Southgate’s boys are 10 days away from their first game at the 2020 euros and the 26 players chosen to represent the three lions were officially announced on Tuesday. With one of the most diverse and youthful squads that England have ever taken to a major tournament, It was only right to have the outspoken Wretch 32 as the voice of the official squad announcement.

The announcement video came accompanied with a track in which the Tottenham born rapper spoke on the talents of Phil Foden and England’s young stars as well as the unity and community that comes around when England are in a major tournament with lyrics such as, “on the field, we’re a family hence why we take one knee after we huddle up”.

The video focused on the diversity of the people and characters in England and the England squad, it showcased kids playing football on their estate, amputee players, women’s teams, grassroots referees and more.

It showcased the inclusivity and national pride of the England national football team.

The announcement track was produced by Maestro, featured backing vocals from 0207 Def Jams faceless RnB act Debbie and was directed by Keane Pearce shaw. The art for the squad announcement was created by artist Reuben Dangoor who has created work for artists such as Arlo Parks, Slowthai and DC, his work featured some of the biggest England stars alongside the diverse NHS staff and key workers that make England what it is.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Reuben Dangoor (@reubendangoor)

Wretch 32 was the creative director behind the announcement video and starred in the 1-minute 43-second clip, the release comes just a week after the UK rap legend dropped his latest effort ‘Little BIG man’, an album that focuses on the life and mentality of a young black man growing up in inner-city London. The gifted artist also released a 3-minute freestyle a week before this announcement in which he condemned the government and British empire as well as hailing up England star Marcus Rashford.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)

The artist’s ability to cover such vast topic areas at such a high level of rapping ability is profound and is what makes him one of the best talents out of the UK. The official England squad announcement video starring wretch 32 is available to watch on the artists Instagram:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)

 The upcoming project will be the 36-year-old rappers 11th release since his debut mixtape ‘Learn from my mixtapes’ which was released in 2008. The featured artists on Wretchs upcoming project are all from the crop of young UK talent, it isn’t new for Wretch to work with the younger generation of UK artists having released a joint mixtape in 2015 titled ‘Young fire old flame’ with fellow Tottenham lyricist and at the time of release 22-year-old Avelino. The standout feature on the upcoming project looks to be Sin squads’ Kay Kayy who is the nephew of Wretch 32.

The rapper from Tottenham grew up on the infamous Broadwater farm estate, his father Millard Scott was an influential part of the community on the historic estate, being caught up in the 1985 Broadwater farm riots in which his family was paid damages for in 2011 and in 2020 the then 62-year-old was tasered by police during a raid on his house while he was caring for his son who suffers from cerebral palsy. After the incident, the 62-year old said “I could so easily have died and had my name added to the long list of black people who have died at the hands of the police in Tottenham,”

Wretch 32 has always carried a strong message in his music, uplifting and supporting the black and working-class communities in the UK. The rapper released a 3-minute freestyle on his Instagram titled ‘#3minutesofsilence’ the day before his project announcement in which he showcases his immense rapping talent and speaks on the last year in the UK, condemning the work of the government, Boris Johnsons lack of leadership and the colonial history of England.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wretch 32 (@officialwretch32)

Wretch 32s project ‘little BIG man’ will be released on the 28th of may on all digital platforms.