Stormzy ft Fredo 'Toxic Trait' by Femi Ladi
Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023
When Stormzy does videos, he does them big, and the video for Toxic Trait, directed by Femi Ladi, is no different, boasting a tour de force of set builds, visual effects and cameos - delivered with a mesmerizing motion controlled camera move.
What's more, there's a dramatised therapy session featuring guest artist Fredo - with his therapist played by TV royalty Alison Hammond.
The video fictionally contextualises a plethora of 'toxic' situations that Stormzy refers to in the track, honing in on gambling, violence and the glorification of luxury lifestyles. And as the camera shifts between multiple versions of the grime superstar, Ladi introduces significant, historical cultural moments from over the years, including the iconic 1968 Esquire Magazine cover of Muhammed Ali and Kehinde Wiley’s prominent painting, A Ship Of Fools.
When the action breaks for the therapy scene with Fredo and Hammond, it's a welcome development of the theme that also adds a touch of humour. Then it concludes with a group-therapy session which features further cameos from a range of British figureheads including Ivorian Doll, Wretch 32 and Specs Gonzalez.
Filmed in London earlier this year, the majority of the visual was shot on a high-speed, cinema robot camera, capable of horizontal and vertical movement speeds of up to 2 metres per second.
“After listening to the lyrics, I wanted to have fun with this video," Femi Ladi has stated. "I liked the idea of bringing a Renaissance-style painting to life, whilst still feeling grounded in the world of Stormzy.
"We collaborated on all the scenarios together which was great - as well as being able to bring in the
likes of Fredo and Alison Hammond for their own toxic therapy sessions!"
Featured sponsors
Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023
Tags
Popular content
Feedback
Problem with this page? Let us know
Credits
Featured here in the credits?
Production/Creative
- Director
- Femi Ladi
- Head Of Production
- Georgina Fillmore
- Producer
- Tom Gardner
- Production Company
- S
- Executive Producer
- Saskia Whinney
- Executive Producer
- Chris Watling
- Production Manager
- Max Harrison
- 1st AD
- Chris Kelly
- Production Assistants
- Sophie Dembitzer, Bella Meyer
- 2nd AD
- Affi Robbani
- Runners
- Edie Kelly, Ted Kelly, Anisay Taha
- Accounts
- Amy Barber, Brian Mullen
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Ruben Woodin Deschamps
- 1st AC
- Tuncer Ozdemir
- Motion control
- G6 Moco
- 2nd AC
- Andre Pinto
- Trainee
- Arnau Pepin
- DIT
- Ash Daniyan
- MoCo Technicians
- Rammy Anwar, Andrew Rider
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Leo Olesker
- Desk Op
- Frankie Shields
- Electricians
- Cleo Vogler, Nathan Rubins, Deepan Thavarajah, Yeh Htoo Love
- Key Grip
- Ed Livesey
Art
- Production designer
- Hatty Ellis-Coward
- Production designer
- Studio Augmenta
- 1st Art Assistant
- Asya Peker
- Art Assistants
- Gabriel Healy, Roisin Jenner, Wing Lock, Lettice Gatacre
Wardrobe
- Stylist (Artist)
- Melissa Holdbrook-Akposo
- Artist Styling Assistant
- Cherelle Miller, Natalia Caldarasan
- Artist Tailor
- Majula Laitinen
- Additional Styling
- Barbara Fu Safira
- Additional Styling Assistant
- Roberto Frusciante
- Additional Styling Assistant
- Blessing Ayozie
- Artist Groomer
- Bianca Simone Scott
- Hair Stylist
- Shamara Roper, Villane Walcott
- Hair Stylist Assistant
- Donica Campbell
- HMU Assistants
- Courtney Recce-Scott, Maisie Boyd
Editorial
- Editor
- Amber Saunders
- Editing company
- Cabin Edit
- Edit Assistant
- Craig Griffiths
- Edit Executive Producer
- Kayt Hall
- Edit Producer
- Ruth Minkley
- VFX Executive Producer
- Johnny Fairburn
- VFX Producer
- Thom Godsill
- 2D Lead
- Nick John
- 2D Artists
- Callum Wellby, Alfie Vaughan, James Belch, Laura Smith
- 3D Artist
- James Henaghan
- Sound Designer
- Jack Hallett @ Factory
- Executive Producer/Head of Production
- Deborah Whitfield
- Title Design
- Kieran Mistry and Destinie Paige
Grading
- Colourist
- Lewis Crossfield
VFX
- VFX Supervisor
- Luke Todd
- Post production company
- CT
Agent
- Music Video Representation
- AR
Commission
- Commissioner
- Nicola Sheppard
Other credits
Wire Supervisor
Andy Thompson
Wire Riggers
Grant Taylor, Chris Rackley
Photographer
Elliot Hensford
Merky Videographer
Jordan ‘Zebie’ Boza
Video/Audio Playback
Von Adams
Video/Audio Playback Assistant
Jack Preston
Sound Recordist
Don Nelson
SFX MUA
Red Girl FX / Suzi Battersby
SFX MUA Assistant
Ashra Kelly-Blue
Fight Choreographer
Julian Spencer
Animal Handler
Animals Work / Trevor Smith
Animal Trainer
Barbara Howes De Marquez
Vet
Adrian O'Meara
Armourer
Marshall Baron
Assistant Armourer
Eleanor Cole
Catering
℅ Red Hot Box
Location Manager
James Khoury
Medic
Coffee Medic
Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023