East London-born, Birmingham-raised rapper Kofi Stone has shared uplifting new single and video ‘Black Joy’. It follows February offering ‘May Sound Crazy’ featuring the late great, Benjamin Zephaniah.
‘Black Joy,’ produced by Joice, is a deeply layered offering and straight-talking reflection of the environment Kofi was raised in. An ode to Hip-hop’s golden era, Kofi’s storytelling is introspective, thought-provoking and profoundly honest. The single touches on a number of pertinent themes – stemming from his own personal experiences – but above all is a moment of celebration. It’s about celebrating blackness and all that it encompasses, even in the face of adversity. “…cos they always seem to leave us out the conversation, so this is our occasion, for my mothers nation, this is congratulations.” he raps. The video – co-directed by Ade Adesina, Kofi Stone and Sena Dzotsi – finds Kofi journeying through the black family home, taking the time to embrace and appreciate the richness of life’s many milestones. From the tender arrival of new life, the jubilant revelry of a university graduation, the heartfelt vows in a marriage, the poignant farewell of death – each moment a testament to the unique experiences that bond the black community for a lifetime.
“I wrote this song because I wanted to celebrate black culture and document joyful experiences,” Kofi says. “Experiences that often act as a safe space for the black community, and an escape from life’s harsh realities. I wanted to paint a positive picture for younger black kids, who like myself growing up, are not regularly exposed to positive black messages.”