, United Kingdom, born in 1983. He is associated with UK hip hop, grime, dubstep, pop soul, R&B and soul, and is signed to Pet Cemetery Records Inc. The name also refers to several other acts, but this entry concerns the British artist Ben Drew.

Background

Drew grows up in Forest Gate, London. From the age of 11, he attends Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex, before transferring to Tom Hood, an inner-city comprehensive school.

Music career

He is signed to 679 Recordings, the label home of The Streets. His work is marked by acoustic beats and lyrics dealing with drugs, rape, murder and underage sex. He places fourth in the BBC's Sound of 2006 competition.

His debut album is Who Needs Actions When You Got Words. His second album, The Defamation of Strickland Banks, develops a more melodic and sung approach than the debut. It presents the story of Strickland Banks, a British soul singer whose rise and fall are told across the album. The record reaches number one in the UK album chart, and its singles include “Stay Too Long” and “She Said”, which reach the UK top 20.

Film work

Plan B writes and directs the British film Ill Manors, and releases the title track of the soundtrack under the same name.