Elba lends voice to song helping virus relief efforts

NEW YORK—Idris Elba, who battled the coronavirus this year, has lent his voice to a new song about Black men and mental health that will benefit pandemic relief efforts.

Elba is featured on the song “Kings” by Kosine, a singersongwriter-producer best known for crafting hits for Big Sean, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. Kosine, whose real name is Marcos Palacios, is one-half of the production duo Da Internz.

Elba delivers a spoken-word performance on “Kings,” which was released Friday.

“This song looks at mental health, mental enrichment. We should stay away from conspiracies as they are a collision of fear and ignorance, two factors that erode our mental health,” Elba wrote on Instagram.

The Golden Globe-winning actor has dipped his toe in music multiple times: he’s released several EPs, performed as a DJ (even at Coachella) and co-produced a song on Jay-Z’s 2007 album “American Gangster.” Elba also appeared on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s sophomore album “This Unruly Mess I’ve Made,” while audio from an Elba interview is featured on Taylor Swift’s “London Boy,” a song from her latest album “Lover.”

Kosine, who worked on songs for Nas, Ella Mai, John Legend and Ludacris, said a portion of the proceeds from “Kings” will benefit the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.

“As a musician, I’m doing my part to provide audio healing and to keep the mental health of the masses top of mind,” Kosine said in a statement. “In times like these we find out together who we are and who we aren’t.”