Following the release of his third consecutive #1 album, ‘This Is What I Mean’, in December of last year, Stormzy has launched a new track, ‘Toxic Trait’, featuring fellow British rapper Fredo and production by Santan, AKA Dave.
The single comes with a video directed by British Director Femi Ladi, which explores societal toxic traits. The video portrays a variety of fictional scenarios that reference gambling, violence, and the glorification of luxury lifestyles. It also includes cultural references, such as Muhammed Ali’s 1968 Esquire Magazine cover and Kehinde Wiley’s painting, ‘A Ship Of Fools’. The video features a therapy scene with Fredo and Alison Hammond, and concludes with a group session that includes appearances from Ivorian Doll, Wretch 32, and Specs Gonzalez.
Director Femi Ladi commented on the video, stating, “After listening to the lyrics, I wanted to have fun with this video. I liked the idea of bringing a renaissance-style painting to life, whilst still feeling grounded in the world of Stormzy.” The majority of the video was filmed in London on a high-speed, cinema robot camera, which can move at speeds of up to 2 metres per second, both horizontally and vertically.
In a recent interview with Dazed Magazine, Stormzy reflected on his growth in the music industry, saying, “There’s a difference between doing music at 22 and when you’re about to turn 30. It’s the kind of peace and stability and stillness you can only get from maturity.”
Check out Stormzy’s new single ‘Toxic Trait’ featuring Fredo below.
