Find local news in Kent

Home   Deal   News   Article

Deal jazz singer, 82, features in Canadian rapper Drake’s new hit IDGAF from album For All the Dogs

16:52, 16 November 2023

updated: 17:28, 16 November 2023

An 82-year-old jazz singer from Kent has been sampled by Canadian megastar Drake.

Norma Winstone, from Deal, says she did not know who the rapper was when she was contacted by his team – despite him being the most streamed artist in Spotify’s history.

Canadian rapper Drake has sampled a Deal jazz singer’s vocals on his new track IDGAF, which has amassed more than 127 million streams on Spotify
Canadian rapper Drake has sampled a Deal jazz singer’s vocals on his new track IDGAF, which has amassed more than 127 million streams on Spotify

Her vocals from Azimuth's 1977 track The Tunnel captured the Hotline Bling singer’s attention for his new hit IDGAF.

Featuring Yeat and released last month, the song has already amassed more than 127 million streams on Spotify.

But she told the BBC her son had to explain who Drake was after receiving a call from his team six weeks ago.

"He said, 'Mum – he's mega'. And I said, 'Oh right' – and started to look into it," Norma said.

"It is not my sort of area of listening.

"I listen to all kinds of music but not rap because I often cannot understand what they are saying."

Mrs Winstone’s vocals open the song before the rapping begins.

And despite not being a rap fan, she noticed similarities with her track The Tunnel.

"It is strange because he [Drake] is protesting and he doesn't give a monkey's - for want of a better word,” she added.

"And I thought, well actually that is how we felt when we recorded our music because it was hardly what people were waiting for at the time, and I don't think they were ready for it."

The track features on Drake’s new album For All the Dogs.

Ms Winstone has a career spanning more than 50 years, which began singing in bands in London in the early 60s.

She first attracted attention when she appeared at the world-famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in the late 60s with music legend Roland Kirk.

The 82-year-old bagged Best Vocalist in the BBC Jazz Awards in 2001, also being nominated in 2007 and 2008.

She was awarded an MBE in the late Queen's Birthday Honours.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More