Timothée Chalamet is still not U.K. rapper EsDeeKid, but the two are now officially collaborators.
In a surprise release on Friday, Dec. 19—expertly timed with the debut of Chalamet’s new film, Marty Supreme—the actor jumped on a remix of EsDeeKid’s “4 Raws.” Chalamet delivers a playful verse filled with outlandish lines like, “Got model bitches in Peckham/I’m Ryan Reynolds in Wrexham/I’m having fun just sexting,” and, “My life is an opera, look at the Oscars, look at the groupies, look at the movies.”
And, signaling he’s in on the joke, Chalamet opens his verse with a shout-out to his established hip-hop persona: Lil’ Timmy Tim.
EsDeeKid, from Liverpool, has quickly gained recognition with tracks like “Bally” and his debut album, Rebel, released in June, which included hits such as “LV Sandals” and “Phantom.” The rapper, who consistently conceals his face with a balaclava, has maintained anonymity, fueling speculation in November that he might actually be Chalamet in disguise.
The evidence was limited, but that didn’t stop the theories. Speculation included Chalamet’s attendance at a concert by Fakemink, a frequent EsDeeKid collaborator; Chalamet’s known appreciation for rap music; and the possibility he could convincingly adopt a Scouse accent and pose as a U.K. drill rapper.
The rumors eventually reached Chalamet, who responded with playful ambiguity during a U.K. radio interview last month. When asked directly, he offered only, “I got no comment on that… All will be revealed in due time.” This now appears to have been a deliberate tease for the “4 Raws” remix.
Hollywood’s most adept press tour strategist has struck again.
