Plan B's new album tells the story of Strickland Banks, a sharp-suited British soul singer who finds fame with bitter-sweet love songs like "Love Goes Down" and "Writing's On The Wall" but loses everything when he ends up in prison for a crime he didn't commit. It's as if Marvin Gaye went from his early Motown love songs to "What's Goin' On" in just one album, then had it all remixed by London grime artists.

"He's a version of me, an alter-ego," says Ben Drew of his creation. "Strickland is my age - 26. He looks like me, and he's from the East End. But he's a bit more on the sensitive side, whereas Plan B is quite dark. He's a chance for me to not have to be so serious, to go with my love of soul music. It was about creating a character that I could destroy, as well. So that I could still do my whole storytelling thing."

"This guy Strickland Banks is obsessed with the 60s and dresses like he's a Motown star, so if I came on stage wearing a hood it would confuse people. When I come on stage as Strickland Banks I am going to be suited and booted. Every motherfucker in my band is going to be wearing trilbies. This is a film man. It's all entertainment. It's allowing me to have some fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm going to rap for as long as I can rap. I'm going to rap until someone goes, 'Oi! Mate, give it a rest' But singing soul just feels the right thing to do now. This is who I am."

The Defamation of Strickland Banks is the sound of Motown, Stax and obscure Northern Soul, filtered through the grit of contemporary East London. It is Smokey Robinson miraculously fused with Eminem. It's an urban fairytale, the story of a man who finds success hard to handle and then hits rock bottom. A sweet soul morsel with a razor-sharp edge.

Most of us will enjoy it for what it is: a collection of great tunes with soulful pop hooks, sung with the voice of an angel -Plan B once more twisting genres, telling stories and defying expectations. Since its release in the UK, The Defamation of Strickland Banks has propelled Ben Drew from a Forest Gate kid to a Bona-fide modern day soul star.

Plan B's Exclusive 2011 US Tour Dates
1/11 - Bowery Ballroom, NYC | More Info
1/13 - Troubadour, LA | More Info