Native James unleashes defiant new single Dumb Bruddah with nod to nu-metal classics
Native James has released his new single Dumb Bruddah via SharpTone Records, pairing a blunt-force nu-metal riff with a video that reaches back to the visual language of the genre’s early-2000s peak.
The track arrives shortly after the Ipswich artist collected the One To Watch prize at the AIM Independent Music Awards. Built around a heavy, old-school riff before breaking into Native’s forceful vocal delivery, Dumb Bruddah finds him confronting the people who diminish and disregard others.
“DUMB BRUDDAH is about that inner feeling where you’re at your limit,” Native says. “You’ve had enough; enough of people treating you like shit, like they don’t care, like you’re worth nothing. This a call out to those people that disregard you, put you down and make you feel weak. Taking the power and standing up for yourself when you’ve hit that limit.”
A tribute to the genre’s video era
The accompanying video was filmed and directed by Thomas Brooker. It leans into the exaggerated, abrasive aesthetic of classic 2000s nu-metal clips, including a recreation of the familiar suspended-bullet sequence from Korn’s Freak On A Leash.
Watch the video for Dumb Bruddah here.
Dumb Bruddah follows Native’s recent SharpTone debut Never Been Scared, which featured grime figurehead Frisco. The pair brought the track to the Download Festival stage over the summer, while Native also joined Professor Green for a live performance of their collaboration BLOCK – RR.
His festival run also included appearances at 2000trees, Latitude, Paaspop, Rock La Mures and Pohoda, alongside support slots with Enter Shikari, Don Broco, Nova Twins and Hyphen.
