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Rizzle Kicks star on drug abuse amid music comeback

Getty Images Jordan Stephens wearing a hat with parts of his hair on show. He is wearing a baggy suit jacket without a top underneath, as well as a necklace. Getty Images
Jordan Stephens, one half of Rizzle Kicks, has outlined his struggles with drug abuse, fame and grief

Jordan Stephens has revealed how a drug addiction contributed towards the break-up of hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks.

Their debut album, Stereo Typical, which came three years after the group formed in Brighton in 2008, sold more than 600,000 copies.

But following personal battles between Stephens and the other half of the duo - Harley Alexander-Sule - Rizzle Kicks took a hiatus that ended up lasting eight years.

“In that time when we were trying to find ourselves, Harley developed a crippling stage anxiety and I became a drug addict, basically,” Stephens said.

The 32-year-old has outlined his battles with drug abuse, fame, grief, self-harm, masculinity and more in a new memoir titled Avoidance, Drugs, Heartbreak & Dogs.

“At our peak, when we had the most notoriety and fame, the pressure was unbelievable,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.

“That pushed me and Harley apart. But in the last eight years where we put Rizzle Kicks on ice, Harley has fathered two beautiful children, I’ve gone sober and we’re closer than ever.”

Getty Images Jessie J, Harley Alexander-Sule, Ed Sheeran, Jordan Stephens and Professor Green all looking and smiling at the camera at an event.Getty Images
Rizzle Kicks had hits including Down With the Trumpets and Mama Do the Hump

Ahead of a tell-all show at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange in Brighton, Stephens described his 20s as a “whirlwind” in which Rizzle Kicks had hits including Down With the Trumpets and Mama Do the Hump.

Describing himself as “young, aspirational and delusional”, Stephens said he would discourage anyone from reaching the same heights without a support system in place.

“It can be damaging,” he said.

“If I was in a situation where I was fathering a child who was near a potential lifestyle like mine, I would be suggesting and making recommendations different to ones I received.”

Getty Images Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule wearing suits and smiling at the camera. Behind them is signage for the 2012 Brit Awards. Both men are wearing black suits. Getty Images
Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule’s debut release sold more than a million singles and 600,000 albums

Stephens added: “Every high comes with a price, and I paid it. You don’t feel grief less intensely just because you’re well off.”

He said he was able to step away from his previous lifestyle and explored emotional trauma retreats and therapy.

In May this year, the duo announced that they were reforming and have since released a new single, Javelin.

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