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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

Grime icon Stormzy enjoyed a memorable night at the 2017 Mobo Awards, scooping three of the main prizes including Best Male Artist and Best Album.

The charismatic south London MC was victorious in three of the five categories in which he was nominated, winning Best Male Artist, Best Grime Act and Best Album for his successful debut LP proper Gang Signs & Prayer, which was released back in February and became the first grime album ever to reach no.1 in the UK charts.

However, he was prevented from walking away with a clean sweep by J Hus, whose summer smash ‘Did You See’ won Best Song, while Mist won the trophy for Best Video for ‘Hot Property’.

Continue reading: Stormzy The Big Winner At 2017 MOBO Awards

British grime star Stormzy has apologised for using homophobic language on social media, after the Pink News publication unearthed old tweets over a three-year period.

The posts, dating from 2011 to 2014 and which have now been deleted, included frequent uses of the word “faggot” and other terms offensive to the gay community.

The 24 year old MC said he used the language “when I was young and proudly ignorant”, and apologised for the offence he had caused, explaining that they were “attitudes I’ve left in the past”.

Continue reading: Stormzy Apologises For Old Homophobic Tweets

JP Cooper thinks his musical ability was a ''parting gift'' from his late mother.

The 33-year-old singer - whose full name is John Paul Cooper - lost his mother when he was only 11 months old, but he has revealed his loss has helped him to connect with music and ''speak'' to his late parent.

Speaking to the Metro newspaper about his upbringing and is career, the 'She's On My Mind' hitmaker said: ''I was raised to believes she [his mother] was still there- not in the house in human form but that she was working in my life.

Continue reading: JP Cooper's Musical Ability Was A 'parting Gift' From His Late Mother

The GQ Men of the Year awards might seem like an unusual place to unite music with politics, but that's exactly what happened when Stormzy was presented the best solo artist prize by Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Hilariously, the grime artist was far too drunk to take it seriously.

Stormzy at the GQ Men of the Year Awards

The 24-year-old grime artist from South London has been making waves with his number one debut album 'Gang Signs & Prayer', and following his action in the #Grime4Corbyn campaign, it was only appropriate that the politician honour him at the ceremony.

Continue reading: Jeremy Corbyn Honours A Drunk Stormzy With Solo Artist Prize

The 2017 Mercury Prize shortlist has finally been announced and includes two previous winners, three former nominees altogether and one of the biggest pop stars in the charts at the moment: Ed Sheeran. The winner for this year will be announced on September 14th 2017.

Ed Sheeran performing live

The Mercury Prize nominees always includes at least one major star and this year it's 'The Shape of You' hitmaker Ed Sheeran. Surprisingly, it's only his first time being shortlisted for this coveted British award but with his new album 'Divide' making waves, it's certainly well-deserved.

Continue reading: Ed Sheeran, Stormzy And Alt-J Lead 2017 Mercury Prize Shortlist

JP Cooper doesn't think his music sounds like Rag 'n' Bone Man.

The 33-year-old 'September Song' hitmaker has often been compared musically with the 'Human' singer, whose real name is Rory Graham, but JP claims he doesn't care about comparisons as they are both ''in the industry''.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, the singer, whose full name is John Paul Cooper, said: ''I think we're two of the people in the industry at the minute who are making good, honest, soulful, organic music.

Continue reading: JP Cooper Doesn't Think His Music Is Like Rag 'n' Bone Man

Stormzy has put his ''whole body and my soul'' into his music career.

The 23-year-old grime artist is ''hell-bent'' on proving his musical ability to the world because he is desperate to be recognised as a ''credible artist'' as he has worked hard to break into the music business.

Speaking in a behind-the-scenes video, which was posted on HungerTV Online, the 'Shut Up' hitmaker said: ''I'm hell-bent on proving my worth, proving that I'm not little Stormzy from South London. I'm an artist.

Continue reading: Stormzy Put His 'whole Body And My Soul' Into Music Career

Depression is a disease that plagues a huge fraction of the world's population, and it doesn't matter how much you have achieved, how successful you are or how much money you earn. Stormzy is the latest star to put into words his own thoughts and experiences surrounding these dark feelings.

Stormzy reveals his struggle with depression

After three years in the game, the Brit Award nominated grime star has finally unveiled his debut studio album, 'Gang Signs & Prayer', and on it he expresses some very deep ideas about suffering from depression. It was something that he thought it was important to address, given how he much he has learned about human nature in the past few years.

Continue reading: 'We March On. That's Always Been My Philosophy': Stormzy Opens Up About His Struggle With Depression

Brit Award nominated grime artist Stormzy was left less than impressed after London's Metropolitan Police smashed through his front door while he was sleeping on Tuesday morning. So far it doesn't look as though he has been issued with an apology or compensation for the matter. 

Stormzy gets his front door smashed in by London cops

The 23-year-old rising star was catching some much needed Zs when, in the early hours of this morning (February 14th 2017), he awoke to the sound of hammering on the front door of his Chelsea home - and it wasn't a Valentine's Day delivery.

Continue reading: Stormzy Gets Raided By Police After Being Mistaken For A Burglar

Grime artist Stormzy, real name Michael Omari, got a special shout out from Adele during one of her sold out concerts at London’s O2 Arena. The MC was thrilled at receiving the mention from the pop superstar, who also gave him a hand written letter inside his tour programme.

Continue reading: Adele Dedicates Song To Superfan Stormzy At London Show

The Mobo Awards have been a triumph for British rap and grime artists, as Stormzy and Krept & Konan both took home two awards at the ceremony in Leeds last night.

London MC Stormzy became the first winner of the newly created category of Best Grime Act, rounding off a year that’s seen him emerge onto the radar of the mainstream. Around 12 months ago, he was named on the BBC’s Sound of 2015 poll and became the first unsigned rapper to perform on ‘Later with Jools Holland’.

Significantly, he also won Best Male Act, beating out the likes of Mark Ronson and more established names like JME and Skepta.

Continue reading: Krept And Konan, Stormzy, FKA Twigs The Big Winners At 2015 MOBO Awards

Every year in Leeds, the May Bank Holiday marks the return of a whole bunch of great gigs for the annual Live At Leeds festival. Played by tons of bands at venues all over the city, the festival pulls in a good crowd with its diverse line-up. In the past, the festival has hosted loads of great acts including Bombay Bicycle Club, Wild Beasts and James Blake. 

Thurston Moore will play Live At Leeds 2015

Last year's festival brought in a number of popular acts including Clean Bandit, George Ezra, Kodaline, Little Matador and Pulled Apart By Horses - a line-up which helped win the festival its 'Best Metropolitan Festival' accolade, beating Brighton's popular 'Great Escape' and pop-punk festival 'Slam Dunk' to the top spot.

Continue reading: Live At Leeds 2015 Brings 200 Artists To 20 Venues