Over two recent videos U.K. rapper Sam Wise has displayed the breadth of his hometown of London. On "Guess Who’s Back" he headed to the east of the city to the Leytonstone basement in which Jammer hosted the legendary grime clash series Lord of the Mics. In that graffiti-daubed lair, a small group of likeminded individuals blazed a trail for themselves and changed the future for a whole generation. Meanwhile, in his latest video "Thankful," Sam celebrates people's individuality and differing approaches.
The concept of the video, which can be seen above, is simple enough; give members of the public the opportunity to share what they are most grateful for and film their answers. Sidestepping financial or material options, the people shown in the video opt for showing their appreciatuon for the love of close relatives, good health, opportunities, and even sunny holiday destinations. It's a timely reminder of the things in life that matter the most, all soundtracked by Sam's direct lyricism and a hazy beat.
Speaking to The FADER via email, Sam Wise says: "'Thankful' represents hope. Gratitude is an amazing tool for managing the chaos around us, and it's always important to practice gratitude at every stage of life, particularly when you have a lot. I wanted to capture that frequency and share it in the form of music. Especially right now, when things are changing very fast. It reminds us to be grateful for the little things because it helps us keep a sense of belonging. The video is somewhat of a social experiment... we took to the streets of Lambeth to ask people to write down what they’re grateful for. We received a range of answers, some more humorous, such as ‘Benidorm’ and some profound such as ‘losses’."
Thankful appears on Sam Wise's new EP None The Wiser, which is out now.