Biography
Although Idris Elba first rose to prominence through acting roles in television series including The Wire, The Office, and Luther plus feature films such as American Gangster, Thor, and Pacific Rim, he has simultaneously built a parallel career in music as a DJ, producer, rapper, and singer. His sound draws from hip-hop, African music, and reggae, with his deep, resonant voice lending depth and character to atmospheric, edgy productions that regularly include guest musicians and vocalists. The 2014 debut album Mi Mandela reflected his portrayal of Nelson Mandela and the musical traditions of South Africa, the 2016 release Murdah Loves John explored dark-hued hip-hop textures, and Idris Elba Presents: The Yardie Mixtape assembled reggae-leaning tracks to accompany his directorial debut Yardie in 2018. Balancing further film commitments such as Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw in 2019 and The Suicide Squade in 2021, he issued the collaborative EP Cordi Elba with Australian pop group Lime Cordiale in 2022.
Born September 6, 1972, in Hackney, London, England, Elba is the son of Winston, who was born in Sierra Leone, and Eve, who came from Ghana; the couple married in Sierra Leone before moving to England. While still a student at school in Canning Town, he took part in school productions, and at age 14 he began assisting his uncle’s wedding DJ service. The following year he and friends launched their own DJ operation, and in 1988 he left school after securing a place at the National Youth Music Theatre on a grant from the Prince’s Trust.
By 1991 Elba was performing in London clubs under the name DJ Big Driis; three years later he began securing minor television parts in the U.K., and in 1995 he appeared on Absolutely Fabulous and Branwell. Steady work on British television followed, and after relocating to the United States he achieved his breakthrough U.S. role in 2002 as Russell “Stringer” Bell on the HBO series The Wire. Amid ongoing screen commitments he maintained musical activity, issuing the 2006 EP Big Man as Driis, writing and producing a track for Jay-Z’s 2007 album American Gangster, releasing the 2010 EP High Class Problems, Vol. 1 under the Driis moniker, contributing to Pharoahe Monch’s 2011 album W.A.R., supplying guest vocals on the Milk’s 2012 album Tales from the Thames Delta, and adding backing vocals and percussion to Macy Gray’s 2012 collection Covered.
In 2013 Elba portrayed South African activist and president Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Drawing on that experience, he assembled the album Mi Mandela, issued in November 2014, which incorporated South African musical elements and featured contributions from James Blake, Cody ChesnuTT, Mr. Hudson, George the Poet, the Mahotella Queens, and Nothembi Mkhwebane. Ahead of the album he hosted the BBC Radio 2 series Journey Dot Africa devoted to African music.
His subsequent album Murdah Loves John, released in 2016, presented a brooding blend of hip-hop, R&B, and African music shaped by his character in the series Luther. After making his feature directorial debut with the 2018 drama Yardie, he released the companion collection The Yardie Mixtape containing reggae and hip-hop material connected to the film. In December 2020 he issued the track “We All Move Together,” created with Inner City and the Michigan-based organization Detroit Will Breathe in response to the killing of George Floyd and ongoing allegations of racially motivated violence by the Detroit police department. Lighter material followed with the house track “Fudge,” recorded with Latvian DJ Eliza Legzdina during a film shoot in Australia. While appearing in 2019’s Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, 2021’s The Suicide Squade, and 2021’s The Harder They Fall, he also partnered with Australian pop group Lime Cordiale on the 2022 EP Cordi Elba.
Born September 6, 1972, in Hackney, London, England, Elba is the son of Winston, who was born in Sierra Leone, and Eve, who came from Ghana; the couple married in Sierra Leone before moving to England. While still a student at school in Canning Town, he took part in school productions, and at age 14 he began assisting his uncle’s wedding DJ service. The following year he and friends launched their own DJ operation, and in 1988 he left school after securing a place at the National Youth Music Theatre on a grant from the Prince’s Trust.
By 1991 Elba was performing in London clubs under the name DJ Big Driis; three years later he began securing minor television parts in the U.K., and in 1995 he appeared on Absolutely Fabulous and Branwell. Steady work on British television followed, and after relocating to the United States he achieved his breakthrough U.S. role in 2002 as Russell “Stringer” Bell on the HBO series The Wire. Amid ongoing screen commitments he maintained musical activity, issuing the 2006 EP Big Man as Driis, writing and producing a track for Jay-Z’s 2007 album American Gangster, releasing the 2010 EP High Class Problems, Vol. 1 under the Driis moniker, contributing to Pharoahe Monch’s 2011 album W.A.R., supplying guest vocals on the Milk’s 2012 album Tales from the Thames Delta, and adding backing vocals and percussion to Macy Gray’s 2012 collection Covered.
In 2013 Elba portrayed South African activist and president Nelson Mandela in the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Drawing on that experience, he assembled the album Mi Mandela, issued in November 2014, which incorporated South African musical elements and featured contributions from James Blake, Cody ChesnuTT, Mr. Hudson, George the Poet, the Mahotella Queens, and Nothembi Mkhwebane. Ahead of the album he hosted the BBC Radio 2 series Journey Dot Africa devoted to African music.
His subsequent album Murdah Loves John, released in 2016, presented a brooding blend of hip-hop, R&B, and African music shaped by his character in the series Luther. After making his feature directorial debut with the 2018 drama Yardie, he released the companion collection The Yardie Mixtape containing reggae and hip-hop material connected to the film. In December 2020 he issued the track “We All Move Together,” created with Inner City and the Michigan-based organization Detroit Will Breathe in response to the killing of George Floyd and ongoing allegations of racially motivated violence by the Detroit police department. Lighter material followed with the house track “Fudge,” recorded with Latvian DJ Eliza Legzdina during a film shoot in Australia. While appearing in 2019’s Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, 2021’s The Suicide Squade, and 2021’s The Harder They Fall, he also partnered with Australian pop group Lime Cordiale on the 2022 EP Cordi Elba.
Albums
Singles
