Skepta removes the controversial Holocaust-themed cover of ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’

The cover of the first preview of their new album ‘Knife and Fork’ showed a group of men with shaved heads, one of whom had the phrase “Gas Me Up” tattooed on his head. Fans quickly drew parallels between the deaths of Jews in Nazi gas chambers during World War II. The rapper has apologised, stating that this was not his intention and that the cover was inspired by the UK football culture of the 1980s.

“I’ve been waiting to drop ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’ since it was teased in April last year, I worked hard to get the artwork right for my album release, which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80s, Skinhead, football culture and it’s been taken offensively by many and I can promise you that was definitely not our plan so I’ve removed it and promise to be more conscious in the future,” he wrote on X.

“I can honestly see how my one piece of artwork without context could be considered offensive, especially at a time like this, but again that was not my intention,” Skepta continued. “So to help with context, here are some photos from our mood board for 1980s UK history for my album Knife & Fork.”

The rapper announces that his next album ‘Knife and Fork’ is on its way and that the first preview Gas Me Up (Diligent) will arrive on 26 January.