Stormzy

Stormzy has responded to criticism regarding the Glastonbury Festival’s organisers’ decision to make him one of the headline acts, particularly that he is “not big enough” to top the bill.

The 25 year old grime star, real name Michael Omari, was confirmed as the Friday night headliner of the 2019 edition of Glastonbury back in November. Immediately, many objected on the grounds that, with only one album to his name – admittedly, last year’s BRIT Award-winning Album of the Year – Stormzy wasn’t a big enough name to play the Pyramid Stage.

Now, in a feature for February’s edition of Elle UK in which he assembled a collective of young black British people who inspire him, the rapper has gotten the chance to respond to the naysayers, saying they should “have no fear” about what’s to come on June 28th.

Continue reading: Stormzy Responds To Glastonbury Headlining Criticism

Stormzy CONFIRMED AS FIRST GLASTO 2019 HEADLINER

Grime superstar Stormzy has been named as the first headliner for the 2019 edition of Glastonbury Festival. The 25 year old rapper will be taking to the iconic Pyramid Stage on Friday June 28th.

Glastonbury confirmed the news on Thursday afternoon, after fans had spotted official signs from the festival saying ‘Stormzy Friday’ this week.

Continue reading: Music News Round-Up: Stormzy Headlines Glastonbury, Hozier Returns, The KLF's Death Pyramid

Earlier this year, grime icon Stormzy scored a major coup in the unlikely field of academia when he revealed he had set up a scholarship for black British students with Cambridge University.

However, he’s claimed that he originally offered the idea to Oxford University, only for it to be rejected. He was speaking at the Barbican Centre in London on Wednesday night (November 7th) with other guests such as fellow rapper Akala and poet Benjamin Zephaniah, in order to launch his brand new Penguin publishing imprint, #Merky Books, and his own memoir ‘Rise Up’.

Journalist Dan Hancox, who is currently writing a book about the rise of grime into the British mainstream, attended the event and tweeted: “Tonight at the Barbican Stormzy revealed that the much-discussed scholarship he's funding at Cambridge Uni was first proposed to Oxford University, and they told him to get lost?! Incredible.”

Continue reading: Stormzy Claims His Black Student Scholarship Scheme Was Rejected By Oxford University

Stormzy has announced he’s established a scholarship at Cambridge University, which will fund two black British students to go to the prestigious university who would not otherwise have the chance.

The Stormzy Scholarship will fund the tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant for up to four years of an undergraduate course. It is committed to sending two promising black British students to Cambridge University in 2018 and in 2019.

“It's so important for black students, especially, to be aware that it can 100% be an option to attend a university of this calibre,” the rapper said in a statement.

Continue reading: Stormzy Announces Cambridge University Scholarship For Black British Students

British grime star Stormzy has announced a new partnership with publishers Penguin Random House, and is poised to set up his own publishing imprint called #Merky Books as well as releasing his autobiography.

The BRIT-winning rapper will be publishing ‘Rise Up: The #Merky Journey So Far’ on November 1st, and will from that point be using his imprint to showcase the work of young writers in order to get their voices heard for the first time, and will offer paid internships.

“We will be using this as a platform for young writers to become published authors,” the 24 year old wrote via an Instagram post. “I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can now be a reference point for them to say ‘I can be an author’ and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal.”

Continue reading: Stormzy Announces His Own Penguin Publishing Imprint #Merky Books

It was an interesting night at the 2018 Brit Awards, with both Dua Lipa and Stormzy each taking home two awards and Ed Sheeran leaving empty-handed.

Indeed, it was the grime artist who took home two of the most prestigious awards of the evening, edging out the multi-platinum-selling Sheeran on both occasions to win British Male Solo Artist and the big prize of British Album of the Year for his debut LP Gang Signs & Prayer.

Having been nominated for five awards, the most of the evening and also a record for a female solo artist, 22 year old Dua Lipa took home two prizes, for British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. However, her signature hit ‘New Rules’ was confusingly pipped to the post for British Single of the Year by the personality vacuum of Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, whose ‘Human’ single was released all the way back in July 2016.

Continue reading: Dua Lipa And Stormzy Win Big At BRIT Awards 2018, Ed Sheeran Snubbed

Muse think Stormzy should headline Reading and Leeds Festival in the future.

The 'Time Is Running Out' stars - who have headlined the main stage at both sites over the weekend on three occasions in the past - appear to have suggested the event could continue stray further from its more traditional rock roots with some huge acts at the top of the bill.

While accepting the band's prize for Best Festival Headliner at the VO5 NME Awards 2018 on Wednesday night (14.02.18), drummer Dom Howard said: ''Best festival headliner, that's cool!

Continue reading: Muse Want Stormzy To Headline Reading And Leeds Festival

Television star Bradley Walsh has gone viral after he reached out to grime icon Stormzy to ask him for a collaboration, in a half-cringeworthy, half-hilarious video he posted on Instagram.

57 year old Walsh, who is the host of ITV’s game show ‘The Chase’ and with a long career in television behind him, is seen enjoying Stormzy’s 2015 ‘Shut Up’ in the back seat of a chauffeured car in the clip posted on Wednesday morning (February 7th) and having a bit of banter with his driver.

“Morning everyone, sun’s out, bit late to work. Something’s on the radio. Shut Up rack it right up, let’s go!”

Continue reading: Bradley Walsh Begs Stormzy For Collaboration In Hilarious Instagram Video

Jorja Smith says Stormzy ''kind of drifted in and out'' during the recording session for their new collaboration.

The 20-year-old singer and the chart-topping MC joined forces for the single 'Let Me Down' and Jorja has lifted the lid on their time in the studio.

During an interview with Beats 1's Zane Lowe, Jorja explained: ''I remember I was in studio with [producer] Ed Thomas.

Continue reading: Jorja Smith Lifts The Lid On Stormzy Recording Session

Stormzy has performed at the funeral of a fan's father after responding to a message on Twitter.

Nasir Bockarie’s father passed away on December 8 and a week later he reached out to Stormzy on Twitter to ask if he would perform the song ‘Blinded By Your Grace’ at the funeral. Stormzy responded to the tweet by telling Bockarie he would send him a private message.

Continue reading: Stormzy Performs At Funeral Of Fan's Father After Twitter Message