Big Narstie on ‘no filter’ friendship with Ed Sheeran, bargain shopping and making it in America-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro

Big Narstie might just be one of the most unfiltered celebrities around – so it’s no surprise he refuses to gloss over the truth with his bestie Ed Sheeran, despite the singer’s superstar status. 

The grime star and comedian – real name Tyrone Mark Lindo, has collaborated with Ed and American rapper Papoose on new single Groundwork making for a rather unlikely trio with each coming from different worlds. 

It’s a punchy, catchy, synth-laden track with slick wordplay from all parties. 

‘Refer to me, King Kunta, king of Zamunda / I want the gyal with enormous bunda,’ is quite a bar if we ever did hear one. 

Narstie, 36, has been a firm fixture in the UK grime and rap scene for the best part of two decades, but has in recent years made a name for himself in the TV space thanks to his hugely successful and popular Channel 4 series The Big Narstie Show. 

As Narstie returns to the charts with his fresh cut, Metro.co.uk got a glimpse inside the mind of the personality and it was a trip… 

Big Narstie is back with another big banger with Groundwork (Picture: Redferns)

Groundwork is a banger! A lot of people were surprised to see Papoose on the track, how did the collaboration come about? 

I had Papoose on my Big Narstie Show and then I had him on my Black is My Colour remix with Kofi and he said he’d do it. The same time we was in the studio we made Groundwork. 

I played it to Ed and as you know, me and Ed have a good friendship. I said I made a song with Papoose what do you think? Ed was really happy and said, “I can’t believe it, I’m a big fan of Papoose too. When I was in America I saw him at a basketball game and told him how much I was a big fan”. 

Then Ed was like, “Can I get on the song?” So I was like, “Swear down? You gonna write a hook?” Left it for a month or so and I was like, “Rah, you’re taking long with mans tings bruv”. He was like, “Sorry man, missed it”, then he slapped a sick hook, sent it back and was like Ed’s on the hook man and everything just floated into unison. 

There’s a line on Groundwork where you mention the ‘extra terrestrial’ – would you like to become the next celebrity to go to space? 

I go to space at least five times a week, babe. You know I be smoking that loud. 

You brought Papoose to the ends! A video went viral of crowds of locals watching you three film the music video in London, what was that experience like? 

The place doesn’t make the place, the people make the place. You could be in the fanciest place but with loads of c***s and it’s not going to feel nice so, the fact that everyone was there and the people, it was loads of good energy, good vibes. Everyone felt very safe and comfortable, so yeah it was really cool. 

You’ve been friends with Ed Sheeran for years now and he’s even godfather to one of your children. What makes your connection so special? 

Just 100% no filter. Don’t need anything from him apart from friendship. He doesn’t need anything, he’s rich. He just needs real friendship. Someone who will call him a p***k if he’s doing something wrong, someone to be there and pick him up when he’s down, just normal bro s**t. 

Narstie values his ‘genuine’ friendship with Ed Sheeran (Picture: WireImage)

Narstie straddles the worlds of music and TV because he has the ‘x factor’ (Picture: Getty Images)

Just normal friendship. 

We’re both financially [stable], we just like genuine people around us who give a s**t good or bad. That’s what we have with each other. 

Have you found it difficult to keep genuine people in your circle as your success has grown? 

I think people seem to alienate themselves out of the circle. People’s perception of you changes. 

Curiosity kills the cat, assumption is the mother of all f**k ups. You don’t see someone for a period of time and you see them elevate, the normal Black man curse you think someone’s got rich and snitch so that’s where the problems happen. 

You went from being a grime star to winning a Bafta for The Big Narstie Show – how have you found the transition from music to TV?  

It’s not hard, I found it easy. In the words of Simon Cowell, I’ve got the X-factor. 

Many Black British entertainers move to the US for better opportunities, have you ever been tempted? 

What’s the point in being famous all over the world if you’re not known in your own back garden? 

If your own close ones ain’t supporting your ting or rating your ting, if you’re not even big in your own neighbourhood, if you haven’t managed to impress 200,000 people in your own borough and not even got not even got 3% of it but man’s talking about America, it’s dead blud. 

The Beatles and rockstars didn’t go to America being no one in Manchester and Liverpool, they went to America after they conquered their own country. It’s just common sense. What are you bringing to the table? That means when there’s a Wireless in London, you’re not going to get booked because you’ve got no fan base in your own country. 

That’s dead. 

What’s the most extravagant thing you’ve purchased so far? 

That’s not really my style, I’m a B&M user. I’ve got Banksy stock but I don’t really promote it like that still, I’m more of a B&M man. 

What happened on the wildest night out you’ve ever had? 

No comment. A gentleman never kisses and tells. No one talks about Fight Club. 

Big Narstie’s new single Groundwork featuring Ed Sheeran and Papoose is out now.

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