How I Made Kojo Funds' Epic Afro Swing Music Video For 'Stallin'

Kojo Funds is one of the leading name's coming out of London's flourishing Afro Swing movement. The buzzing artist just released the striking new music video for "Stallin'," which paints a vivid portrait of the paths young, black British people can choose to take while challenging the audience's perceptions.

Below, music video director Gerald Sagoe of So Fraiche, tells us how he set up, shot, and delivered this epic new music video.

All photos by @JamesFramedand @kd_visuals.

Hearing the newly released song/single, "Stallin'" by Kojo Funds, itinitially struck me as a gritty anthem that would excite thestreets and have everyone blaring it from their cars. I was excited toundergo this project, taking a step back from working on global brandprojects within my company, So Fraiche Media, to produce not just amusic video, but a movie.

Kojo Funds is the pioneer of Afro Swing, a genre that is permeatingculture globally. Representing the eclectic Afro Swing of sound, thisstyle of music was birthed in the most deprived borough of EastLondon, also the birth place of Grime music. As the director, I persisted tostay true to the sound by shooting in a London Estate, with its strikingtower blocks and open space that would evoke a concrete jungle andcreate an artistic, eye-catching and thought-provoking visual, aportrait coming to life. Combined with a stark black-and-whiteaesthetic, it created a classic 'film noir' look.

Raised in Britain and being Ghanaian myself, I realised that AfroSwing represents the time we live in, where there is a new sense ofAfrican pride. We are influenced by our heritage, inspired by thecultures of the entire diaspora; from the sounds of Afrobeats, to Hip-hop, Bashment and Dancehall—a hybrid of Caribbean, African andLondon culture have led to create this movement.

I wanted to deliver a message and a unique video; presenting thepaths young black men can choose and challenge what people areexpected to see in the context of a music video like this, as well asour own prejudices as a society. The story starts with a bag beingplaced in a car, holding a symbolic value, the viewer should notrealise the purpose till the end of the video. Just like artwork in anexhibition, the video is meant to be left to the interpretation of theviewer, provoking their thoughts.

Focusing on the zeitgeist withinLondon with its rising rate of violent crime, I felt it was important totackle the video in this way, challenging the social climate and thementality of young men depicted, who are ultimately trapped in acage (a metaphor depicted in the video during an epic brawl).Kojo Funds is very talented and amazing to work with as he's laidback and happy to take direction and give everything he can. He hastremendous acting qualities and I told him that he's similar to Tupac, ashe's extremely versatile and can switch from charismatic lady killer togangsta effortlessly.

Shooting the video in a different style outside of the norm wasimportant for its direction. Opting to shoot in super slow motion, witha phantom camera intended for the shots to jump out at the viewer,leaving them fixated. I drew from different sources of inspiration,from Kendrick Lamar's visuals, to iconic photos of DMX, to classicfilms. Every single shot was thought out thoroughly, all in an effort toshowcase something powerful and deliver a message through art.

Afro swing is set to be one of the UK's biggest cultural exports, withits international scope, irresistible melodies, and diverse influences. Itis a reflection of the African diaspora and I look forward to it's growthand realisation. I'm currently working on a documentary-film on thesubject and look forward to releasing that soon. My overall mission isto keep on pushing the bar in filmmaking, original content andinspiring the African diaspora globally.