Mixtape Review: Headie One - 'MMM’
Headie One has dominated the UK drill scene with projects like 'Music x Road', 'The One', and 'The One 2'. It was this era in Headie’s career that not only pushed UK Drill to what it is today but ultimately made you a Headie One fan. He never needed to prove himself on his way up, his mixtapes did that on their own.
'MMM' feels like a homecoming to what Headie knows best.
The first four tracks are what you’d expect from a Headie One mixtape, with beats that feel familiar and a flow that is uniquely his. His single 'Turnt To A Target' sets the tone for what the project means to the North London artist. His previous mixtapes documented the grind it took to become someone significant; this time, he seems more interested in what comes with it - because becoming someone means becoming a target, too.
The project starts to expand halfway through, with 'One Thousand Roses', softening the sharp edges. 'Wednesday Play', featuring German rapper Luciano, takes it a step further, playing with more versatility in its production and vocals. There’s a looseness to the way Headie delivers his lines, which has always been one of his main strengths. He can make a bar sound as if it arrived halfway through a thought, like he’s figuring it out at the same time we are.
Sampha’s feature brings closure to the tape, and it may be the highlight. Known for his intimate sound, he allows Headie’s flow to not just sit on top of the music, but swim through it. The contrast between Headie’s sharp delivery and Sampha’s cinematic style works so well, you’re left wanting more. It feels like a combination that shouldn’t work as naturally as it does, and yet it does.
In 2026, mixtapes don’t seem to hold the same value they once did. Streaming has almost blurred the boundaries between a mixtape and an album. Mixtapes once allowed rappers to introduce their style, refine their sound and experiment without the pressure of a label. It’s where artists earned our trust as listeners.
'MMM' feels like Headie is revisiting a style of artistry that feels familiar and trusted by his fans. There’s a rawness to his delivery, and a sense that he has nothing left to prove. He’s spent years turning the realities of his life into music, and 'MMM' feels like a reminder of how well he’s always told it.
3/5
'MMM’ is out now via One Records Limited.
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