The first track from Skepta’s much-anticipated album, Knife & Fork, titled “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” has finally hit the airwaves. This release comes precisely a week after the lead track “Jangrova”, featuring ODUMODUBLVCK and Idris Elba, from the Tribal Mark soundtrack.
A Melodic Masterpiece
Produced by the renowned Cardo, “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” is a breath of fresh air in the music scene. The track is a harmonious blend of light, airy tunes with subtle melodic elements sprinkled throughout. In an unexpected twist, Skepta even dips into a melodic mode towards the end of the track.
This unexpected turn of events suggests that there might be more surprises in store when the full Knife & Fork album is released. Alas, the wait continues as a release date has yet to be confirmed.
Artwork Controversy
The initial artwork for the track, which was shared online earlier this month, was quickly taken down amid controversy. The image depicted a group of individuals with shaved heads, one of whom had the words “gas me up” tattooed on the back. This led to an uproar as it was seen to resemble victims of the holocaust who were forcibly given shaved heads and tattoos by Nazi guards. The controversial artwork has since been replaced by a simple graphic with the text “Image Not Found”.
Skepta’s statement: “I’ve been waiting to drop Gas Me Up (Diligent) since teasing it April last year, worked hard getting the artwork right for my album rollout which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80s, skinhead, football culture, and it has been taken offensively by many. I can promise you that was definitely not our plan, so I have removed it and I vow to be more mindful going forward.”
He later added in a Tweet:
“I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention. But after some thought, I don’t feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed. I have to quit if I can’t express my art as I see it. So to help with context, here are some pictures from our mood board for the 1980s UK story for my album Knife & Fork.”
Visuals for “Gas Me Up (Diligent)”
In addition to the track, the visuals for “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” have also been released. The music video, directed by Gugzay and shot by Domshotthis and Stevo1k, is a visual treat for all Skepta fans.
