Commissioned by Burngreave-based Reach Up Youth, Sheffield Rapper Sliime has written and recorded the new single ‘Allow It’, which aims to inform and inspire young people to get their Covid vaccinations.
In what could be one of the first rap songs to discuss the COVID19 jab, the single was funded by NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group. Released on the 7th August, the song aims to increase vaccination rates among young people in the face of disinformation and conspiracy theories on social media, which has led to some people rejecting the jab.
Sliime said:
“I wrote the rap because young people like me need to hear the truth about the vaccine and to cut through the conspiracy theories on social media, in a way they can relate to.
“I was hesitant when I first heard about the vaccine but then I started looking into it and when I came across any information I would dig a bit deeper, to see if their claims were backed up by official sources. I even started reading scientific articles to educate myself.”
Safiyya Saeed, founder of Reach Up Youth, explains why she thinks it is needed:
“Young people are on socials, they’re on Snapchat, they’re sharing songs and campaigning, and this is what the aim was with this. It’s about expressing their worries, concerns, and feelings.
“This past year they’ve been struggling with isolation, Covid, mixed messages from the media, and their mental health when feeling trapped in their homes.
“These young people are ready and waiting to make change in this pandemic. Young people want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
Alun Windle, Chief Nurse and Covid Vaccination Lead at NHS Sheffield CCG, said:
“Young people are showing greater resistance to the vaccination. This rap is a brilliant way to get their attention and address their concerns.
“Covid vaccines are safe and save lives. It is much safer to fight illnesses through vaccination than by catching the virus and treating it.”
The single ‘Allow It’ is out now and the video can be seen on YouTube, Dailymotion or the NHS Sheffield CCG’s Facebook page.
