Heavy Is The Head
As he ascends from grime rapper to generational spokesperson, the charismatic UK star tries to figure out where to go next.
On his second album, Stormzy wants to do everything, all the time, better than everyone else. But he also reminds us that he is part of something bigger
You can tell how big a deal Stormzy’s second album is not just by its timing – intent on using those size 12s to boot Robbie Williams, Harry Styles or Coldplay out of the Christmas number one spot – but by the power of the gathered horns that form the backing for the opening song, Big Michael. It’s a mighty fanfare, a one-man military assault. “Big Michael’s back, your time is up,” he repeats, continuing, on Audacity, to call out the “lickle fish” who might imagine themselves to have made an impact anywhere close to that of Michael Omari from Norwood over the past few years.
Like life itself, there’s flashes of humour, love, heartbreak, politics, fun, vulnerability and identity.
Not only is it a drastic step up from his impressive debut, but it shows an artist keen to test himself emotionally, as well as artistically
Stormzy emerged as one of the most promising talents associated with grime's revival circa 2014, and it didn't take long for him to become one of the U.K.'s biggest pop stars.
Without a doubt, from North America, Stormzy is the "it" rapper of the UK. His wearing of the crown, that ever-unattainable aspect of rap po...
After a career-defining performance at Glastonbury this summer, British grime artist Stormzy is now confronting his place on the throne—a place often as lonely and dangerous as it is rewarding.
People always talk about the ‘difficult second album’ that follows a much-hyped debut. The problems of sustaining momentum, staying creatively
This grandstanding follow-up to Gang Signs & Prayer retains that pugnacious south London voice
He’s become so famous that even the Archbishop of Canterbury loves him – but this brilliant second album shows how difficult Stormzy finds stardom
Grime star Stormzy gets positively Shakespearean on his second album, Heavy Is the Head, bullishly declaring himself “our country’s greatest poet” while fretting about the responsibility that brings.