Bandokay

At the core of the second “generation” of OFB talent, Tottenham rapper BandoKay worked in synergy with fellow OFB youngers DoubleLz and SJ to become one of the most anticipated drill acts in late-2010s London. After SJ was incarcerated in January 2020, Bando and Lz continued to dominate the city’s drill scene; Bando’s charged-up flows and brash energy offered the perfect counterpart to Lz’s frosty delivery.
The son of the late Mark Duggan, Tottenham rapper BandoKay grew up on the same Broadwater Farm Estate as his father, home to burgeoning rap collective OFB (Original Farm Boys). Working with close friends DoubleLz and SJ to develop his rap talents, Bando and his collaborators soon formed Y.OFB (Young OFB), building a city-wide buzz with frantic drill tracks like “GMs in the Cut,” “Bad B on the Nizz,” “Already,” and “Purge.” Though hotly tipped figures by U.K. drill’s aficionados, it was a showstopping performance on freestyle platform “Next Up?” that established Y.OFB as nationwide talents; soon becoming a classic of the genre, the trio’s “Next Up?” appearance offered a perfect demonstration of their back-to-back synergy, rapid-paced flows, and strong individual deliveries. Among his steelier compatriots, Bando provided energy and flair, capturing his street stories with a high-octane delivery.
On the back of “Next Up?,” OFB’s youngers enjoyed a dominant run at the forefront of U.K. drill: March offered a bold showing on freestyle show “Hardest Bars,” May produced the multi-million-stream single “Ambush,” and June saw the trio appear for Tim Westwood’s biggest “Crib Session” yet. With SJ embroiled in legal issues, Bando and Lz released the group’s debut mixtape, Frontstreet, in October 2019, a clattering collection of anthems including hits like “Ambush” and “Youngest in Charge.” In SJ’s absence, Bando made his move into solo work with “Yoo” as well as appearing on Tim Westwood’s freestyle show and Morrisson’s “Shots (Remix)” alongside Lz.
With SJ incarcerated on significant charges in January 2020, Bando and Lz continued their career as a duo: tracks like “OT Boppin” continued OFB’s fast-paced and anthemic sound, bolstered by collaborations with Abra Cadabra (“Let Man Know,” “BLM”) and feature spots alongside Deno, Loski, and Frosty. Bando continued to use 2020 to develop his solo career, too, releasing “Full Flick” and “Patient” alongside feature work with Swarmz, Mastermind, and Krept & Konan. The second OFB mixtape, Drill Commandments, arrived in February 2021. Alongside more traditional drill cuts with the wider OFB roster, the project offered new ventures into trap and more introspective avenues. ~ David Crone