Today – Sunday 26th April – sees the release of Skepta’s massive new single ‘Shutdown’.
Released 100% independently on Boy Better Know, ‘Shutdown’ has united and defined a whole scene and is set to be one of the biggest anthems of 2015. To celebrate the release, Skepta today premieres the video for ‘Shutdown’.
The video is directed by Grace Ladoja and filmed among the brutalist towers of London’s renowned residential and cultural centre, The Barbican.
Watch the ‘Shutdown’ video right now below.
Produced by Skepta and Ragz Originale, ‘Shutdown’ arrived online at the start of March to widespread acclaim, marking a week which saw the north London MC and producer join Kanye West on stage at both the Brit Awards (for the infamous debut performance of ‘All Day’), and a spontaneous full live show at London’s Koko. ‘Shutdown’ has since racked up well over two million Soundcloud plays.
‘Shutdown’ is the latest in a run of recent cultural exchanges between UK and US rap. In addition to the live collaborations, ‘Shutdown’ is bookended by Drake samples, returning the favour after Drake borrowed a line from Skepta’s ‘That’s Not Me’ for his If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late mixtape. Meanwhile, Skepta was joined by the A$AP Mob for ‘It Aint Safe’ during a show-stealing performance at The Fader Fort at this year’s SXSW and has recently collaborated on record with the likes of Ratking’s Wiki (on the US remix of ‘That’s Not Me’) and Flatbush Zombies (on their Redeye To Paris track).
With a new album Konnichiwa on the horizon for later in the year, 2015 is set to be Skepta’s year.
