Idris Elba

About

The sound

Idris Elba is a London-born artist whose work in music predates and runs alongside his screen career. He began DJing in his teenage years under names including Big Driis and DJ Dris, building a relationship with house and club music before his acting roles made him internationally known. His musical work spans DJing, production, remixing, rap and singing, including club records, soundtrack work and collaborative songs. Elba’s catalogue includes the Nelson Mandela-inspired Mi Mandela, the darker character project Murdah Loves John and the reggae-oriented Yardie Mixtape, each using a different narrative frame without abandoning his interest in rhythm and voice. Under the Driis name he created remixes such as the 7Wallace version of Shy FX’s Chocolate; his remix work also includes Wiley’s Boasty and other genre-crossing collaborations. In 2015 he founded 7Wallace, a London record label and creative platform built to support original and diverse music. The label has connected his own releases with artists including James BKS, Little Simz, Q-Tip, Sean Paul and other collaborators, giving his producer and curator roles a durable home. Elba’s DJ sets draw from house, Afrobeat, deep house, hip-hop and broader African and Caribbean influences, and the music is shaped by the same instinct for character and atmosphere that informs his film work.