Stormzy

The final albums before the year ends is an interesting selection of debuts, long-anticipated returns and new musical directions. Stormzy and The Who are the ones we're probably most excited about, but we're sure the pop world has a few curveballs to throw us before the year is out.

World War Joy - The Chainsmokers

World War Joy - The Chainsmokers
(December 6)

Continue reading: Upcoming Releases: What's On Our Playlist For December 2019?

Another edition of Britain's most spectacular festival has once again come and gone, and while we're sad to see it go as we get back to mundane reality, we do at least have many incredible memories. For those who witnessed it first hand, this will be one Glastonbury they won't ever forget. 

Stormzy at Glastonbury 2019 / Photo Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire/PA Images

Stormzy

Continue reading: Glastonbury Highlights: The Most Iconic Performances At Glasto 2019

We can't be the only ones to get stressed when asked "What kind of music do you like?". Literally everything. That's the answer. We have what is known as eclectic taste, which means that organising an itinerary for something like Glastonbury leaves us with some very difficult decicions. Here are the most painful clashes we've seen on this year's bill.

Stormzy performing at the Graham Norton Show 2019 / Photo Credit: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire/PA Images
Tame Impala at Shaky Knees Music Festival 2019 / Photo Credit: Imagespace/Zuma Press/PA Images

1. Stormzy and Tame Impala (22:15 - 23:45)

Continue reading: Glastonbury's Most Heartbreaking Schedule Clashes For Music Eclectics

The Brit Awards are back on tomorrow (February 20th, 2019) and with a star-studded line-up of Little Mix, P!nk, Hugh Jackman, The 1975, George Ezra, Calvin Harris with Dua Lipa, Sam Smith with Rag'n'Bone Man, and Jess Glynne with H.E.R. Let's take a look back at some of best moments from last year's show.

The tribute to the Manchester Arena bombing victims

Continue reading: BRIT Awards: Looking Back On Last Year's Best Moments

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