It’s no secret that it is much harder for artists from across the pond to gain success internationally than on their home base.
U.K. Grime and Drill music have always been a cultural staple in the Southern region of London, England. Although the idea of Drill music is nothing new to some of its pioneers like Chicago rappers like Chief Keef and G Herbo, it takes on a unique style that is mainly centered in London and just recently rose to prominence in the U.S. with the help of artists like the late Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke.
Though Drill music has garnered a bad rep for promoting gang culture and inciting violence, the rising British rap sound becomes a storytelling instrument in the U.K. drama BLUE STORY.
Written and directed by Roc Nation signee and London rapper Andrew Onwubolu aka Rapman, the film unfolds a dark yet authentic side of his city that us westerners don’t see or hear about often, if at all.
BLUE STORY follows best friends Marco, played by Michael Ward (Netflix’s Top Boy), and Timmy, played by Stephen Odubola, who live in different areas of South London that just so happen to be the backdrops for two rival gangs.
Their friendship is tested once Timmy is pressured to pick a side, and the besties quickly become enemies as they find themselves immersed in a gang war.
BLUE STORY was created by Rapman in 2014 as a three-part YouTube series of the same name. It gained almost a million views and was followed up with a 45-minute film in 2018 titled Shiro’s Story which also highlights themes of betrayal and the detrimental effects of gang culture. It is essentially what caught the eye of Roc Nation Founder Jay-Z and led to a management, film and TV deal for the British star.
BLUE STORY premiered in the U.K. late last year, and was initially set to hit the big screens in U.S. theaters on March 20th but that date has now changed. You can follow updates here.
Watch the trailer below:
