Chipmunk - Champion ft. Chris Brown

What this video is

Released in late 2010 and commercially issued in February 2011, 'Champion' sits at the apex of UK grime's first wave of mainstream pop crossover. Chipmunk (later known as Chip) was among a cohort of British rappers — emerging from the grime underground — who pursued transatlantic commercial viability by collaborating with American R&B stars. Enlisting Chris Brown at the height of his commercial ubiquity in urban…

Why it matters

A landmark in transatlantic UK rap-R&B collaboration, 'Champion' demonstrated the commercial ceiling achievable for British urban artists in the early streaming and HD-video era. Produced by Harmony Samuels and featuring Chris Brown, the track bridged grime's underground roots with polished…

The director

Colin Tilley (born June 27, 1988, Berkeley, California) is a Grammy-nominated American music video director, commercial director, and filmmaker. A self-taught director, he launched his career at age 19. He has directed more than 300 music videos for artists…