The actor and sometime musician posted a re-working of Skepta's recent single 'Shutdown' on SoundCloud on Monday, featuring a new verse.
Idris Elba’s burgeoning career as a musician continues with aplomb, after the star showcased his rapping skills on a remix of Skepta’s single ‘Shutdown’ on Twitter yesterday.
The ‘Luther’ star uploaded his re-working of the British rapper’s recent single to SoundCloud on Monday and tweeted it to his fans, who immediately jumped in with their approval. “Sometimes you just have to SHUT "dem" DOWN. @Skepta. Do your ting my yout,” he said in the post. In the guest verse he added, Elba makes reference to his roles as Nelson Mandela, Stringer Bell and detective John Luther.
The collaboration is the result of a direct request made to Skepta back in March when the original mix of ‘Shutdown’ appeared back in March, when Elba tweeted “put me on the remix!!!! Cus I SHUT DOWN prime TV on the regular”.
Idris Elba remixed Skepta's 'Shutdown', and it's awesome
His wish has not only been granted, the resulting remix is also doing pretty well for itself. In the 24 hours since it went up, the track has gone to Number 1 on the Billboard + Twitter Trending 140 chart with over 250,000 plays.
More: ‘Star Trek 3’ entitled ‘Star Trek Beyond’ – details of Idris Elba’s character released
Speaking about having the popular actor working with him, Skepta recently told radio station Capital Xtra: “Basically a lot of people have asked to jump on the ‘Shutdown’ remix, I’m not gonna front. But cos of quality control we wanted to make it really big: it’s all about spreading the British sound and culture.”
Elba has been recording music under the name of Driis since 2006, in addition to his better-known roles in television and film. Last year, he released an EP of music inspired by the work he did in preparation for his leading role in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which was highly praised.
At the time, he said to NME that the EP was “part of a series of albums that I’m going to make called character pieces, character albums.” A James Bond album next? We can but hope.
The most riotously enjoyable Marvel movie yet, this action epic benefits hugely from the decision...
With his friends and his hammer, Thor is virtually unbeatable by any creature in the...
To most of the world, Molly Bloom is a beautiful young skiing extraordinaire, but behind...
When two people from different walks of life find themselves unable to take their scheduled...
Jake Chambers is an 11-year-old boy who has been having visions of a strange other...
A multi-strand drama set in London, this film is very nicely shot and acted, but...
It's been 13 years since the release of the Disney/Pixar hit Finding Nemo, and filmmaker...
This is where the Star Trek franchise officially shifts from thoughtful drama into thunderous action....
When the Starship Enterprise finds itself under forceful attack, the crew on board fight to...
Dory's past has always eluded her, she's a little forgetful fish whose bright character and...
Star Trek Beyond is the thirteenth film to be released from the Star Trek franchise...
An attempt to muscle in on Luc Besson's Taken-style of thriller, this is an odd...
Using remarkably photorealistic animation, this remake of the 1967 Disney classic is warm and enjoyable,...