Artist Denzel Himself is inspired by hardcore and hip-hop in equal parts, and it shows. He’s sort of like a British Tyler, the Creator in both his dark innovative style and in just how DIY his project is; he writes, raps, sings, produces, and directs. The full package. It was his last video for BANGIN’ through which we got to know the 22-year-old star, instantly sold on his heavy sound and signature off-kilter flow, convinced that he’s the unconventional future star we’ve been waiting for.
Still quite certain, we’re stoked to have his next video exclusive, again self-directed and as unpredictable as the Dilla-esque track Chevi itself. Just as his rapping is interspersed with guttural animalistic noises and layered with singing, colourful shots of Denzel give way to the sort of split screens seen previously in WYA.
“Chevi feels quite nostalgic to me,” he told us over email. “I tried to make it sound like some of the early 00s hip-hop I grew up on. A bit of 50 Cent, a bit of Slum Village. It’s also nostalgic because the instrumental is six years old. Every scene in the video was shot in my childhood home so it was an interesting affair.” Sounds it. And all dreamed up by Denzel… Himself.