CGM (rap group)
CGM | |
|---|---|
| Also known as |
|
| Origin | Ladbroke Grove, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Label | CGM |
| Members | See list |
| Past members | See list |
CGM (an initialism for Cherish God More, Constantly Getting Money, Certified Grove Members, Christ Guides Me etc.) is a British UK drill collective based in Ladbroke Grove, London specifically the Portobello Estate. They were formerly known as 1011, named after the W10 and W11 postal codes.[1] They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the UK drill scene.[2]
According to criminology expert Dr Simon Harding, they are a "middle-tier gang known for violence".[3] The gang made headlines in June 2018 when members were jailed for plotting a knife attack in West London.[4] In June 2026, Ellis Heather aka Rack5, a CGM rapper, was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Steven Morrison in Epping, Essex in 2020. Lyrics from his songs bragging about the ordeal were vital for his conviction.[3]
History
[edit source]In 2015, Digga D formed the UK drill group 1011 (then 916 at the time) along with his friends in a local youth club in Ladbroke Grove.[2][4] They released several singles from 2016 to 2017 including: "Kill Confirmed", "Play for the Pagans", and "No Hook".[2] The group has since been banned from making music together and later rebranded as CGM, an acronym for Cherish God More, Constantly Getting Money, Certified Grove Members etc.[2][5][6] In 2017, the group had rebranded and named themselves ‘1011’ due to their past split within 916 in 2016.
Current members
[edit source]The list below includes confirmed members of CGM:
- Digga D[7]
- Dodgy (also known as AP, Alfie Richards[8]; formerly Itchy)
- Horrid1 (also known as Hunch(o), Micah Bedeau)
- Ice (Mr Ten Out Of Ten)
- JDF (aka JoDaFlippa, Flippa)
- Johnny5ive
- Kizzle
- MSkum
- Rack5
- Sav'O (also known as Jsav, Jordan Bedeau)[7]
- Splasha (SP)
- Young Febz (aka Y.Febz)
- Young Zapps (aka YZ)
- ZK (formerly Eleven)[9][10]
Former members
[edit source]There were also other members who were derecruited such as R1 and R9.
Legal issues
[edit source]On 9 November 2017, 1011 were arrested in a stop and search in which they were carrying machetes and baseball bats.[14][4] 1011 claimed they were making a drill music video, but police stated they were planning to attack a rival gang, 12World.[4] 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.[2][15]
The CBO ban issued to 1011 was condemned by the campaign group Index on Censorship and widely described as entirely unprecedented.[1] 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.[6] 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."[6][16]
In July 2025, two CGM members, Yonas Girma and Ellis Heather, known mononymously as TY and Rack5 respectively, were charged with the 2020 murder of Steven Morrison in Epping, Essex. By the following year the trial culminated in a murder conviction for only Ellis Heather (Rack5), after his codefendant, Yonas Girma, gave evidence against him; incriminating lyrics from their songs were also shown to the court. TY, who was acquitted, was described by the BBC as a "reformed gang member" and had previously rebranded as a wildlife influencer.[3] As a result of his cooperation during the trial he had fallen out with the CGM collective.
Discography
[edit source]Mixtapes
[edit source]- Horrid1 and Sav'o - Violent Siblings (2022)
- Horrid1 and Sav'o - Evil brothers (2022)
| Title | Year | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Kill Confirmed" (as 1011, with Digga D & Sav'o) |
2017 | Non-album singles | |
| "Play for the Pagans" (as 1011, with Digga D, Sav'o & Horrid1) |
|||
| "No Hook" (as 1011, with (CGM) ZK, Digga D, MSkum, Sav'o & Horrid1) |
|||
| "Next Up?" (as 1011, with Mixtape Madness, Digga D, Sav'o & (CGM) TY) |
|||
| "No Porkies" (with Digga D, Sav'o & (CGM) ZK) |
2018 | ||
| "10+1" (with Splasha, MSkum, (CGM) Striker, Dodgy, Rack5, (CGM) TY, Horrid1, Sav'o & Digga D) |
2019 |
References
[edit source]- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Herlock, Ethan (7 July 2020). "Digga D: the UK drill pioneer who can't be deterred". The Face. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 "Epping murderer Ellis Heather caught out by lyrics and old friend". BBC News. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 Cobain, Ian (15 June 2018). "London drill rap group banned from making music due to threat of violence". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ↑ Baynes, Chris (15 June 2018). "Drill rap gang banned from making music without police permission in legal first". The Independent. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 Patterson, Joseph 'JP' (2 December 2020). "Digga D: 'I've learnt from my mistakes'". BBC Three. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 "DIGGA D & CGM'S FINEST DROP NEW TRACK "10+1"". GRM Daily. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ Summers, Chris (27 June 2026). "Sex, drugs and snakes: The crazy courtroom drama as former CGM rapper TY From The Wyld turns on pal Rack5 and walks free". Totalcrime Substack. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
He said Heather then went out with Monique, and they later went to the home of AP (Alfie Richards), one of the other CGM rappers, in Twickenham.
- ↑ "CGM'S ZK HITS US WITH JUMPY "EVERYTHING LITTY" VISUALS". GRM Daily. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "(1011) ELEVEN TEAMS UP WITH RUSS & TAZE FOR "ANTI" VIDEO". GRM Daily. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "JDF (1011) COMES THROUGH WITH "ASSISTANCE" VIDEO". GRM Daily. 13 February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "(1011) LOOSE1 RAPS ABOUT "TRAPLINE GOALS" IN NEW JOINT". GRM Daily. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "WATCH (1011) SINI SAYSO GO IN ON HIS NEXT UP FREESTYLE". GRM Daily. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- ↑ "Ladbroke Grove banned from making 'violent drill music'". BBC News. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ Thapar, Ciaran (21 May 2019). "Digga D's Drill Videos Were Banned, But Now He's Bigger Than Ever". Vice. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ↑ "Ladbroke Grove drill rap machete gang sentenced". BBC News. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ↑ "BRIT Certified - bpi" (To access, enter "1011" or "Mixtape Madness" in Certified Awards Search). British Phonographic Industry.