Stormzy releases his third album 'This Is What I Mean' with a heartfelt statement
It's out now 🔥
Last updated 25th Nov 2022
Just earlier this month, Stormzy released the full list of collaborators for his third album 'This Is What I Mean', and it just heightened the excitement for the record's release! Now, the hitmaker has dropped his album along with a heartfelt statement.
Sharing his thoughts on social media, Stormzy explained his reasons for releasing this statement writing: 'WHEN TYLER, THE CREATOR RELEASED THE MASTERPIECE THAT IS 'IGOR' HE SHARED A MESSAGE WITH IT AND I WANTED TO DO THE SAME BUT I WAS HESITANT. MAINLY BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE FOR MY MUSIC TO DO ALL THE TALKING BUT I THOUGHT I'D SHARE THIS MESSAGE ANYWAY.
'I DO A LOT OF INTERVIEWS AND I FORGET THAT EVERYTHING I SAY WILL BE SHARED FAR AND WIDE, WHICH IS PROBABLY NAIVE OF ME. THINGS THAT I SAY IN REAL LIFE DON’T FEEL THE SAME WHEN I SEE IT IN TEXT. I FEEL LIKE I OVERSHARE, WHICH MAKES ME FEEL NAKED AT TIMES. BUT I DO IT SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN UNDERSTAND ME A BIT BETTER AND TO GIVE THE ART THAT I MAKE SOME CONTEXT.'
He went on to open up about his love for music saying: 'IF I SING MY HEART OUT THEN ITS BECAUSE MY SOUL JUST ABSOLUTELY HAD TO. I LOVE MUSIC. I LOVE, LOVE LOVEEEEE MUSIC. I WILL RAP FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE, I WILL SING FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. I WILL MAKE ART FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.' (sic)
Stormzy finished off by saying he 'prays' that you listen to his album, but even if you don't like it 'I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH IT, I'M JUST GRATEFUL YOU LISTENED WITH OPENNESS'.
The 'Mel Made Me Do It' hitmaker announced the name of his third album, 'This Is What I Mean' with a release date of 25th November, back in October. Stormzy posted the tracklist on his Instagram - with all his previous posts completely cleared off his profile.
This new album comes three years after his second album 'Heavy Is the Head' in 2019.
Who are the collaborators on Stormzy's album?
The full list of Stormzy's collaborators include: George Moore, Knox Brown, Ayanna, Oxlade, Dion ‘Chord Lord’ Wardle, Scribz Riley, KZ, Tempoe, Ms Banks, Owen Cutts, Ayra Starr, India.Arie, Juls, Joel Peter & Calum Landau, Amaarae, tendai, STORRY, Teni, Nao, GRADES, Debbie, Elmiene, Jacob Collier, Sampha, Black Sherif, P2J, PRGRSHN.
Stormzy's third album 'This Is What I Mean' tracklist
'FIRE + WATER'
'THIS IS WHAT I MEAN'
'FIREBABE'
'PLEASE'
'NEED YOU'
'HIDE & SEEK'
'MY PRESIDENTS ARE BLACK'
'SAMPHA'S PLEA'
'HOLY SPIRIT'
'BAD BLOOD'
'I GOT MY SMILE BACK'
'GIVE IT TO THE WATER'
Stormzy opened up about the writing process in a statement, revealing that he spent time at a music camp on Osea Island in the barely-accessible Essex estuary. The 29-year-old said: "When you hear about music camps they always sound intense and sombre.
"People saying: 'we need to make an album,' 'we need to make some hit records'. But this felt beautifully free. We’re all musicians but we weren’t always doing music. Some days we played football or walked around taking pictures. And the bi-product to that was very beautiful music.
"Because when you marry that ethos with world class musicians and the best producers, writers and artists in the world, and we’re in one space, that’s a recipe for something that no one can really imagine. You can’t even calculate what that’s going to come up with. And it came up with a big chunk of this album."
You can hear songs by Stormzy on KISS.
Scroll through to see Stormzy's biggest career moments so far:
2013: Career beginnings
Aged 19 in 2013, Stormzy was trying to make his music career happen while working in Southampton at an oil refinery. He released his first full project '168: The Mixtape'. The piece got its name from the fact it was recorded in one week - or 168 hours.
2014: MOBO win
The next year he followed up with 'Dreamers Disease EP' and the seven tracks shot to Number 1 in the iTunes Hip Hop/Rap chart and that year Stormzy scooped up Best Grime Artist at the MOBO Awards.
That's when things really started to take off for Stormzy as more and more people took notice of his talent. Fans were also feeling his love of Nando's, and he'd occasionally take fans there for free or casually gift them Adidas trainers.
2015: 'Know Me From' and 'Shut Up'
Stormzy also won Best Grime Act for the second year running at the 2015 MOBO Awards, and in February 2015 he dropped his first single 'Know Me From' with track 'Shut Up' following shortly after.
2015: Anthony Joshua performance
Stormzy performed 'Shut Up' live at Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte's boxing match at the O2 as Joshua's entrance music. The single was the first ever freestyle to enter the UK Top 40 and peaked at Number 18, which led Stormzy to launch a campaign to get the song to Christmas Number 1.
It had such support that the song did indeed break into the Top 10 for Christmas - although it didn't reach the top spot, it peaked at Number 8 and was his highest-charting single at the time.
2017: Debut album release
Following a year's career break in 2016 and a social media hiatus, Stormzy burst back onto the scene in 2017, releasing his debut album 'Gang Signs & Prayer' in February - going straight to Number 1. Stormzy also took part in the Artists For Grenfell campaign, featuring on the charity single 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' to raise funds for the residents of Grenfell Tower. At the BRIT Awards, he took home the gong for British Male Solo Artist.
2018: BRIT Awards performance
Stormzy's epic performance at the BRIT Awards 2018 saw the rapper use his platform to call out the government for not doing enough to help the residents of Grenfell Tower. His album 'Gang Signs & Prayer' became the first ever rap album to win British Album of the Year.
2019: Glastonbury Festival headline slot and second album
2019 was another big year for Stormzy - his headline set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival 2019 was hugely acclaimed, and he once again used his platform to comment on politics. Wearing a Union Jack stab vest designed by artist Banksy, many took this as a comment on knife crime in London. He also used a speech made by Labour MP David Lammy on the British criminal justice system.
Stormzy released his second album, 'Heavy Is the Head', in December 2019, which went to Number 1 in the UK.
2020: BRIT Award win
Stormzy announced his 'Heavy is the Head' tour in December 2019, which was to take place in September 2020 around the UK - starting with two nights at The O2 in London, then calling at Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bournemouth. Unfortunately, dates of his tour were rescheduled due to the pandemic.
On the more positive side, Stormzy won British Male Solo Artist at the BRITs 2020, as well as three other nominations, and gave an incredible 10-minute performance with Burna Boy of 'Don't Forget to Breathe', 'Wiley Flow', 'Own It' and 'Rainfall'.
The rapper and singer spent time in 2020 being charitable, working with a scheme to give a young fan a bedroom makeover, as well as surprising him in a heartfelt video. Stormzy was also announced to appear on the soundtrack for NBA video game NBA 2K21 with his song 'Bronze' from album 'Heavy is the Head'.
2021: Madame Tussauds waxwork
On 26th July 2021, in celebration of the rapper's 28th birthday, it was announced that he would be getting his very own waxwork at Madame Tussauds London, joining their star-studded summer line-up.
2022: 'Heavy Is The Head' Tour
Stormzy headed on tour around the UK supporting his 2019 album 'Heavy Is The Head'. Following his residency at London's O2 Arena, which covered March 27th, 28th and 29th, the tour - which is the rapper's biggest to date - wrapped up on 3rd April 2022.
The tour was his biggest yet and also saw him perform in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool. Stormzy's sister Rachael Anson was the supporting act for the tour and played a DJ setlist to open his shows.
2022: Met Gala debut
Stormzy made his debut at the prestigious Met Gala where the theme was White Tie. Suiting up in the spirit of the dress code, the rapper wore an all-white Burberry three-piece wool suit complete with satin lapels. Also adding to the outfit was an impressive matching white cape designed by Riccardo Tisci.
2022: Honorary degree
Stormzy was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Exeter - he is now a doctor! In his acceptance speech, he told of his experience taking his AS Levels. He said he was "extremely blessed and grateful".
2022: Third album announced
Big Mike announced his highly-anticipated third album 'This Is What I Mean' in October 2022, revealing the track list AND that it would be coming just a month later in November.
2022: British GQ Men of the Year cover star
Stormzy appeared as the cover star of British GQ's Men of the Year edition, a hugely prestigious title. In his profile interview, he spoke about how he views success differently now he's older: "My version of success now requires a man: not just more music and more money. Now it means taking care of my family, having children, having a wife, even understanding marriage and raising kids, and that requires a man."
2023: Stormzy was nominated for three BRIT Awards
In January 2023, Stormzy picked up three BRIT Award nominations including ones for: Mastercard Album of The Year, Artist of The Year and Hip Hop, Grime and Rap act. Although he lost to Harry Styles twice and Aitch, he gave an incredible performance at the event.
2023: 'The Weekend' with RAYE
In July 2023, Stormzy teamed up with RAYE on 'The Weekend'. The track is accompanied by an official music video and combines Stormzy's rap and RAYE's soulful vocals.
2024: Sixth MOBO Award win
Stormzy took home his sixth MOBO Award at the ceremony in February 2024, taking home the Video of the Year gong for 'Mel Made Me Do It' and tying him Central Cee for the most awarded rapper in MOBOs history. Although he couldn't be there in person, he sent a message of thanks in which he said he was "honoured" and that the video was a "piece of art" for all involved in the making of the video.
Fans went wild for the announcement, with many fellow artists dropping comments too. AJ Tracey commented a goat emoji with a lightning bolt, Stefflon Don wrote: 'Let's go!!!!!' with many more adding their excitement.
The album's announcement came three weeks after the release of 'Mel Made Me Do It', which surprisingly doesn't feature on the tracklist for the upcoming record. Featuring artist Stylo G and actress Michaela Coel who performs a monologue on the track, Stormzy also released an 11-minute music video to accompany the song - which features cameos from over 35 famous faces.
WARNING: THIS VIDEO CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE
We can't wait to find out more details!
Read more:
Stormzy returns with new song and a video packed with cameos
Stormzy gives an emotional speech as he accepts an honorary degree
12 of Stormzy's biggest career moments so far 🎶