Skepta has apologized deeply and removed the artwork for his upcoming song, “Gas Me Up (Diligent),” in response to claims that it had allusions to the Holocaust. One of the males in the contentious photo had the words “Gas Me Up” written on his scalp, while the other had shaved heads. It is possible relationship to the terrible events of the Jewish lives lost in Nazi gas chambers during the World War Two has drawn criticism.
Skepta issued a public apology, acknowledging the delicate nature of the situation and expressing regret for any inadvertent injury. He explained the artistic motivation for the contentious piece in a social media post, relating it to his parents’ trip to the UK in the 1980s and using football and skinhead culture as recurring motifs in the release of his album. Skepta acknowledged the possibility of misunderstanding despite his good intentions, saying, “I can genuinely understand how my single artwork without context can be considered offensive, especially in a time like this,” and promised to exercise greater caution moving forward.
To provide insight into his creative process, the Mercury Prize-winning artist shared a “mood board” for his album, featuring visuals from the 1980s, including football hooligans, skinheads, and symbols like the 2 Tone Records logo, known for its anti-bigotry stance. Skepta defended his artistic expression, asserting, “I do not feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed.” He posted additional images from the mood board, emphasizing the 1980s UK narrative for his upcoming album, “Knife & Fork.”
The artist responsible for the controversial artwork, Gabriel Moses, echoed Skepta’s initial statement on Instagram. Amid the controversy, he shared a provocative music video clip captioned “Last 24 hours,” depicting a police raid on rapper Beanie Sigel’s residence.
Skepta continues to focus on his musical pursuits despite the instability; he intends to release his album “Knife and Fork” on New Year’s Day with the movie “Tribal Mark.” The movie chronicles the adventures of a Nigerian immigrant adjusting to life abroad.
“Gas Me Up” is still the first single off the album, and it will be out on January 26. The song’s lyrics present Skepta in a positive light, acknowledging his year-long break from the music industry as well as his accomplishments in fashion, music, and the hit TV program Top Boy.
