Idris Elba is adding ‘record label boss’ to his resume.
The actor/director has announced the launch of his new record label, 7Wallace Music.
The newly-launched label already has its first act, James BKS.
via Billboard:
James is a French artist whose family is from Cameroon with a background as a hip-hop producer working with Diddy, Talib Kweli and others in the States. He now resides in Paris and runs the creative house Grown Kid, which has composed music for Yves Saint-Laurent, Prada and Giorgio Armani commercials and scored French films including La Taularde and Le Gang Des Antillais. Along the way, James developed a connection with his Cameroonian heritage after a chance meeting with his biological father, legendary Afro-jazz saxophonist Manu Dibango, led to a collaboration and a newfound appreciation for African music.
“James is a rare find,” Elba tells Billboard. “His hip-hop sensibilities transfer to the other music he makes, he’s a nice person to work with and is gonna be a strong artist in the future. It’s a huge move for 7Wallace, a small indie label.”
James’ single “Kwlele” will be released July 13, featuring Dibango and Allan Kingdom and synthesizes his influences into a blend of hip-hop, pop and African music, while paying tribute to the Kwele ethnic group of Gabon, Republic of Congo and Cameroon.
“I want people to get to know my journey,” adds James in a statement. “The song is the musical answer to my inner questions. Finally I can be proud of my roots and say this music is fully me.”
It’s an interesting career move, don’t you think?
