Book Stormzy

In 2019 Stormzy headlined the Glastonbury Festival as the first British rapper ever given that slot, a landmark moment for grime and for the London artist born Michael Owuo Jr. He first drew attention in 2012 with his Wicked Skengman freestyles over classic grime beats, and his freestyle-turned-single "Shut Up" became a phenomenon. He won Best Grime Act at the MOBO Awards in both 2014 and 2015 and made the BBC's Sound of 2015 shortlist. Gang Signs & Prayer (2017), his debut, was crowned the top British album at the Brits, and he has won British Male Solo Artist twice, in 2018 and 2020. Heavy Is the Head (2019) included "Vossi Bop" and "Own It" with Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy, and his third album, This Is What I Mean, arrived in 2022, preceded by "Mel Made Me Do It," whose 11-minute video featured guests from Usain Bolt to José Mourinho. Off the stage he founded the publishing imprint Merky Books and funds the Stormzy Scholarship for Black students at the University of Cambridge. At Glastonbury he wore a stab vest designed by Banksy.