Backbone
by Chase & Status (featuring Stormzy)

Album: single release only (2024)
Charted: 1
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This fiery collaboration between Chase & Status and Stormzy finds the grime rapper calling out feeble MCs who lack metaphorical backbone. Stormzy's sharp, incisive rhymes are complemented by the duo's signature crisp, booming production.
  • "Backbone" marks Stormzy's debut in the drum 'n' bass genre.

    "We've been fans of Stormzy since he first came on the scene many many moons ago like everyone else in the whole world," Chase & Status told BBC Radio 1's Jack Saunders. "We just think he's kind of epitomizes British energy really like in music. He was in a good place to try some different stuff and we connected and we said in the studio, like, what do you think?

    And then he just said, 'Listen, guys, I just want to write I just want to do something. The first time I play it out, no one needs to know the words. No one needs to know the song, but it will just go off.' And we said, 'oh, well, luckily, that's the sort of thing we're good at.' So we were on the same place."
  • Building anticipation for a long time, Chase & Status unleashed "Backbone" on August 8, 2024. The track's journey to release began four months previously with a surprise performance at Coachella, igniting excitement among fans. The hype reached fever pitch when Stormzy made a surprise appearance at Chase & Status' Ushuaia Ibiza takeover in June, performing "Backbone" live. Capitalizing on the momentum, a music video was captured during their performance and released alongside the official track.
  • "Backbone" debuted at #1 on the UK Singles Chart to become Chase & Status' first UK chart-topper. It was Stormzy's fourth visit to the UK summit, following "Vossi Bop" (2019), "Take Me Back To London" with Ed Sheeran (2019) and "Own It" with Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy (2020).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.