Stormzy is currently riding the crest of a wave.
His debut album Gangs, Signs & Prayer looks set to enter the charts at number one this week, and has earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike. The 16-track LP was released on February 24 and topped the midweek charts, so the chances are it will remain at the pinnacle for Friday’s official rundown.
He has also earned huge and deserved praise this week for speaking with eloquence and bravery about his experience of depression, in the hope that his fans will understand that it is good to talk about mental health and not be ashamed or stigmatised by it.
I don't know if you're aware of this 'grime' artist called @Stormzy1, but he seems like a thoroughly decent chap pic.twitter.com/Rse65Ltk8x
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) March 1, 2017
GSAP’s magnificent lead single Big for Your Boots reflects Stormzy’s views on ego and the modern obsession with image. The lyrics feature a verse referring to his unashamed love of Adele, in a time when she is seen by some of his contemporaries as too mainstream and uncool.
He raps on Big for Your Boots:
“I was in the O2 singing my lungs out,
Rudeboy, you’re never too big for Adele.”
This line was picked out by one fan to rib the grime heavyweight about his choice of person computer. Billy Carr claimed Stormzy was something of hypocrite for stating ‘you’re never too big for Dell’ whilst upgrading to Apple MacBook in real life…
https://twitter.com/BillyCarr5/status/836852793373765632
Fair play to Stormzy, he responded to the Dell/MacBook ‘mix-up’ and politely suggested ‘? ? ? think you got the lyric a lil bit wrong brother’…
😂😂😂 think you got the lyric a lil bit wrong brother https://t.co/RvdggJXEBc
— Stormzy (@stormzy) March 1, 2017
And just to prove his adulation for ADELE (rather than A DELL) is legit, here’s the big man talking effusively of his sincere fandom…
And thankfully, the feeling is very mutual…
This fine young man's album is out today. Good luck darling @Stormzy1 👑 https://t.co/sTDl891lDl pic.twitter.com/HLz9aUOjRT
— Adele (@Adele) February 24, 2017