Cigarettes & Cush
by Stormzy (featuring Kehlani)

Album: Gang Signs & Prayer (2017)
Charted: 30
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Stormzy pays homage to his lover Maya Jama who is an English broadcast journalist of Somali-Swedish descent. He raps about lazy Sundays spent smoking with his girl. The MC explained to The Fader:

    "I was trying to make a slow jam, and this beat felt very free-spirited and lazy and nice. It sounded like Sunday. It just reminded me of being with a female and smoking bud and being mad chilled. Our generation know about being with your partner and having weed, and that being, not the basis of your relationship, but a very integral part of it. I was like, that's something I know a lot of people can relate to, I would just love to make a tune that resonates like that."
  • Stormzy is aided and abetted by Kehlani and an un-credited Lily Allen. He explained:

    "I was like, This just needs the simplicity of a beautiful vocal. And who has a beautiful vocal? Kehlani. She's a friend of mine, and someone I'm a big fan of. Lily Allen's on the song as well, but no one knows it because we weren't allowed to credit her. But she sings the hook with me; she's the high-pitched vocal. The riddim sounds like LA, the sun shining - but it sounds so British, because of the way I'm saying the hook. And Lily has that - I love it when singers sing in British accents. I feel like our accents are so nang."
  • Stormzy portrays a smooth dealer in the song's music video. His love interest is played by Andrea Ali, who previously featured in Tom Odell's "Life Around Here" clip.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)

Max Cavalera of Soulfly (ex-Sepultura)Songwriter Interviews

The Brazilian rocker sees pictures in his riffs. When he came up with one of his gnarliest songs, there was a riot going on.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

British Invasion

British InvasionFact or Fiction

Go beyond The Beatles to see what you know about the British Invasion.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.