An award-winning rapper, best-selling author, sports pundit, presenter and father, Guvna B is a phenomenally busy man. But, thankfully, he hasn’t let music fall by the wayside and this year will see him release a brand new album in The Village Is On Fire.
The lead single from the new album is “Bridgeland Road” and it tells the crushingly familiar tale of an unprovoked racist attack he was subjected to in August last year. Just as familiar, sadly, was the lackluster, insulting, and ultimately fruitless response from the police, who officially closed the case six months later.
Understandably frustrated by the whole experience, he was encouraged by his friend, Emmy-winning star Michaela Coel, to write about it. The new single lays out all his myriad feelings about what happened and it’s also a sign of what’s to come on the album, which we’re told is a warts-and-all commentary on London and his experiences growing up here.
With the new track, Guvna B has also put together a stunning new video that takes us on a monochrome tour of the area he grew up in. From lazy afternoons chilling at the basketball courts to kids pulling wheelies on bikes down the leafy streets, we get a poignant look at why he loves the area, but without ignoring the flaws that are thrown into sharp relief as the video progresses, revealing more and more of his attack until the dramatic and poignant conclusion.
The Village Is On Fire is set to arrive on May 26 with features from Ghetts, DarkoVibes, Kierra Sheard and Kae Kurd. While we wait for that, press play on the “Bridgeland Road” visuals above and be sure to add the song to your playlists.
