By Eileen Kile

British rapper, producer, filmmaker, and songwriter Wesley Joseph released his new single “Thrilla” this past Thursday, along with his entrancing self-directed music video. With the steady beats of “Thrilla” accompanied by groovy sound effects and Joseph’s strong British accent shining through his relatable lyrics, the new single makes for an entirely enticing sound. The music video makes the song equally interesting as it mixes notable references from the ’80s, like the DeLorean car from the movie “Back to the Future” and much of the décor and outfits in various scenes.

“I started writing “Thrilla” off the rum and orange juice in a neon blue London studio about a year ago,” Joseph said, “It became clear what the scope of the song could be as soon as I added the first 808, and the vibe was instant. A few of my boys came by that night and I freestyled a loose version of the hook - it was enough to keep us going crazy until the morning. The name “Thrilla” literally comes from that gassed drunk freestyle and it just stuck - the song is true to that bigger-than-life feeling you get in those moments.”

Photos Courtesy of Wesley Joseph