The official music video for “Kwik Wontoo,” the high-energy track produced by Toddla T, has officially dropped today, May 20th. Taken from Footsie and Strategy’s explosive collaborative album, ‘Theatre of Dreams,’ released earlier this month, the visual brings the duo’s passion for football and their fierce lyrical chemistry to life.
Shot by Dan Hyde (Hyde Productions) on location at Manchester’s iconic Old Trafford Stadium, the video features Footsie and Strategy proudly sporting Manchester United kits, a clear homage to the team they both passionately support and a recurring theme woven throughout their collaborative album, even inspiring its title, ‘Theatre of Dreams’. Beyond its strong visual identity, “Kwik Wontoo” is also a featured track on the soundtrack for FC24, significantly expanding the album’s reach beyond the Grime scene into a global spotlight.
Footsie and Strategy describe the creative process behind ‘Theatre of Dreams’ as exhilarating, recalling intense sessions of trading bars, swapping lyrics, and relentlessly pushing each other to their limits. This competitive energy directly translated into elevated performances on the album, creating a powerful fusion of East London grit and Manchester firepower. ‘Theatre of Dreams’ marks a landmark moment for Footsie—his first collaborative album outside of the legendary Newham Generals—and a bold, genre-blurring statement from two of the UK’s most respected artists. The album seamlessly blends the unique sounds and cultures of both cities with raw intensity, featuring heavyweight production from industry stalwarts like Toddla T, Sir Spyro, Cimm, Metrodome, Two Swords, Cartridge, Footsie himself, Big Kani, and contributions from Strategy.
The reputations of both artists precede them. Footsie, a founding member of the iconic Newham Generals, boasts an unmatched influence on Grime’s early evolution. Mentored in production by his father, Farda Waz of King Original, Footsie’s diverse influences evolved from Reggae to Ragga, Jungle, Bashment, and Garage, ultimately shaping his distinct Grime sound. A former member of N.A.S.T.Y crew, he went on to produce a revered back catalogue of instrumental projects (King Original series) and released his acclaimed album, ‘No Favours,’ while also writing award-winning tracks for titans like Skepta, Giggs, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, and Novelist.
Strategy, a formidable Manchester MC and producer, initially rose to prominence as part of the acclaimed Broke ’n’ £nglish collective. He has consistently been a driving force in the North’s underground scene, renowned for his high-energy live performances at festivals such as Outlook and Boomtown. His acclaimed single, ‘Marka’ alongside Dub Phizix and Skeptical, created significant waves, followed by ‘Hardware’ and ‘Blue Mile’. Strategy also spearheads Aux Chord, a Manchester-based platform dedicated to spotlighting the next wave of underground talent, maintaining Salford as the heartbeat of his creative endeavors.
‘Theatre of Dreams’ sees Footsie and Strategy at their most potent, blending cutting-edge flows with witty football nods and a genre-defying sonic palette that fuses Grime, Hip-Hop, Dub, and more. This collaborative effort is a bold artistic statement from two of the UK underground’s most respected figures, celebrated for their sharp lyricism, originality, and fearless innovation in both music and live performance. To mark the album’s release, the duo hosted an electrifying launch party in Manchester, teaming up with Ramona Radio Rave for a three-hour set. They have also delivered exclusive live performances for DG AG and Mak10, reaffirming their status as top-tier performers and tastemakers within the scene. With critical acclaim from NME, Complex, Clash, DJ Mag, and Notion, coupled with extensive radio support from influential figures like Target, Toddla T, Sir Spyro, and Snoochie Shy, ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is rapidly shaping up to be a defining moment in UK music, a vibrant celebration of culture, collaboration, and the ever-evolving sound of Grime.
