Skepta Remove New Single Artwork After Accused Of Referring To The Holocaust

Skepta (Instagram @skepta)

JAKARTA - Rapper from London, Skepta issued a statement on claims that the artwork (artwork) for his new single referred to the Holocaust.

Skepta is scheduled to release the song Gas Me Up (Diligent) on January 26 as the first preview of its sixth studio album, Knife And Fork.

On Monday, he shared the official cover for the song, created by artist Gabriel Moses.

The cover depicts a group of men with heads shaved and uniformly matching. One of them has a 'GAS ME UP' tattoo on the back of his head.

SKEPTA - GAS ME UP (DILIGENT)JANUARY 26TH 🚨 pic.twitter.com/GEW2HYwNSm

— UK Rap Daily (@UKRapDaily) January 8, 2024

SKEPTA - GAS ME UP (DILIGENT)JANUARY 26TH pic.twitter.com/GEW2HYWNSM

Some fans say the scene resembles the treatment of Jews in Nazi hands during the Second World War. Skepta is accused of referring to the gas chambers used to kill prisoners in concentration camps with the title and work of the single art.

In a statement on social media last Wednesday, the rapper whose real name is Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr. discussed the controversy while talking about the inspiration behind his new material and the accompanying picture.

"I have been waiting to release 'Gas Me Up (Diligent)' since releasing the teaser in April last year, working hard to get the right artwork for the launch of my album which tells the story of my parents who came to England in the 80s, Skinhead, football culture," he wrote.

I’ve been waiting to drop Gas Me Up (Diligent) since teasing it April last year, worked hard getting the artwork right for my album rollout which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80’s, Skinhead, Football culture and it has been taken offensively by many and I can…

— Big Smoke - (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

I've been waiting to drop Gas Me Up (Diligent) since testing it last April year, working hard getting the artwork right for my album rollout which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80's, Skinhead, Football culture and it has been taken offensively by many and I can...

He went on to say that although the cover was "considered offensive by many", interpretations related to PD2 "clearly not our plan". Skenta later confirmed that he had "deleted" the artwork and promised to be "more careful in the future".

In the next post, Skepta shared a mod board containing several photos that inspired British stories in the 1980s for the album, Knife & Fork'.

"To be honest I can see how my single work without context can be considered offensive, especially at times like this, but again that is not my intention," he said.

"But after a few thoughts, I feel like I can't continue to be an artist that you all know and love if my artwork is supervised, I have to stop if I can't express my artwork as I see it."

I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention. But after some thought I don’t feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed, I have to… pic.twitter.com/59oUOPe8Hp

— Big Smoke - (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be developed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my attention. But after some thought I don't feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed, I have to... pic.twitter.com/59oUOPe8Hp