ArrDee on Hidden Addiction and Becoming A Dad
5/26/20262 hr 3 min
ArrDee reflects on the story behind Oliver Twist, Body and his rise as one of the UK’s most recognisable young rappers. He opens up about growing up in Brighton, being raised by his mum, and the complicated relationship with his father that shaped his need for attention, fame and approval. ArrDee shares how music became his way of expressing pain, why he first hid behind the “cheeky” persona, and what really happened when his career exploded during lockdown. He also speaks candidly about the darker side of early fame, from spending his first major advance to partying, addiction, ketamine, alcohol and the moments where he was trying to numb himself behind the success. ArrDee reflects on the guilt he carries around his brother’s psychosis, the pressure of being labelled an industry plant, and how becoming a father has changed the way he sees himself. From music and addiction to fame, family and fatherhood, this is ArrDee on the boy behind the bravado, and the man he is trying to become. ArrDee, We Need To Talk This conversation includes discussion of addiction and mental health. Please watch with care. Support resources are linked below: CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b Follow us here: https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX Follow ArrDee here: https://www.instagram.com/arrdeegram/ https://www.tiktok.com/@arrdeetik (00:00) Intro (03:33) How ArrDee’s Name Was Born (04:46) Growing Up in Brighton (06:12) ArrDee’s Relationship With His Mum (07:59) Growing Up Without His Father (14:52) The First Song ArrDee Wrote (17:43) The Song That Changed Everything (20:36) How ArrDee Signed His First Record Deal (26:09) What ArrDee Did With His First Record Deal Money (28:02) The Story Behind ArrDee’s Feature on “Body” (33:24) How ArrDee Wrote “Oliver Twist” (35:08) ArrDee Reads a Letter From His Mum (39:53) ID Mobile Ad (41:03) How Fame at 19 Changed ArrDee (44:57) Making “Oliver Twist” Music Video (50:34) Did ArrDee Struggle With Addiction? (52:19) ArrDee Addresses Industry Plant Accusations (54:35) Being a White Rapper in the Music Industry (01:01:58) ID Mobile Ad (01:04:26) ArrDee’s First Time Meeting His Dad (01:24:32) Why ArrDee Became an Independent Artist (01:34:09) ArrDee’s Relationship With His Brother (01:40:16) Fatherhood and Relationship With Ocean (01:46:05) Fatherhood and Sobriety (01:49:38) ArrDee Receives Letter From Ocean (01:53:31) Most Memorable Conversation (01:57:05) Paul’s Takeaways Sponsored by: iD Mobile: Ditch the texts and ‘Make it a Call’ - your voice is more powerful than you thinkhttps://www.idmobile.co.uk/make-it-a-call?affiliate=marketing%7CYouTube_Display%7CMakeItACall_Brand&utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=MakeItACall&utm_content=Brand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsArrDee· Guest0:00
I'm filled with this super guilt. My older brother got into drug-induced psychosis, like, like if I could turn back time and not have fame but have my brother, I would. But before we talk about that, we kind of have to go into how it started.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:15
Which is for everybody who hasn't seen, what was your first one?
ArrDee· Guest0:17
You seen the state of her body. If I be here, I ain't wearing a Johnny. Adiola when I roll with the geez, geez. I think the lust for fame comes from not having attention. As a child, like, I remember my dad was super inebriated. His heart stopped and he wasn't breathing. I'm like attempting to do some form of CPR, but obviously I'm, I'm 12. Like, I don't think any of us realized how far it was gonna go that quickly.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:40
Island Records.
ArrDee· Guest0:42
150 per single. I hadn't seen 1000 pound in my life at this point.
Paul C. Brunson· Host0:46
So then RD, what's then the darkest period? Because with light comes shade.
ArrDee· Guest0:49
In the video shoot, I keep swigging a bottle. You can see it in my eyes as well. I'd be talking to the walls. You can't walk, you can't talk, your legs go. Um, I've never spoken about any of this before. Me not being drunk from January till now, that's the longest I've been sober since I was 12 years old.
Paul C. Brunson· Host1:06
Can you address this? You had so many hits back to back to back. Were you an industry plant? Hey there. Before we begin the episode, I just wanna say thank you for choosing We Need to Talk. Doing this podcast is one of the greatest joys of my life,