In , he gained attention on the UK underground music scene through his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats. Stormzy's " Shut Up ", which was initially released as a freestyle on YouTube , became popular and peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart after he launched a campaign to reach Christmas number one. Stormzy has said about his school years: "I was a very naughty child, on the verge of getting expelled, but I wasn't a bad child; everything I did was for my own entertainment. But when I went into an exam I did really well. After garnering attention on the UK underground music scene via his Wicked Skengman series of freestyles over classic grime beats, [5] [6] Stormzy released his debut EP Dreamers Disease independently in July

Lewis Capaldi, Mabel and Tyler, The Creator also picked up awards last night.


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This is a relatively muted performance of his power ballad, lacking the full snot-encrusted, ice-cream quaffing, ugly-crying holler that he often gives it. Come on, Capaldi just did exactly this vibe five minutes ago! I personally would have preferred a slick-heeled slide through Adore You or Lights Up, where he bisexually chats up a series of mixed-gender supermodel backing dancers. But Styles, looking like a cross between David Bowie and Miss Havisham, is the first performer to bring some really A-grade vocals to the Brits. There is such a terrific certainly to how hurt he is, and how badly he messed up: the really chilling clarity of having truly lost someone, and it probably being at least partly your fault. Bravo to all! The Brits lives for a medley.
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Follow Billboard. All rights reserved. Stormzy brought the fire and the rain at London's O2 arena Tuesday Feb. But the year-old artist later ditched the sentimental singing for a pure grime spectacle when he spit right into "Wiley Flow" backed by a different crowd of boys mobbing around him with fellow British grime MC and the song's namesake Wiley nowhere in sight in a narrow, suspended scaffolding highlighted in a dark red light and sparks sporadically shooting from underneath. But in a similar fashion to Dave 's poignant performance of "Black" prior to Stormzy's reign on stage, he projected a stirring message about racism and inequality that simmered his high-spirited set: "A lot of time they tell us 'Black people, we too loud. We need to turn it down a little bit.
Sign up to receive television and entertainment email newsletters from our award-winning editorial team. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. The winners of the musical gongs are decided by 1, music industry experts throughout the UK. Even singer Sam Fender — who is nominated against Lewis in the best male category — is backing him to win.