Digga D

Rhys Herbert (born 29 June 2000),[1][2] known professionally as Digga D, is a British rapper and songwriter. He use to be in a gang called CGM. He gained recognition as part of the hip hop collective 1011, which was later renamed to CGM. He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the UK drill scene.[3] Some of his music videos have garnered attention among law enforcement, resulting in a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) taken against the collective, and he has been in and out of prison during the singles and videos' releases.[4] He has had over five singles that have placed in the UK Singles Chart and a mixtape album, Double Tap Diaries, that reached number 11 on the UK Albums Chart.

Digga D
Birth nameRhys Herbert
Born (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000
OriginLadbroke Grove, London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Rapper
Years active2017–present
Labels
  • CGM
  • EGA
Associated acts
  • 1011 / CGM
Websitewww.diggad.co.uk

Early life

Digga D grew up in West London. At age 12, he began writing music. He listened to Jamaican reggae and dancehall.[5] In year eight, he was arrested after a stop and search revealed possession of cannabis, and was consequently kicked out of school.[5]

Career

In 2015, he formed the drill group 1011 along with his friends in a local youth club in Ladbroke Grove.[3] The group was named after W10 and W11 postal codes,[6] and include members Digga D, Sav'o, Horrid1, TY, M'Skum, Loose1, and ZK.[7] They released several singles from 2016 including: "Kill Confirmed", "Play for the Pagans", and "No Hook".[3] The group has since been banned from making music together and later rebranded as CGM, an acronym for Cherish God More.[3][4][5]

He did a freestyle for Mixtape Madness's Next Up? program which was released in 30 November 2017.[8] The freestyle was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry on 18 October 2019,[9] despite the original being removed from YouTube, making it the first Mixtape Madness freestyle with a certification.[9] Rap critic Joseph JP Patterson described the release of the freestyle as having "stopped everyone in their tracks. Heads in the music industry began to turn, and they quickly found themselves in "next to blow" conversations."[5] Ethan Herlock of The Face wrote that the freestyle "demonstrated Digga D’s distinctive flow and chest-puffing energy, heralding him as a standout MC in the increasingly crowded UK drill scene".[3] He released post-CBO-reviewed singles including "No Porkies", and "Who?", and had a Mixtape Madness Mad About Bars session with Kenny Allstar.[10]

On 17 May 2019, his debut mixtape, Double Tap Diaries was released. The album included the single "No Diet" which peaked number 20 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] Days after the mixtape release, he confirmed he was still in jail.[3] The corresponding music video garnered 1.6 million views in five days, received a shout-out from rapper Stormzy, and the music was used in an Instagram video post by Zac Efron[11]

In July 2020, Digga D released the single "Woi", which gained widespread recognition worldwide.[12] The single was nominated for "Song of the Year" at the MOBO Awards, and the editors at Complex listed it at the top of their list of best songs of 2020.[13][14] In October 2020, the follow-up single was released titled "Chingy (It's Whatever)".[15] On 24 November, BBC Three released the documentary Defending Digga D on BBC iPlayer, and had it later broadcast on BBC One on 27 November.[16][17] On 4 December, "Daily Duppy" was released on GRM Daily.[18]

Digga D has also teased a collaboration mixtape with Unknown T, after they met in Belmarsh Prison and made music together, planned to be released in 2021.[19] On 4 February 2021, the single "Bringing It Back" with AJ Tracey was released.[20]

Criminal Behaviour Order 2018

On 9 November 2017, Digga D and members of 1011 were arrested in a stop and search in which they were carrying machetes and baseball bats.[21][7] 1011 claimed they were making a drill music video, but police stated they were planning to attack a rival gang 12 World.[7] Digga and 1011 were convicted of conspiracy to commit violent disorder, sentenced to a year in jail, and was given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in 2018 that required the group to have the Metropolitan Police's permission before releasing any new music, forbade them from using London postcodes, and banning references in lyrics to real-life incidents and people. Four of the group's music videos prior to the CBO were taken down, however, they were noted to have amassed over ten million combined views before removal.[3][11]

The conditions of Digga's CBO included being fitted with a GPS tracker on his leg and being made to check in with probation every three hours, as well as having to notify the met police when he uploaded any songs or videos within 24 hours of upload. Any releases that incited violence, mentioning certain areas of London or lyrical references to real-life incidents or people in their music would not be permitted. "There's a list of about 18 to 20 people that Rhys isn't allowed to associate with, most of whom make up his friends from school or friends from his area or people that the police deemed were part of a gang that he was part of" explained Digga's lawyer, Cecilia Goodwin. More over visually, there are certain things which are not allowed to be portrayed.[5] Any breach of the CBO would result in a recall to prison.[5]

The CBO ban issued to 1011 was condemned by the campaign group Index on Censorship and widely described as entirely unprecedented.[6] Digga's lawyer noted that the CBO "gives the police and probation the ability to control and censor his art". The Metropolitan Police has since denied it was censorship.[5] Det Ch Supt Kevin Southworth said at the time: "When in this instance you see a particular genre of music being used specifically to goad, to incite, to provoke, to inflame, that can only lead to acts of very serious violence being committed, that’s when it becomes a matter for the police. We're not in the business of killing anyone's fun, we're not in the business of killing anyone's artistic expression - we are in the business of stopping people being killed."[5][22]

Other incarcerations

He has since been back to prison twice, including for breaching the stringent conditions of his CBO.[5] While Digga was recalled to prison in 2019, Digga was stabbed in the eye, causing him to lose use of the eye. He was stabbed with a blade fashioned from a tuna can, according to an official at the Ministry of Justice who was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Goodwin, his lawyer, said that the rapper had been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after the attack.[23]

In March 2020 Digga D pleaded guilty to Violent disorder again and breaches of his CBO. He was sentenced to two years and 6 months for his role in a machete brawl with rival gang members in front of shoppers in West London. Other members of CGM was also charged including Sav'O who received 3 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to violent disorder, possession of an offensive weapon and breaches a CBO.[2]

He was arrested again in July for "inciting violence" after attending a Black Lives Matter protest in London and posting about the movement on Instagram. Right after being released for his previous arrest, rumours circulated that police brought the rapper right back in to custody which was later confirmed. "Again they are on me," the rapper is heard saying in a video as he is being cuffed. "For what? No reason."[24] He has since been released still under conditions of his CBO. In an interview with The Face if he was treated unfairly, he replied: "Oh, of course, 100 per cent, They didn't ban me from music [at first], only as it started hitting millions and [they] saw me prospering from it."[3]

Controversies

Fueds

Gang members of the Harrow Road Boyz have also been in conflict Digga D and 1011/CGM gang members who are also in the same area of Ladbroke Grove.[6]

Discography

Mixtapes
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[25]
Double Tap Diaries
  • Released: 17 May 2019
  • Label: CGM Records
  • Format: Digital download
 11

As main artist
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[26]
"Kill Confirmed"
(as 1011)		 2017 – Non-album single
"Play for the Pagans"
(as 1011)		 –
"No Hook"
(as 1011)		 –
"Next Up?"
(as 1011)		 –
"No Porkies"
(as CGM)		 2018 –
"Mad About Bars"
(with Kenny Allstar)		 –
"Mad About Bars Pt. 2"
(with CGM, Kenny Allstar)		 2019 –
"Who?"
(as CGM)		 –
"No Diet" 20 Double Tap Diaries
"P4DP" 54
"Mr. Sheeen"
(with Russ Splash)[28]		 63 Non-album single
"Woi" 2020 24 TBA
"Chingy (It's Whatever)" 18
"Daily Duppy - Pt. 1" 59 Non-album single
"Bringing It Back"
(with AJ Tracey)		 2021 – TBA
Title Year Album
"Gun Lean (Remix)"
(Russ Millions featuring Taze, LD, Digga D, Ms Banks & Lethal Bizzle)		 2019 Non-album single
"10+1"
(CGM featuring Splasha, M’Skum, Striker, Dodgy, Rack5, TY, Horrid1, Sav’O & Digga D)
"Gotcha"
(Sean D featuring Digga D, Vybz Kartel & Unknown T)		 2020
"Be the One"
(Rudimental featuring MORGAN, Digga D & TIKE)

Guest appearances
List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Armed and Violent" 2018 CGM, Loose1, Johnny 5ive N/A
"Drillings on Drillings" 2019 CGM, Loose1 N/A
"Get In That Jeep" 2021 Aystar Scousematic 3

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
2020 Defending Digga D Himself BBC documentary[29]

Notes
  1. The single was listed as "Next Up? – Pt 1" by Mixtape Madness ft. 1011)[9]

References
  1. Digga D [@DiggaD_CGM] (29 June 2020). "Happy birthday to me first bday on road in years! Surprise for you lot tonight Eyes" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 January 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. France, Anthony (6 January 2021). "Drill rappers targeted by police for inciting violence and taunting victims". Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  3. Herlock, Ethan (7 July 2020). "Digga D: the UK drill pioneer who can't be deterred". The Face. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. Baynes, Chris (15 June 2018). "Drill rap gang banned from making music without police permission in legal first". The Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  5. Patterson, Joseph 'JP' (2 December 2020). "Digga D: 'I've learnt from my mistakes'". BBC Three. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. Hancox, Dan (22 June 2018). "The war against rap: censoring drill may seem radical but it's not new". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  7. Cobain, Ian (15 June 2018). "London drill rap group banned from making music due to threat of violence". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  8. Griffin, Alex (30 November 2017). "(1011) DIGGA D, SAV'O & T.Y go in on Next Up? Freestyle". GRM Daily.
  9. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "1011" or "Mixtape Madness"). British Phonographic Industry.
  10. Martin, Liam. "Digga D - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  11. Thapar, Ciaran (21 May 2019). "Digga D's Drill Videos Were Banned, But Now He's Bigger Than Ever". Vice. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  12. Murray, Robin (6 July 2020). "Digga D's 'Woi' Is Rapidly Becoming A Phenomenon". Clash.
  13. Keith, James (24 November 2020). "The MOBO Awards Are Back For 2020, Nines, Headie One, Ms Banks & More Nominated". Complex UK.
  14. Patterson, Joseph JP; Keith, James; Abiade, Yemi; Bishop, Aaron (14 December 2020). "Complex UK's Best Songs Of 2020". Complex UK.
  15. Lynch, Jack (16 October 2020). "Digga D Nods To Early 2000s On New Drop "Chingy (It's Whatever)"". Complex UK.
  16. https://grmdaily.com/defending-digga-d-documentary-announced/
  17. Keith, James (25 November 2020). "Digga D Lays Out The Fine Print Of His Oppressive Criminal Behaviour Order In New Documentary". Complex UK. UK. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  18. Martin, Felicity (4 December 2020). "Digga D drops Daily Duppy". Dummy Mag.
  19. Finiin, Abubakar (27 July 2020). "'Man Has Made History' – How Unknown T Changed the Landscape of UK Drill". Vice. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  20. Winter, Courtney (4 February 2021). "Digga D & AJ Tracey Go Back to Back on Huge Collaboration "Bringing It Back"". GRM Daily.
  21. "Ladbroke Grove banned from making 'violent drill music'". BBC News. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  22. "Ladbroke Grove drill rap machete gang sentenced". BBC News. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  23. Clowes, Ed (11 January 2021). "For British Drill Stars, the Police Are Listening Closely". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  24. D., Dre (16 September 2020). "UK Drill Rapper Digga D Arrested Again Immediately After Being Released". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  25. "Digga D | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Select "Albums". Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  26. "Digga D | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  27. "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter the search parameter "Digga D"). British Phonographic Industry.
  28. "Digga D & Russ – Singles". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  29. Nicholson, Rebecca (30 November 2020). "Defending Digga D review – should the police be monitoring rap?". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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