The video, directed by Dir. LX, features all of the artists featured on the track – including Ms Banks, Jacob Collier, Amaarea, Black Sherif and Storry
Last Friday, the king of UK rap returned with his acclaimed third album This Is What I Mean, described as “an intimate and sincere love letter to music”. The latest of the album’s singles to get visuals, the eponymous title track’s video was released on Sunday evening and features cameos from all of the featured artists: Ms. Banks, Jacob Collier, Amaarea, Black Sherif and Storry.
The video, directed by current industry favourite Dir. LX, features alternating shots between the album release show held in Soho last week. There are also studio-based shots featuring Stormzy and Collier in an industrial warehouse under an intense, strobing light and Amaarae and Ms. Banks against conflicting fiery and icy backdrops. The studio shots for the visuals were, according to the start of the video, filmed on the night of the album release – which gave them just three days to turn it around.
The visuals for “This Is What I Mean” are in keeping with the track’s epic and maximalist production, helmed by PRGRSHN, and the lengthy list of collaborators. Both the video and the track are dense and self-assured, created by an artist at the peak of his creative powers.
Watch the video for “This Is What I Mean” in full above
Stormzy's third album This Is What I Mean is out now via 0207 Def Jam / #Merky Music.
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