Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., known professionally as Stormzy, is an English rapper, singer, and songwriter. He was born on 26 July 1993 in Thornton Heath, South London, to Ghanaian parents, and he was raised mainly by his mother after his parents separated, growing up in South Norwood in a lively but sometimes tough environment that shaped his outlook on life. He has two older sisters and a younger brother, and he has spoken lovingly about how close-knit and women-led his family home was, even though things were not always easy financially. Stormzy attended Harris Academy South Norwood, where he was known for being very bright but also cheeky and troublesome — he almost got expelled a few times but still did well academically, later going on to do an apprenticeship in engineering and work briefly in an oil refinery. He started rapping as a child around age 11, mostly for fun at youth clubs, and music slowly became a big emotional outlet for him. In his personal life, Stormzy is reflective and private, but he has shared that he has dealt with depression and periods of self-doubt, and he has gone through a lot of growth in learning emotional maturity and accountability. He was in a long-term, highly public relationship with TV and radio presenter Maya Jama from 2014 until 2019, and although their breakup was widely discussed, he later admitted that he had to confront his flaws and do a lot of “growing up” after it; the two eventually reconnected years later. Despite being incredibly famous, Stormzy still emphasizes family, humility, spirituality, therapy, and self-work in how he lives and speaks about himself, often describing his journey as one of learning, healing, and becoming a better man as he matures into his 30s.
Four: Not That Deep
“Not That Deep” is a grime/hip-hop track by Stormzy originally released on 20 June 2014 as part of his early project Not That Deep (and also featured on his debut EP Dreamers Disease), with the instrumental produced by The HeavyTrackerz and its lyrics reflecting Stormzy’s raw, confident style and London street culture; the song became one of the standout anthems from his early era and helped him gain wider attention in the UK underground scene, leading to a landmark performance of the track on Later… with Jools Holland as the first unsigned rapper ever to appear on the show, which elevated his profile significantly among mainstream audiences. It has garnered over 7.9M views on its Official Music Video on YouTube. While “Not That Deep” didn’t win major mainstream music awards on its own, its impact contributed to Stormzy’s breakthrough year in 2014, the same year he won Best Grime Act at the MOBO Awards, and the song charted respectably — reaching the Top 5 on the UK Independent Singles Chart and spending multiple weeks there — showing strong grassroots support even before he had major label backing. Critically, “Not That Deep” has been celebrated for its lyrical swagger and grit, viewed as a defining early Stormzy track that showcased his bold personality and lyrical prowess, earning praise in grime circles and helping cement his reputation before his later mainstream hits, and it remains an anthem that long-time fans associate with his rise.
FYI
- His Christian faith has always been a major part of his identity, largely influenced by his mum, and he openly talks about praying, going to church, and relying on God through success and personal struggles.
Three: Backbone ft. Chase & Status
“Backbone” is a high-energy drum-and-bass-infused single by British electronic duo Chase & Status and Stormzy, officially released on 8 August 2024 through EMI Records after being teased and performed live at major events like Coachella and Ushuaïa Ibiza, and it marks the first recorded collaboration between the two acts, blending Chase & Status’s signature electrifying production with Stormzy’s commanding lyricism and raw flow to create an anthem about resilience, strength, and authenticity that resonated widely with fans. It has garnered over 155M streams on spotify and over 6.3M views on its video on YouTube. The track debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Chase & Status’s first ever UK No. 1 and Stormzy’s fourth, adding to his run of chart dominance hits like “Vossi Bop,” “Take Me Back to London,” and “Own It,” and it racked up millions of streams while also charting strongly internationally, including within the top 10 in New Zealand. Critically and culturally, “Backbone” was celebrated as a genre-crossing moment that underscored Stormzy’s versatility by bringing his voice into the drum & bass world and helped solidify his status as one of the UK’s most dynamic artists; the song also earned The Song of the Year Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards, highlighting its broad impact and acclaim within the music industry, and its success reaffirmed Stormzy’s ability to dominate charts and influence even when branching into new sonic territories alongside established musical veterans.
Two: PAY ME by ODUMODUBLVCK ft. Stormzy and Zlatan
“Pay Me” is a cross-continental collaboration released on 22 August 2025 between Nigerian rap star Odumodublvck, UK grime heavyweight Stormzy, and Nigerian street-hop icon Zlatan, dropping as a bold, high-energy single that blends Afrobeats, grime, and street-pop elements with themes of hustle, worth, and demanding respect and payment; the track features catchy rhythms built on sharp drums, airy keys, and a nostalgic sample nod to Ghanaian and Nollywood pop culture, making it both club-ready and culturally grounded, and the official music video — where the trio humorously stages an ATM heist that ends with aunties waving cash — amplified its viral buzz across social media. This track has garnered over 9.2M streams on spotify and over 2.6M views on its Official Music Video on YouTube. While “Pay Me” itself hasn’t yet (as of late 2025) been highlighted with major global awards in Stormzy’s catalogue, its release marks one of Stormzy’s most recent and significant appearances, not as a solo lead but as a cross-genre feature that underscores his global reach beyond the UK grime scene by connecting African and British music markets and spotlighting him on an international anthem that is being hailed as one of the biggest cross-cultural bangers of the year, contributing to the narrative of music that bridges African sounds with global rap and grime influence.
Awards/Nominations
- Stormzy has won 36 awards out of 93 nominations across major music award shows worldwide, showing how seriously respected he is in the industry.
- Early in his career he won several MOBO Awards, including Best Grime and Best Male, and BET Awards for Best International Act, helping cement him as a global UK rap ambassador.
- In 2018, his breakthrough album Gang Signs & Prayer made history by becoming the first rap album to win the Brit Award for British Album of the Year, and he also won British Male Solo Artist that same year, alongside accolades like an Ivor Novello Award and an AIM Independent Music Award tied to that album’s success. He continued earning recognition with hits like “Vossi Bop”, which won two UK Music Video Awards, and he grabbed his second Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist at the 2020 Brit Awards, plus Stormzy picked up his first BET Hip Hop Award that year too.
- In recent years he’s stayed in the spotlight with nominations for his 2023 album This Is What I Mean at the Brit Awards and MOBOs, and the video for “Mel Made Me Do It” won MOBO Best Music Video while earning nods at the UK Music Video Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards.
- Overall, Stormzy’s awards and nominations record reflects both commercial success and critical acclaim, showing he’s not just a chart-topping artist but one respected for creativity, influence, and impact on UK music culture.
Discography
- Gang Signs & Prayer (2017)
- Heavy Is the Head (2019)
- This Is What I Mean (2022)
One: Vossi Bop
“Vossi Bop” is a punchy, confident grime/hip‑hop anthem by Stormzy, released on 25 April 2019 through #Merky and Atlantic Records as the lead single from his second studio album Heavy Is the Head and marking his first solo music since 2017’s Gang Signs & Prayer, with production by Chris Andoh and a music video directed by Henry Scholfield featuring Stormzy in iconic London locations and even a cameo from Idris Elba; the title refers to a viral dance created by a fan that Stormzy turned into a cultural moment, and the track is also known for its bold social commentary — including a direct, controversial line about then‑political figure Boris Johnson that became a rallying chant at live shows like Glastonbury. It has garnered over 402M streams on spotify and over 169M views on its official music video on YouTube. Upon release, “Vossi Bop” debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart, earning Stormzy his first ever UK No. 1 single, while also setting the record for the biggest streaming week ever for a rapper at the time with over 12.7 million streams, and it stayed high on the charts for many weeks, helping Heavy Is the Head secure major attention and Platinum status; the song was certified Platinum in the UK and charted internationally, including in Ireland and Sweden, and it is widely regarded as Stormzy’s most successful and defining hit, cementing his dominance in British music, expanding his mainstream reach, and proving his ability to blend popular culture, political urgency, and infectious energy into a global anthem.
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