Skepta’s new video: a step too far?

In case you missed it, grime MC Skepta has a new music video out.

When he tweeted a couple of weeks ago, ‘Today I’m starring in my 1st adult movie,’ fans probably expected a bit of raunchiness. But when the video for All Over The House dropped at the weekend, raunchy proved to be an understatement.

Upon clicking the website which explicitly states you have to be over 18 years of age, you find yourself thrown in front of a full on horrifically explicit pornographic movie. While the porn stars go about their business, Skepta can be seen in various shots, aptly choreographed all over the house, singing the lyrics.

The video went viral and has seen masses of his fans express their outrage at the MC’s decision for such a video. But what has surprised people is that someone of Skepta’s level of success has released such a video.

His career has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Along with Chipmunk and Dizzee Rascal, he has transitioned into the mainstream. His third studio album Doin it Again debuted and peaked at number 19 in its first week of release. The MC was also recruited as a tour guide for P Diddy back in January and he was also asked to remix P Diddy’s single, Hello, Good Morning.

“Skepta is a genius, everyone is talking about the video, which leads to more people wanting to watch the video, which will make more people listen to his music and make him more money,” posted one YouTube user.

That is the reality and with the free reign of being independent, this video is unlike any other music video from a relatively successful and established British artist.

“This video was not uploaded onto YouTube, I didn’t keep retweeting about the video and it was uploaded onto a site where it was allowed to be uploaded with a big warning saying ‘18s only’,” he told BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac.

Speaking about the video for the first and what he says will be the last time, he said, “I sit back and think [of] all these hypocrites talking about Skepta, [and] you’re the ones posting on your Twitter with no warning saying, ‘Oh my God, Skepta, I can’t believe it, I’ve lost all respect for him.” Be it for good or bad reasons, people are talking about All Over The House.

The single may well flop. His latest single Amnesia charted at a lowly 164 in the UK charts and with the video for All Over The House appearing to alienate his own core of fans, this single could do even worse if it ever gets a release. But this incident has put Skepta on the map in new circles. People who have seen the video and had never heard of him, now have.

While it may be a step too far for a music video, the incident may well be a masterstroke in promotion.

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• CountVisceral

  ridiculous reaction. the video isn’t even that explicit. there isn’t even any penetration. the song is garbage. i’ve seen far more explicit videos.

• sh.iq

  Umm are you blind? iF my child were to see that my gosh I would sue and I dont even have kids. It not even if the adults dont mind it, its about the children who view it. I thought it was porn because in the original video, i barely got past 30 seconds before they were having sex. Watch the reactions on youtube

• CountVisceral

  this video is not going to be shown on tv. its online only. kids can find pornos online any time they like. the ‘kids’ you refer to, are over 12. they are bound to be watching pornos anyways. your argument holds no water. this video is just that, another video. there are millions like that.

  the reactions on youtube are of lames wanting attention. youtube fame. none of em are kids.