Headie One Grew up with His Father and Sister after His Mother's Death
British rapper Headie One grew up with a single father and a sister. They remain close to this day. Despite growing up without his mother, he has achieved remarkable success in his career.
Headie One is an artist who has faced controversy due to his past involvement with the law. However, despite the difficulties he has experienced, this talented rapper has managed to leave behind a life of crime and embrace a clean and promising future.
His success would not have been possible without the hard lessons he learned as a young boy, growing up under the care of his father and forming a solid bond with his sister. Despite his fame, he keeps the identities of his family members private.
Headie One stands outside Givenchy during the Paris Fashion Week - Menswear Fall Winter 2023-2024: Day Two on January 18, 2023, in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images
Headie One Grew up with a Single Parent
Headie One had quite an eventful childhood that unfolded in two different places: London and Ghana. These diverse settings played a pivotal role in shaping his formative years.
Born Irving Adjei, the rapper grew up in Tottenham, London, specifically on the Broadwater Farm Estate, where he and his sister were raised by their single father. His mother, Edna Duah, passed away at 33 in 1998 when he was just three.
Headie One said that his father used to work all the time, leaving him under the care of his aunties. During this period, he would play with his cousins in the estate, which he described as a "proper community and a safe place."
As he reminisced about his younger days, he revealed that he came from a "good home." However, he also mentioned the presence of "outsiders" posing as potential dangers. Despite his father's earnest efforts to guide him toward making the right decisions, he was swayed by unlawful behaviors.
Headie One and His Sister Were Sent to Ghana Because of Their Bad Behavior
The rapper also had experience living in Ghana as a child for over a year. The move happened when he and his sister displayed bad behavior in London. Headie One was only ten when he visited Ghana with his sister during the summer holidays.
Even after losing his mother, Edna, years ago, Headie One regularly visits her grave, ensuring her memory remains alive.
After the summer break, their family informed him and his sister that they were supposed to study there. Initially, they were upset because they never wanted to live in Ghana. However, they ended up residing there for 18 months.
Studying in Ghana was challenging, as he had to adhere to a demanding routine. Headie One said he had to walk to school for 30 minutes, and they had to be there by six in the morning.
Arriving late at school resulted in punishment. The rapper also mentioned that it was important to keep their socks white; otherwise, they would face the same consequences. He shared his realization when he stayed in Ghana:
"It showed me how privileged we are in England to have a lot of resources, because a lot of stuff that is normal for us was barely over there..."
Headie One's Family Lives a Private Life
Rather than drawing attention to his sister's and father's identities, Headie One has kept them hidden from the public eye. Instead, the public and media have focused on his thriving career.
Even after losing his mother, Edna, years ago, Headie One regularly visits her grave, ensuring her memory remains alive. In a beautiful tribute, he named one of his albums after his mom, and it has been a massive success, amassing over 25 million streams.
Now thriving in his career, Headie One reflected that his recent time behind bars was a "wake-up call." He also remains hopeful about moving on from his past crimes, which he called a "trap," and is excited to start anew.
He joins the list of celebrities involved in past and present public controversies, like rappers Young Thug and Tory Lanez, pop star Britney Spears, and actors Robert De Niro and Marie Avgeropoulos.