British rapper and gamer Headie One gave fans an exclusive listen to his new track ‘Socials’ during a video game livestream at Virgin Media Gamepad, a free gaming venue at The O2.
Alongside music, Headie One is a passionate gamer and picked up his first controller during his teens, with gaming now one of his favourite ways to relax outside of the studio.
In 2023, Headie One started streaming on Twitch (at HeadieOneLive) where he plays alongside friends, and it allows him to connect with fans outside of traditional channels.
Thinking about how to share his new single ‘Socials’, Headie One decided to return to his gaming roots and give fans a glimpse 24 hours ahead of its official release during a live Twitch stream at Virgin Media Gamepad, located at the O2.
During the livestream, Headie was joined by some of his VIP friends including British singer and rapper AJ Tracey, streamer and rapper Tyrone and rapper Abra Cadabra where they played his favourite game, EA Sports FC24, and Headie chatted about his career to date and shared exclusive details about his new single.
Headie One, said: “As a big gamer it’s great to be able to tease my new track ‘Socials’ via streaming at Virgin Media Gamepad.
“I started gaming when I was in my teens and it’s always been a hobby of mine, especially as a way of relaxing outside of the studio. To incorporate it into my music as a way of sharing my new single is a special moment.”
Headie One
Gareth Griffiths, Director of Partnerships & Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said: “With Virgin Media Gamepad perfectly located in the foyer of The O2, the world’s number one live entertainment venue, it provides the perfect space for musicians to engage with fans and reveal their latest music.
“We’re seeing more crossover than ever between music and gaming, so we’re delighted to have Headie One come to The O2 to share his new track. Virgin Media Gamepad is a hub for creative talent, and we look forward to seeing more musicians step into our state-of-the-art gaming venue in the near future.”
Headie One entered the British rap scene in 2010 and has since gone on to release multiple mixtapes and singles that include huge hits such as ‘Only You Freestyle’, ‘Ain’t It Different’ and ‘Both’, as well as collaborating with prominent artists such as Stormzy, Central Cee, FKA Twigs and Drake.
Virgin Media Gamepad launched in July 2023 and has since played host to famous faces and gaming talent such as Jane Douglas and Andy Farrant from Outside Xbox, as well as England Rugby players Marcus Smith, Lewis Ludlum and Joe Marchant and WWE stars including Austin Theory and Bronson Reed.
Virgin Media O2 partnered with Digital Foundry to equip the space with professional hardware so gamers can access tech and streaming capabilities, powered by Virgin Media’s gigabit broadband.
The space offers bookable slots for Priority members and the general public. Priority customers can book a slot at Virgin Media Gamepad here
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
