The Hollywood actor and longtime DJ under the alias Big Driis (or IDRIS) is reminding audiences that his music career predates his blockbuster fame, as a high-energy studio clip from his latest release circulates widely on social media.
Released in April 2026 via NQ Records, "Rise Again" teams Elba with dancehall legend Beenie Man, UK producers Turno and Tiggs Da Author, and NQ for a high-octane fusion of UK jungle, dancehall, and reggae rhythms. The track, which bridges London and Jamaican sounds, has found new life in recent days thanks to a viral video showing Elba in full rap mode, gesturing energetically in the booth alongside collaborators amid pulsing beats and flashing lights.
“OUT OF THE FIYAAHHH We will always defeat dem !!!” Elba posted on social media, hyping the collaboration and shouting out his co-artists. The single’s energetic, club-ready vibe has resonated in intimate settings too: the team celebrated its launch with a memorable performance at an off-licence release party in Shoreditch, where fans witnessed the full lineup deliver the anthem live.
For Elba, the release is another chapter in a parallel music career that stretches back decades. Long before Luther, The Wire, or Marvel’s Heimdall, a teenage Elba was spinning at London nightclubs and weddings as DJ Big Driis. He launched his own label, 7Wallace, in 2015 to champion diverse voices and has released projects ranging from the Mandela-inspired mi Mandela (2014) to the moody hip-hop of Murdah Loves John (2015), the Yardie mixtape tied to his directorial debut, and more recent electronic and house-leaning work as IDRIS.
The actor-DJ has also headlined major festival sets, collaborated with artists like Wiley and Stefflon Don on the hit “Boasty,” and explored house and techno through Defected Records releases. His Netflix series Turn Up Charlie drew directly from that world, casting him as a struggling DJ, an experience that echoed his own early grind.
Fans of his screen work, particularly those discovering the music side via the latest viral moment, have flooded social media with reactions ranging from surprise to appreciation for his multifaceted talent. “Y’all been sleeping on Idris,” one commenter noted, while others pointed to his longstanding credentials in the scene.
