British rapper Skepta, who won the Mercury Prize, has issued an apology for the cover art of his single Gas Me Up (Diligent) after facing backlash on social media for its unintentional but noticeable references to the Holocaust.
The piece of art showcases a collective of individuals wearing identical coats and sporting shaved heads. One member has the phrase “gas me up” permanently inked on their scalp, which can be interpreted as a reference to the head-shaving, tattooing, and gas chambers utilized in Nazi concentration camps. In current slang, “gas me up” means to boost someone’s confidence or give them praise.
The picture sparked outrage on social media, and Skepta promptly took it down. He posted on X: “I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of Gas Me Up (Diligent) since teasing it in April of last year. I put a lot of effort into perfecting the artwork for my album rollout, which is inspired by my parents’ arrival in the UK in the 80’s, Skinhead culture, and Football culture. However, it has offended many people and that was never our intention. I have removed it and I promise to be more mindful in the future.”
In a follow-up tweet, the individual stated that they understand how their single artwork, when viewed without context, could be considered offensive, particularly in the current state of affairs. However, they maintain that was not their intention and after reflecting on the situation, they do not feel they can continue as an artist if their art is constantly scrutinized. They stated they will still release their song “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” on its scheduled date of 26 January, but it is unclear if the controversial artwork will still be included.
He presented a collage of pictures that influenced the design of the artwork and the overall theme of the upcoming album Knife and Fork, which centers around the “1980s UK story”. The collage includes several images of British skinheads and fans of the 2 Tone movement from different racial backgrounds. However, the skinhead images also carry a controversial connotation due to the presence of racist and far-right individuals within the movement during the 1980s. Additionally, one person is shown with a tattoo resembling the eagle emblem used by the Nazi party.
Skepta, also known as Joseph Adenuga, was born to Nigerian parents and grew up in Tottenham, London. He is widely recognized as one of Britain’s most accomplished and highly regarded rappers, known for his contributions to the development of grime music and a resurgence of success in the mid-2010s. Recently, he was honored with the title of the greatest British rapper of all time by Complex, a popular pop culture website.
His previous two records, Konnichiwa and Ignorance Is Bliss, both achieved the second spot on the UK charts. Konnichiwa also earned him the prestigious Mercury prize. In 2018, he gained global recognition for his collaboration with A$AP Rocky on the track Praise the Lord (Da Shine), which became a hit. Recently, he showcased his paintings at Sotheby’s and also ventured into DJing and producing house music. In 2023, he had a successful club hit with Can’t Play Myself (A Tribute to Amy), which sampled Amy Winehouse’s music.
Skepta is getting ready to release a highly anticipated short film, Tribal Mark, which he co-directed with Dwight Okechukwu. The film, described as an origin story, will introduce the character of Tribal Mark and his involvement in the undercover Black Secret Service. It is the first installment of a larger cinematic universe, with more details to be unveiled later this year. The film boasts a diverse cast and crew, with 90% being from around the world.
Source: theguardian.com
