Jelani Blackman has released a fresh new visual for his latest single ‘Let Me Talk To You’, starring British actor Sam Spruell (Snow White and the Huntsman, Legend). The visuals were co-directed and produced by the dynamic duo Jacek Zmarz and Billy Howard Price.
‘Let Me Talk To You’ marks the beginning of a new phase for the London rapper, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Setting the tone for a new musical direction and feeling as he enters an altogether more uptempo, electronic dance arena.
The groove is irresistible, the flute feels like a lost D. Philp lick from E-Z Rollers ‘Weekend World’ and Jelani’s vocal take could comfortably sit on Simian Mobile Disco’s debut album ‘Attack Decay Sustain Release’ alongside ‘Hustler’ – there is a lot to like here. Guy Ritchie should be leaning in closer right about now as Jelani is a funk soul brother for the new age.
“I feel like I can do anything I want in music now, even just speaking over a track. It was one take and just flowed out. Just easy with a little bounce, chatting about my city and locking in. This video means a lot to me because it captures the fun I’m feeling with music at the moment. It’s given the track a proper identity to reflect what I always knew it was about. The cast and direction was incredible and it’s one of my favourite visuals for any track. Perfect way to end the year, just making what I enjoy”
Raised in West London, schooled in South West and North and is now based in East, it’s safe to say
London’s cultural melting pot is an endless source of inspiration for his ever chameleonic talent. “It’s everything,” he says of the city – “It’s where I started making music, writing lyrics… I hope people come away from this with a better sense of who I am.”
Having started playing the saxophone at age 9 and writing his first bars as a teenager growing up in Ladbroke Grove, music has been a constant. Releasing EPs and mixtapes since 2016, over the years Blackman has gone on to collaborate with the likes of Kneecap, Fred Gibson (Fred Again), Gorillaz, Wolf Alice, Burna Boy, Ghetts and Fraser T. Smith, sharpening his lyrical toolkit and wide-ranging, fluid sonic approach while making a name for himself as one of the most original voices in a burgeoning UK scene, and of course going viral on Colors with ‘Hello’.
Jelani lands charged up from supporting Northern Irish upstarts Kneecap on selected tour dates in the UK and Ireland. Their critically acclaimed debut album ‘Fine Art’ features a collaboration with Jelani on the track ‘Harrow Road‘ setting the stage for an explosive 2025 for the London rapper, including the release of his forthcoming new album.
Tune in and absorb the ‘Let Me Talk To You’ visuals now below followed by a highly recommended spin of ‘Harrow Road’ and his wider catalogue. All of which set the tempo for Jelani Blackman’s live performance this weekend on Saturday 8th November supporting his closest allies, the formidable Kneecap at O2 Kentish Town Forum.
Photo Credit: Melissa Gardner
