How a rapper is remembering David Bowie

TV show Vinyl will remember David Bowie with a cover of his song Life on Mars on its official soundtrack.

Rapper Trey Songz has added his take on David Bowie's Life on Mars for the soundtrack of hit TV drama Vinyl.

Songz has covered Bowie's classic tune, which originally appeared on 1971's Hunky Dory, for the HBO series about the music industry in the 1970s.

"I was honoured that the producers thought of such a legend and myself in the same breath," the rapper tells Complex.

"I had to do what I do best, because icons like David paved the way."

After learning of his passing I knew that this was a special moment in time and this cover became my personal tribute to David.

Experiences like this have helped to shape my future and respect the past of others before me. This has become a very special moment in my career and I am blessed and grateful."

The Vinyl soundtrack is full of stars, with The Strokes' Julian Casablancas covering Looking Glass' Run, Run, Run and Lou Reed's White Light/White Heat, Iggy Pop tackling Nervous Breakdown's I Dig Your Mind, and other tracks recorded by Alison Mosshart, The Black Keys star Dan Auerbach, New York Dolls frontman David Johansen and The Nasty Bits, the drama's fictional punk band fronted by producer Mick Jagger's actor/musician son James.

- AAP