Ed Sheeranβs βShape of Youβ just received a powerful queer twist.
Rapper-songwriter Chika, whose real name is Jane Oranika, rewrote the words to the British pop starβs smash hit song for Pride month.
The 20-year-old from Montgomery, Alabama, shared a 59-second clip of her reworked track to Twitter on Tuesday, and itβs now going viral:
βI will not be ashamed, this is just who I am, and who I was meant to be,β she raps over the chorus section of the song.
Chika ends the chorus by encouraging people to βsing it out, sing it loudβ and declaring that sheβs βproud.β She later posted a full version of her cover to Soundcloud:
Chika said she was inspired to rework the song βbecause Iβm a part of the community and there arenβt any rappers who really talk about the LGBTQ world.β
βI just wanted to incorporate this part of my life into my music & inspire others,β she told HuffPost via email. βI want to use my music to talk about social issues, so Iβll definitely do more things like this. I think itβs needed. I just want to prove that you can make a good song and still have a solid subject matter. β
Fellow Twitter users appear to have enjoyed her new version:
Itβs not clear if Sheeran himself has heard the remix. HuffPost has reached out for comment.
Chika said she βdidnβt expect the reaction itβs gottenβ but is βglad and very grateful it did.β
βThereβs so much positivity being spread this Pride month and it feels good to have a part in that,β she added.
Check out how her version compares to his original here:
This article has been updated with comments from Chika.