Stormzy is not a name known by every music fan in America, but “across the pond” in the UK, Stormzy celebrated his biggest night of artistic validation. The fearless rapper held two brilliant red statues by the end of the night, one for British Male Solo Artist of the year, and another for British Album of the Year at Wednesday’s (February 22) BRIT awards in London.
Stormzy wasn't up against lightweight competition, either. He beat out Ed Sheeran in his categories, while Sheeran did leave the night with a special recognition for Global Success in music.
Stormzy’s debut album, “Gang Signs & Prayer,” was released last February, and piloted the 24-year-old into the musical stratosphere almost instantly. Kanye West and other established rap and hip-hop stars graced the artist and the effort with seals of approval by their presence and praise.
Donning a look that was striking, like something resembling Wesley Snipes in “Blade” in a downpour, Stormzy dominated the stage with his songs, “Blinded by Your Grace” and “Big for Your Boots.” What has taken the world's attention is an interlude of freestyle verse that was pointedly aimed at Prime Minister Theresa May, and her failure to fulfill her duty and promise to the victims of the Grenfell Towers apartment blaze last summer.
The tragedy took 71 lives, and left scores of others with utterly nothing, having to rebuild lives from ash.
The applause for Stormzy is coming like thunderclaps this morning from all corners of social media.
A day for listening
No one can be sure if Stormzy took any cues from the pain and tortured tumult taking over the US in the wake of the Parkland, FL tragedy.
Perhaps for the first time ever, the current president sat for over 40 minutes before beginning comments, listening to the pure, powerful, and unfiltered pain of students and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, along with other families who have endured the unspeakable trauma of losing children to gun violence.
No matter political sides, this kind of “listening experience” was a first for the White House. Across the country, voices of youth are rising and refusing to be silent until safety and security are promises kept in school.
Stormzy wasn't at a state visit, but he did have a global platform. In his forty-second free-style, he questions by name, “Yo, Theresa May, where’s the money for Grenfell?” and accusing, “you thought we forgot about Grenfell?” The tone gets darker from there, as the artist dubs leaders as the “criminals” for regarding the apartment victims as “savages.” He further elaborates that there should be “jail time” for those in charge, insisting that “you should burn your house down and see if you can manage this.”
Not alone in a clarion call for change
Many of the Grenfell Towers victims were ethnically diverse and from lower income levels, and May’s critics have leveled that such lengthening delays in assistance would never happen in any of the more affluent or middle-class neighborhoods.
Many residents were subsidized, and there is ongoing legal action centered on the substandard construction that allegedly contributed to the disaster. A stillborn baby and an 84-year-old woman were among the lost.
Marcus Mumford has done his part in direct and very hands-on help for the people who lived not far from the Mumford and Sons leader. The effort was clearly personal for the musician, who organized sports and play camps for children of victims who could not manage to pay for childcare. Mumford also played a major part in last September's Game4Grenfell, featuring himself and Rita Ora, among other performers, and numerous football professionals.
“Shambolic and rubbish” were adjectives coined by Mumford to apply to the official government response to the burning.
The government has reportedly allotted $82 million for assistance to those affected in the June 14 fire last year, and a spokesperson deems that May is “absolutely committed” to restoring the lives of families living at Grenfell Towers.
Stormzy stole hearts last summer with his verse on “Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” which was done as an all-star effort to raise funds. After his performance at the BRIT awards, he is being called “a national treasure” in demanding social consciousness. The artist has also slammed Daily Mail stories that he feels are slanted to sully his name.
Whether at the White House or at the O2 Arena, there is a youthful call that tragedies like these should both be #NeverAgain.
