*LaKeith Stanfield steps back into music with his Def Jam debut single “Fast Life,” featuring Kid Cudi. The track, a precursor to his upcoming album, dives into the whirlwind of fame and personal challenges he faced seven years ago.
“I originally wrote and recorded this song about 7 years ago. My life was turbulent, exciting, and sad. This song explores that feeling in my journey,” Stanfield told VIBE. The accompanying short film, directed by Jeymes Samuel, features narration by Taraji P. Henson and cameos from Madeline Brewer, John Boyega, David Oyelowo, Jimmy Akingbola, and Stanfield’s wife, Kasmere.
The single captures a pivotal moment when Stanfield’s career surged. “It was just like a barrage of different things coming from different directions [and] I didn’t really know how to deal with it. It was a lot of money, a lot of fame, a lot of accolades coming at once. I went from anonymity to n****s running up on me, like, ‘What’s up, Get Out?’” he explained. After navigating these challenges, including a stint in rehab, Stanfield aims to transform hardship into positivity, stating, “I want to alchemize and make the negative stuff, give birth to something a little bit more positive.”
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Music has been a lifelong passion for Stanfield. “I’ve been doing it since I was 11. I’ve always loved music,” he shared, noting that he works on music during breaks from filming. He describes his approach as versatile: “I rap, I sing, I scream until I don’t have a voice,” and with “Fast Life,” he feels, “It’s time to share, it’s time to let it out.”
Stanfield praised Samuel’s vision, saying, “[He] just has a great imagination. And he was just like, ‘How do we take it to the next level? How do we lather it in some elements of creepiness, and embed some deeper meaning?’” Their collaboration builds on prior work in films like “The Harder They Fall” and “The Book of Clarence.”
The collaboration with Kid Cudi came naturally, rooted in their friendship. “He and I both speak out hearts — so I approached him with the record when revisiting it for official release. I’m grateful he joined me,” Stanfield said, calling Cudi a “great man and gracious artist.”
“Fast Life” reflects on struggle and growth, with Stanfield explaining, “When you can reflect, there’s a certain beauty to the struggle, and I talk about that in this first installation. As I move forward, I just grow and I progress […] And you coming with me on the journey because we all live a fast life. This s**t’s short.”
Watch the “Fast Life” music video below.
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