07 February 2024 , 19:00
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We can't think about the MOBOs or the UK music scene without bringing up rapper, singer, and songwriter Stormzy. The South London star has been on the scene for a decade, gaining attention from his Wicked Skengman series which he rapped over grime beats on YouTube.
Stormzy, 30, from Croydon, has been open about not coming from a musical background but began rapping at the young age of 11, clashing with old inspiring artists. He has been a huge influence and momentum when it comes to the UK rap scene, inspiring a whole generation of other artists and collaborating with some of the country's biggest stars.
He was named Best Grime Act of 2014, which was the start of his commercial success. The following year in 2015 The MOBO’s awarded him Best Male Act. Accepting the award, he said: “This is so mad right now. I’m gonna keep on saying this because a lot of people say it’s down to the artists but it's down to God. I’m not gonna stop stressing it, it’s down to God.
Stormzy has been an inspiration in UK grime and rapping (Getty Images)“I wanna thank all my brothers, I wanna thank Rachel my PR lady, Craig my booking agent, Fran, all the primary lot, my manager, my engineer writer, DJ tiny, my little brother, all my family right here thank you and big up my mum.” His most successful song is “Shut Up,” the BPI gold-selling track that was a freestyle out on YouTube. Despite still being an independent artist the song reached number eight on the UK’s singles chart and has sold more than 1,000,000 copies globally.
Skip ahead to 2017, and Stormzy's debut album - Gang Signs & Prayer - broke records as the first grime album to make number one on the UK Albums chart, as well as winning British Album of the Year at the Brit awards in 2018.
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His second album, Heavy is the Head, came out in December 2019, and included a snippet from the theme tune of hit children's TV show Tracy Beaker. The song paid tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman who passed away at 43, as well as popular Black British stars such as Malorie Blackman, Dave, Marcus Rashford and more.
Stormzy when he won a furthre three MOBO's in 2017 (PA)
Stormzy has also headlined Glastonbury (WireImage)In a video to school children on arrival back from the Christmas holiday: “I wanted to show it to you guys first, being students in school. I think it’s important that you guys understand how powerful you are.”
“We’re all superheroes, as much as we come from where we come from, we might be disadvantaged, we might have so many obstacles in front of us, you are a superhero in your own right, and don’t ever forget that," he said.
One of his most recent singles is “Mel Made Me Do it,” which was released on YouTube as a 11 minute video featuring global stars and figures. Olympian athlete Usain Bolt, football coach Jose Mourinho, tv presenter Brenda Edwards appeared in the rappers music video, which also paid tribute to her son, Jamal Edwards, who died prior.
The song charted fifth on the UK Hip Hop and R&B charts and coincidentally, was not a part of his third album "This Is What I Mean" that was released in November of the same year. It was considered one of his most intimate array of songs but also pivotal in the way he included different genres of music such as R&B, Pop and Afrobeats.