It’s finally here! Stormzy releases his new album today, titled ‘This is what I mean’ this marks his third studio album following 2019’s ‘heavy is the head’ and 2017’s ‘gang signs and prayers.  

After months of promotion, the highly anticipated album is out on all streaming platforms, with features from artists such as Oxlade, Ms Banks, Ayra Starr and many more. 

Safe to say Stormzy is one of the most well recognised faces in black-British culture today not only being a multifaceted rapper/song writer; he is a role model to many being awarded an honorary degree from the university of Exeter. Stormzy is recognised for his ‘outstanding achievement in the field of higher education, philanthropy and widening participation.’ In 2020 he set up an the #Merky foundation to help bridge the gap of inequalities black students face. 

On the 3rd of November, he announced on his Instagram that he has partnered up with Adidas to launch ‘#Merky FC. A football club designed to provide ‘young people of black heritage with career opportunities from across the football industry.’

Before he became famous, he was born as Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo, British rapper, singer, and song writer of Ghanaian descent, from south London Croydon. He explains in his Instagram post promoting the album, that he hopes that people will listen with open ears and understand that it’s not just something he does but something he loves because it is a part of him.   

‘I pray you listen to this album with an open heart and if you hate it after I promise to God I’m perfectly fine with that.’ 

Let us know what your favourite song on the album is on our Instagram @thebeat1036fm #Merky

Written by Raiessa Lin