Stormzy

Stormzy
Background information
Birth name Michael Omari
Also known as Big Mike, Stiff Chocolate, Wicked Skengman
Born 26 July 1993
Origin Thornton Heath, London, England
Genres Grime, UK Rap
Years active 2010 - Present

Michael Omari (born 26 July 1993), better known by his stage name Stormzy is an English MC who makes both grime and rap music. Stormzy won Best Grime Act at the 2014 MOBO Awards and was named as an artist to look out for in the BBC's influential Sound of 2015 list.[1][2] Stormzy describes himself as "a child of grime" influenced by the likes of Wiley and Skepta,[3] but also cites R&B singers such as Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill as influences on his sound.[4] Stormzy began MC'ing at the age of 11 and would go to his local youth club to clash older MC's.[5]

Career

2014: Dreamers Disease

After garnering attention on the UK underground music scene via his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats,[2][4] Stormzy released his debut EP Dreamers Disease independently in July 2014.[6] On 22 October, Stormzy won Best Grime Act at the MOBO awards. Later that month he became the first unsigned rapper to appear on Later with Jools Holland performing the song "Not That Deep" from his Dreamers Disease EP.[2] In November 2014 Stormzy collaborated with rapper Chip and Shalo on the track "I'm Fine", also appearing in a video for the song. The track is part of Chip's upcoming Believe & Achieve project. [7]

2015–present

On 7 January 2015 Stormzy came number 3 in the BBC Introducing top 5 on Radio 1.[8] In March 2015 he released the single "Know Me From", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 49.

Discography

Mixtapes

Title Details
168: The Mixtape
  • Released: 20 March 2013
  • Formats: Free digital download

EPs

Title Details
Dreamers Disease
  • Released: 20 July 2014
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[9]		 UK
R&B
[10]		 UK
IND
[11]		 UK
DL
[12]
"Not That Deep" 2014 — — — — Dreamers Disease
"Know Me From" 2015 49 7 2 31 Non-album single
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

Year Title Album
2014 "I'm Fine"
(Chip featuring Stormzy and Shalo)		 Believe & Achieve EPisode 1

Other appearances

Year Song Album
2014 "No Comment"
(Avelino featuring Bonkaz and Stormzy)		 Iconic Ambition
"Hugs & Kisses"
(Professor Green featuring Fekky and Stormzy)		 Growing Up in Public
"Move with You (Remix)"
(Jacob Banks featuring Stormzy and Wretch 32)		 Non-album single
"Big Man" / "All You Gotta Do"
(Yungen featuring Stormzy)		 Project Black & Red
"Top of the World"
(Paigey Cakey featuring Stormzy)		 The Right Paige
"Nobody (Remix)"
(Loick featuring Stormzy, Squeeks and Youngs Teflon)		 Non-album single
"Don't Like It"
(Angel featuring Stormzy)		 Possession with Intent
"Grew Up In"
(Wiley featuring Stormzy and Solo 45)		 Snakes & Ladders
"Keep On"
(Charlie Sloth featuring Potter Payper, Stormzy and Tone)		 Charlie Sloth presents Hood Heat Vol. 1
"Look Like"
(Charlie Sloth featuring JMC, Jadakiss and Stormzy)
"Blessings"
(Harvey and Ashley Walters featuring Stormzy)		 Non-album singles
2015 "Ain't On Nuttin' (Remix Part 2)"
(Yungen featuring Sneakbo, Stormzy, Bashy, Angel, Benny Banks, Ghetts and Cashtastic)
"TRKRZ"
(The HeavyTrackerz featuring P Money, Newham Generals, Stormzy, Big Narstie, Flirta D, Youngs Teflon and Desperado)
"Out 'Ere"
(Tanika featuring Stormzy)
"Badder Than a Mother"
(IV Rox featuring Stormzy)
"The Greatest (Star.One Remix)"
(Raleigh Ritchie featuring Tempa T, Stormzy and Ghetts)

References