After 2 year period of project hiatus much like he did around the times of dropping his grown debut Gang Signs & Prayer (2017) which followed his debut Dreamers Disease EP (2014) ‘The Wicked Skeng Man’ returns with a bag of new tracks from his rucksack. Even with these prolonged breaks with his music his presence as an artist (in and outside of Grime) has grown to an astronomical level and to be honest, I would say only Skepta can talk to him on that level from the UK now.
My one recent criticism of Stormzy is at points he sounds a bit corny which is probably partly because that’s the simplicity his demographic needs. Despite that criticism, I rated Gang Signs & Prayer as one of the strongest releases of 2017 right alongside Common Sence so I still have hope that this will be on par.
1. Big Micheal
A comedic snippet to a motivating intro from Big Micheal. The subject is cool but the beat doesn’t really catch me until around the 1.20 mark where he gets a bit more Grimey referencing is the battle capability.
2. Audacity ft Headie One *
He’s really maintaining this triumphant vibes ain’t he, I’m rating the confidence though. I have to say that Headie is actually the Golden Boy of 2019 though, how he spun this beat is actually extremely mud.
They callin’ me the virgin Mike How the hell I bust so fast? – Stormzy
3. Crown*
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, what a line. This is a really well placed stripped back reminder of what see as Stormzy’s current mindstate alongside him addressing media claims that he’s anti-white for the scholarships for black kids.
I done a scholarship for the kids, they said it’s racist That’s not anti-white, it’s pro-black
4. Rainfall ft Tina Major9
Another powerful track loaded up specifically for the doubters, haters but still giving thanks to God for the position he’s in. It has a really nice bop to it too which makes it sits perfectly with the impactful punchline flow.
5. Rachael’s Little Brother
I’m really feeling the R&B infused samples and reflective bar formula, even though every rapper bit this style from The Boy Drizzy. A very cold perspective shared on the current state of abundance he has alongside some greezy talk. I’m not going lie I’m not too keen on his singing hopefully there isn’t too much more of him doing that.
6. Handsome
Why couldn’t Hus cut some of the long chat and come in on this and spin this 140 beat? I feel like Stormzy sits the best on this tempo over the pure slowed down rap but maybe I’ll be surprised.
7. Do Better
Stormzy actually gives me the feeling of Drake Take Care with songs like this, I just couldn’t get why a rapper would want to be so singy. I can appreciate this reflection of bettering himself over the years despite everything he’s faced with.
8. Don’t Forget to Breathe ft Yebba
Ah man more Stormzy singing, I prefer the vocalists leading and him coming in with the bars if I’m honest. This feels like a Christmas number one though.
9. One Second ft H.E.R*
This is an extremely powerful song there’s so much soul and pain in every bar he says. H.E.R gives me that Alicia Keys feel, the way she handles the bridge alongside the strings at 2.20 is so calming. This a project standout epitomizing the reflective struggle vibe.
10. Pop Boy ft Aitch
I don’t know why but I really ain’t feeling this, I could hear other artists taking this production much better; Young T and Bugsey for example.
11. Own It ft Ed Sheeran & Burna Boy
I hate this song it’s my definition of cringe and Ed Sheeran’s part is so bad. Why not let Burna lead the ting and come in with the verses?
12. Wiley Flow
This is easily one of the strongest songs in the UK this year. This is GRIME lane which to me I feel he executes the best on. The clarity of aggression and punchlines make him an absolute beast.
13. Bronze
This is actually a filler nothing really than an easy head bop.
14. Superheroes
I like this angle which he’s going for here acknowledging the black queens and kings in this tune. Earlier on I said I didn’t want to hear anymore singing but in this, it actually works very well, very cooling.
15. Lessons
This is a deeper tune still, I’m not sure what he did to mess it up with Maya but he’s a mug for that one #SweetOne.
15. Vossi Bop
This is another song that just gives me the cringe cheesy feel.
I feel like Stormzy had a clear target to build on the formula of GSAP coming into this album. GSAP album despite being excellent in parts was unpolished also which on the flipside gave it the rawness. In this, the production has most definitely stepped up a notch much aided by strong vocalists (H.E.R smacked “One Second” sideways ) and the narrative is clearer. As with the debut, he balances the street references alongside the more open emotional angles (“Lessons”) with more cultural empowerment (“Superheros”) this time around. I can also say that he’s one of the only rappers that can calmy reference God and not have it sound forced like Kanye did on Jesus is King which I don’t really even listen to now.
Overall, would I say it’s a more enjoyable listen than the debut? on a first listen I rate them actually around the same level this is a slight step but not huge. He would’ve probably surpassed Wretch in my end of year wrap up if I heard this a few weeks ago though.
Top 3 Tracks: Audacity, One Second and Crown
Rating: 8.8/10
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