Rapper Stormzy: Best of Grime
Rapper Stormzy topped the charts with his debut album “Gang Signs and Prayer.” Two years later, he returns with “Heavy Is the Head.” The album shows significant depth and variety, demonstrating his ability to reach and resonate with international audiences.
It seems that no one at Exeter knows about or listens to British rap—and no, 21 Savage doesn’t count. Neither did I, until April 26, 2019. On that day, both Taylor Swift and Stormzy released their comeback singles, long-anticipated after year-long hiatuses.
The two artists couldn’t have been more different. Taylor Swift was a country-pop singer with a decade-long career and international fame, while Stormzy was largely an underground rapper, focused mostly on an electronic dance music genre known as “grime.” Taylor’s “ME!” featured upbeat snare drums and brass harmonies; Stormzy’s “Vossi Bop” had rapid-fire vocals over a menacing piano beat. By the end of the week, Stormzy’s “Vossi Bop” hit number 1 on the UK charts, while Taylor’s “ME!” was stuck at number 3.
But does Stormzy really have more mass appeal than Taylor Swift and other established artists? He certainly thinks so; the album’s very title is a reference to Shakespeare, boldly implying that Stormzy is the “head” of grime. Like most rappers, he continuously brags about wealth and success, with lines like “Said I went mainstream, said I’m done / Not top two, top one” in “Big Michael” and “Name a young MC with my net worth / Oi, Google lied, they said that I'm 1.5 / But I made that last night” in “Bronze.”
But he also addresses more serious issues, like his recent breakup in “Lessons,” his relationship with his sister in “Rachael’s Little Brother” and his fear of failure in “Do Better.” Even Brexit gets a shoutout, with the line “Rule number two, don't make the promise / If you can't keep the deal then just be honest” in the hit “Vossi Bop.” Clearly, Stormzy has a lot to say, and he wears it all on his sleeve.
Along with his lyrics, Stormzy’s delivery and uses of grime are fantastic. Grime, a London-based genre, often involves hip-hop vocals over aggressive and fast beats. On his beats, Stormzy isn’t afraid to experiment with unconventional instruments, like the tribal drums on “Pop Boy” and the xylophone on “Superheroes.” He mixes each with conventional pianos and 808 drums. He sings admirably on songs like “Crown” and “Own It,” but he’s best when he raps clearly and energetically, dropping slang words left and right in his distinct London accent.
On “Heavy Is the Head,” Stormzy easily proves that he’s talented, earnest and amazingly fun to listen to. It’s been mere weeks, and the album’s already been certified gold in the UK. Only time will tell if he can break through to American audiences—I, for one, hope he does.