10 Things You Didn’t Know About Stormzy

The English grime and hip hop artist, Stormzy was born Michael Omari on 26 July 1993 in Thornton Heath, London. Prior focusing on his music full-time, he studied for an apprenticeship in Leamington Spa and worked in quality assurance for two years at an oil refinery in Southampton. He became the first unsigned rapper to appear on Later with Jools Holland performing the song “Not That Deep” from Dreamers Disease. On 7 January 2015, he came number 3 in the BBC Introducing top 5 on Radio 1. There is no doubt that the 23-years-old English grime and hip hop artist is definitely a name to look out for in the music industry.

Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about the English grime and hip hop artist, Stormzy:

1. Stormzy was born Michael Omari on 26 July 1993 in Thornton Heath, London.

2. He attended Harris Academy South Norwood.

3. He began rapping at the age of 11 and would clash with older rappers at his local youth club.

4. Prior focusing on his music full-time, he studied for an apprenticeship in Leamington Spa and worked in quality assurance for two years at an oil refinery in Southampton.

5. He became the first unsigned rapper to appear on Later with Jools Holland performing the song “Not That Deep” from Dreamers Disease.

6. He won Best Grime Act at the 2014 and 2015 MOBO Awards and was named as an artist to look out for in the BBC’s influential Sound of 2015 list.

7. His most successful song to date is the BPI gold-selling “Shut Up”, initially released as a freestyle to YouTube and later reaching number eight on the UK Singles Chart after a campaign for it to reach Christmas number one.

8. On 7 January 2015, he came number 3 in the BBC Introducing top 5 on Radio 1.

9. He cites R&B singers such as Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill as influences on his sound.

10. In March 2015 he released the single “Know Me From”, which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 49.