Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone returns with music video for new single, ‘No Way’
Kofi Stone - No Way! (Official Video)
Stream / Download single “No Way” Here
Today, 27th August, Birmingham rapper Kofi Stone returns with his new single, ‘No Way’. Fresh from a standout performance at ‘We Out Here Festival’, where he debuted the track to a packed crowd over the weekend, ‘No Way’ finds Kofi in a particularly assured mood. Built around live instrumentation and driving drums, produced by Pitch92 the track gives him space to move between sharp lyricism, effortless flow and a melodic, instantly memorable hook, ‘they wanna break my soul, why they wanna break my soul, they'll never break my soul’, sung by Kofi himself. Reflecting on the experiences that have shaped his recent journey, ‘No Way’ is rooted in optimism, ambition and self-belief. There is a swagger to Kofi’s delivery, but as with his best work, it is underpinned by honesty and introspection. Looking both backwards and forwards, the single captures an artist taking stock of how far he has come while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on what lies ahead. The 'No Way’ video explores Kofi at three different stages of his life, each with their own energy and perspective. The younger Kofi is free, naïve and unaware of the journey ahead. Present-day Kofi is grateful for what he has achieved so far, while recognising there is still more he wants to do. Older Kofi is able to look back and reflect on everything he has built, watching the different stages of his journey play out in front of him. Bringing these three versions of Kofi together, the ‘No Way’ video follows them on a joyride across the city in a rented limo, exploring the artist’s journey through different stages of his life.
For Kofi Stone, storytelling has always come naturally. His love of writing was inherited from his grandfather, an accomplished poet whose work instilled in him an early appreciation for language and narrative. Splitting his childhood between East London and Birmingham, Kofi grew up against the backdrop of grime’s rise, while journeys with his father introduced him to a different musical world, soundtracked by blues, soul and hip-hop. Those influences would eventually form the foundations of his own sound. Before stepping into a professional studio, Kofi spent three years focused solely on developing his writing, refining his craft with the patience and discipline that continues to define his approach today. His earliest recordings were made using a basic Windows 98 program and a telemarketing headset; from those humble beginnings, he has steadily developed into one of the UK’s most distinctive and respected voices in contemporary hip-hop.
Never one to rush the process, Kofi Stone’s career has been built on consistency, craft, and a commitment to saying something meaningful. Across a run of acclaimed projects, a packed 20-date sold-out UK and EU tour, and performances at Glastonbury, The Jazz Cafe, Nomad, Love Supreme and We Out Here amongst others, the Birmingham-born artist has steadily cultivated a distinctive sound that moves freely between hip-hop, jazz and soul. His journey has taken him to renowned stages including the O2 Kentish Town Forum, while collaborations with Loyle Carner, D Double E, Tom Misch, Kojey Radical, Rubii, Benjamin Zephaniah and Tiana Major9 have highlighted the breadth of his creative world. Along the way, Kofi has also supported artists including Tinie Tempah and the late Mac Miller, building a devoted community around music that is as reflective as it is resonant.
Last year saw the release of his third project, ‘All The Flowers Have Bloomed’, featuring Jacob Banks, Maverick Sabre, Ady Suleiman and Tyler Daley of Children of Zeus, the record found Kofi operating at a creative high point, completing a trilogy that began with ‘Nobody Cares Till Everybody Does’ and continued with ‘A Man After God’s Own Heart.’ Since then, he has continued to expand that world. Linking with grime icon D Double E for the Flowers Flow (Remix), joining Kojey Radical and KeepVibesNear on ‘Love N Drugs’ and releasing the solo cut ‘Gardener Flow’, Kofi has remained in constant motion while continuing to evolve his sound. Now, with ‘No Way’, he opens another chapter. Confident yet introspective, the new single captures the qualities that have come to define Kofi Stone as an artist: sharp lyricism, effortless flow and an ability to turn personal experiences into something universally relatable. Moving with the warmth and musicality that has become synonymous with his work, ‘No Way’ finds Kofi sounding assured, reflective and comfortable in his own skin.
One of the most distinctive voices operating within UK rap today, Kofi’s conscious lyrics and formidable MC ability have earned him a devoted international following, with more than 150 million streams across his catalogue and over eight million streams generated by ‘All The Flowers Have Bloomed’ alone. His work has also received support from a broad range of tastemakers and broadcasters, including Gilles Peterson, Huw Stephens, DJ Target, Semtex, Jamz Supernova, Craig Charles, Kaylee Golding, Remi Burgz, Nadia Jae and Sian Eleri, further underlining his ability to move between scenes while remaining unmistakably himself. With Australian and New Zealand dates lined up for November, and more new music on the horizon, Kofi Stone continues to move with purpose. ‘No Way’ is a statement of intent from an artist who has always trusted the process and who sounds more certain of his direction than ever before.
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Song produced by Pitch 92
Performed by Kofi Stone
Director: Christoph Davis
Producer: Shorayi Mauluka
Production Coordinator: Ira Alecia Gardner
DOP: Oluwatobi Kenneth
1st AC: Tom Laxton
Gaffer: Jake Ganley
Talent: Daniel Iyeoluwa and Tyrae Lammy
