Stormzy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stormzy
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Stormzy performing in 2022
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Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr.
26 July 1993 Thornton Heath, London, England
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| Years active | 2010–present |
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Discography |
| Partner(s) | Maya Jama (2014–2019, 2023–2024) |
| Awards | Full list |
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| Origin | Norbury, London, England |
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Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr. (born 26 July 1993), known as Stormzy, is a famous rapper, singer, and songwriter from England and Ghana. He became well-known in 2014 with his Wicked Skengman series. These were freestyles, which are raps made up on the spot, over classic grime music beats.
His song "Shut Up" started as a freestyle on YouTube. It became very popular and reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Stormzy even tried to make it the Christmas number one song. He won the Best Grime Act award at the MOBO Awards in both 2014 and 2015. The BBC also named him an artist to watch in 2015.
Stormzy's first album, Gang Signs & Prayer (released in 2017), was the first grime album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. It also won British Album of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards. In 2019, his song "Vossi Bop" became his first UK number-one single. That same year, he made history by being the first British rapper to headline the Glastonbury Festival. During this performance, he wore a special vest designed by the artist Banksy.
His second album, Heavy Is the Head, came out on 13 December 2019. On 22 September 2022, Stormzy released "Mel Made Me Do It". This song had an 11-minute music video featuring many famous people like Usain Bolt. His third album, This Is What I Mean, was released on 25 November 2022.
Contents
Stormzy's Early Life
Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr. was born on 26 July 1993. He grew up in South Norwood, London, with his mother and siblings. His mother is from Ghana. Even though his family wasn't very musical, Stormzy loved music.
He started rapping when he was 11 years old. He would often have rap battles with older rappers at his local youth club. Stormzy went to Stanley Tech South Norwood for school. He has said that he was a "naughty child" but did well in exams. After school, he worked for two years at an oil refinery.
Stormzy's Music Journey
Early Success and First Album
Stormzy first became known in the UK's underground music scene. This was thanks to his Wicked Skengman freestyles. In July 2014, he released his first music collection, called Dreamers Disease. He released it on his own.
On 22 October 2014, Stormzy won Best Grime Act at the MOBO Awards. Later that month, he became the first rapper without a record label to perform on Later... with Jools Holland. He sang "Not That Deep" from his Dreamers Disease collection. In November 2014, he worked with rapper Chip on a song called "I'm Fine".
In March 2015, Stormzy released the song "Know Me From". It reached number 49 on the UK Singles Chart. In September 2015, he released the last part of his "WickedSkengMan" freestyle series, called "WickedSkengMan 4". This included a studio version of his "Shut Up" freestyle. "Shut Up" became his first song to reach the top 40 in the UK. It was also the first freestyle ever to do so.
On 12 December 2015, Stormzy performed "Shut Up" as British boxer Anthony Joshua walked to the boxing ring. After this performance, the song became even more popular. Stormzy then started a campaign to make "Shut Up" the Christmas number one. It reached number 8 on the UK Singles Chart on 18 December 2015.
In April 2016, Stormzy released "Scary" and then took a break from music. He returned in February 2017. He announced his first album, Gang Signs & Prayer. The album was released on 24 February 2017. It went straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart on 3 March 2017.
Glastonbury Performance and Second Album
Stormzy's performance at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival was a huge moment. He was the first black British rapper to headline the main stage. During his show, he included a speech by politician David Lammy. This speech talked about the number of black people in the British justice system. ..... This was about Boris Johnson, who was a politician at the time.
His show also featured guest performers like the dance group Black Ballet. Stormzy wore a special vest designed by the artist Banksy. This was seen as a message about the rise in knife crime in London.
Stormzy has had four number-one songs on the UK Singles Chart. The first was "Bridge Over Troubled Water" with other artists for Grenfell Tower fire victims in 2017. Then, his solo song "Vossi Bop" went to number one. He also reached number one with "Own It", a song with Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran. His fourth number one was as a featured artist on Ed Sheeran's song "Take Me Back to London".
After releasing more songs like "Crown" and "Wiley Flow", Stormzy announced his second album. Heavy Is the Head was released on 13 December 2019.
In the 2020 video game Watch Dogs: Legion, Stormzy appeared as himself. He had a mission where his song "Rainfall" was played. Stormzy was recognized for his music and his work to help others. He was listed as one of the most influential Black Britons in 2020 and 2021.
Recent Music and Third Album
Stormzy released "Mel Made Me Do It" on 23 September 2022. This was his first solo song since 2020. Its music video had many famous people appear, including Usain Bolt. On 12 October 2022, he announced his third album, This Is What I Mean. It was recorded on Osea Island in England and released on 25 November 2022. The first song from the album was "Hide & Seek".
On 22 June 2023, Stormzy released "Toxic Trait" with rapper Fredo. A month later, Stormzy and Raye released "The Weekend". They had worked together before on Raye's 2016 song "Ambition".
Stormzy's Music Style
Stormzy says he is a "child of grime." He was influenced by grime artists like Lethal Bizzle and D Double E. However, he also likes R&B singers such as Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill. These artists have also influenced his sound.
Stormzy's Activism
Stormzy has often spoken out about important issues. In May 2016, he supported Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. He admired Corbyn's work to help people.
At the Glastonbury Festival in 2017, Stormzy led a chant for Jeremy Corbyn. He also performed a rap he wrote for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. He told the audience to demand that the government "tell the... truth" and be held responsible. In September 2017, he called Prime Minister Theresa May a "paigon." This is a word used to describe someone untrustworthy.
In February 2018, Stormzy performed a freestyle at the 2018 Brit Awards. He spoke about Theresa May's actions after the Grenfell Tower fire. In November 2019, Stormzy supported Jeremy Corbyn again in the 2019 UK general election. He said that change led by people could happen with a Labour government. He called Boris Johnson "a sinister man."
After the George Floyd protests, Stormzy promised to donate £1 million every year for 10 years. This money goes to charities and groups that fight racial inequality and work for black empowerment in the United Kingdom. He said that black people have faced unfairness for too long. In January 2024, Stormzy performed at a concert in Newark to raise money for people in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.
Stormzy's Personal Life
Stormzy is a Christian. On Christmas Day in 2019, he read a passage from the Gospel of Luke on the BBC.
Scholarships and Programs
Stormzy has created the "Stormzy Scholarship for Black UK Students" at the University of Cambridge. This scholarship helps pay for tuition and living costs for black students. He had offered this to the University of Oxford first, but they did not want to join. In 2022, the University of Exeter gave him an honorary doctorate. This was for his work to promote education and fight racial inequality.
In November 2022, Stormzy announced a program called "#Merky FC." He partnered with Adidas and other brands, including Manchester United and Fulham football clubs. This program helps young Black and mixed-Black British people aged 18 to 24 get paid jobs in the football industry. The program started in January 2023.
Publishing Company
In July 2018, it was announced that Stormzy would start his own publishing company called #Merky Books. This company is part of Penguin Random House. The first book released by #Merky Books was Stormzy's own book, Rise Up, in 2018.
Other books published include Taking Up Space: The Black Girl's Manifesto for Change and That Reminds Me. In October 2021, #Merky Books released Keisha the .... This was a popular online story from the 2000s written in text message slang. The printed book includes both the original and a version in standard English.
- Merky Books also gives an annual New Writers' Prize. This prize helps young, new writers from the UK and Ireland. They look for stories that are not often heard, in fiction, non-fiction, or poetry. The first winner, Hafsa Zayyan, had her book We Are All Birds of Uganda published in 2021.
Awards
Discography
Studio Albums
- Gang Signs & Prayer (2017)
- Heavy Is the Head (2019)
- This Is What I Mean (2022)
Film and TV Appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| 2016 | Brotherhood | Yardz | Credited as Michael "Stormzy" Omari | |
| 2025 | Big Man | Tenzman | Shot on iPhone, released via Apple |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| 2017 | Chewing Gum
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| 2020 | Noughts + Crosses | Kolawale | Season 1, Episode 6 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
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| 2020 | Watch Dogs: Legion | Himself |
Tours
- Gang Signs & Prayers Tour (2017)
- Heavy Is the Head Tour (2020–2022)
Images for kids
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Stormzy performing on stage in 2018
See also
In Spanish: Stormzy para niños
