Idris Elba makes a cameo appearance in the video for Stormzy’s latest single Vossi Bop.
The rapper unveiled the promo for the track, which is his first new release since the launch of his debut album Gang Signs & Prayer in 2017, on Friday morning.
Directed by Henry Scholfield, the video sees the grime star performing in front of iconic London locations including Westminster Bridge and the Bank of England.
Elba briefly appears alongside the rapper in one scene, in which both stars are dressed all in black and wearing sunglasses.
Stormzy (real name Michael Omari) also alludes to speculation that Elba could take on the role of 007 in a forthcoming James Bond film in his lyrics, rapping: “When I’m James Bond, tryna live my movie like I’m Idris.”
Elsewhere in the track, the BRIT Award winner calls out Conservative politician Boris Johnson.
“Rule number two don’t make the promise / If you can’t keep the deal then just be honest / I can never die I’m Chuck Norris / F*** the government and f*** Boris,” he raps.
Discussing the new track with Julie Adenuga on Beats, he said that he was inspired by the viral dance move originated by Twitter user @NL_Vossi.
“I met Vossi on the internet… He went to get Supermalt, he was on his way back, and he was just dancing to this song,” he said.
“But it was just so infectious, and such a genuine joyous moment that for whatever reason, I went studio a couple weeks later, and I made this song called Vossi Bop. But this is like three years ago, 2016 I made this song. Or 2015.
“It was very like, now that I think back on it, it just felt very from God, and very natural. Like yeah, this is my vibe right now. I think it just embodies everything that I’m about. The confidence, the humour, the style, the flair, the anarchy, the chaos, just the vibe. All of those things, I was like, ‘This is me embodied.’”
Appearing on the Capital Breakfast show earlier today, Stormzy confirmed that a second album is “most definitely” on the cards, with “no filler songs” or “filler lyrics”.
“I’ve used these two years to really be the best version of myself musically in every aspect,” he told hosts Roman Kemp, Vick Hope and Sonny Jay. “The best way to describe my album is that I don’t want no filler songs but I’m going to go an even further step and say I don’t want a filler lyric.
“I don’t want me to be saying anything that’s wasted, anything that’s just there because it rhymes. Literally every single thing is with purpose and with conviction and with expertise.”
Stormzy is set to make history as the first grime artist to headline Glastonbury festival in June.
