On the eve of releasing his third album This Is What I Mean, Stormzy shared an emotional message to his fans. Posting a handwritten letter to fans on Instagram and Twitter, he wrote:
“I pray you listen to the album with an open heart and if you hate it after I promise to God I’m perfectly fine with that. I’m just grateful that you listened with openness.”
Stormzy’s new album, This Is What I Mean, marks a turning point in his career. One that diverges significantly from his Shut Up and Gang, Signs & Prayer era. An era of vulnerability, love and self reflection.
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Fire + Water, the album’s opener, is easily the best intro I’ve heard all year. Excellent writing, singing, and production. Stormzy wrote this song from the bottom of his heart, expressing how he feels about his part in the breakup with Maya Jama and how he’s changed since then: “Just know the man I am today is not the guy you met.” Since Stormzy is constantly in the news because of his groundbreaking music and other achievements, he is not the type of ex you can completely cut off from your life. ‘Fire + Water’ is a confirmation that when you break up with someone, BLOCK them aggresively everywhere. You don’t want them hitting you up one night talking like that (I’ll probably get back with them, ngl). Block them still, though.
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Stormzy’s “This Is What I Mean” is classic Stormzy: brilliant and unadulteratedly raucous. The song was a hit with Amaraee and Black Sheriff, and it would be complete insanity if these three performed this song at the BRIT Awards.
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Listening to “Firebabe” for the first time, I literally cried (blame the hormones, please). Incredible beauty permeates every inch of this work of art. It’s got all the mushy stuff that makes me happy but that I pretend to hate being a hard guy: love, vulnerability, and all that. I don’t really like weddings (another lie), but this one is going on my wedding playlist. That being said, I do agree with Steph that it is not too soon to decide that this will be the song I use when I make my grand entrance down the aisle.
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Worse yet, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much improvement, development, and refinement there’s been in Stormzy’s vocals recently. It’s so lovely to listen to.
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‘Please’ is pure vulnerability. There is a sense of maturity, melancholy, smoothness, and melody to it. Stormzy gave his all to this song, maybe more so than ever before. He finds the strength to defend Meghan Markle in the face of the widespread animosity and criticism and considering his own capacity for forgiveness and imperfection. Stormzy claims that the making of ‘Please’ served as therapy for him and was a confession.
On Need You” and “Hide & Seek”, both Ayra and Tems, as usual, deliver stellar performances, and the production does the songs justice. “Thought it wasn’t hard for me but every day it is/ Heartbreak’s such a dark place but we stay in it/ What I’m saying is exactly what I say it is/ I found you/ I feel your presence when I’m not around you/ Queen in your city, they need to crown you/ Holy water baby, let me drown you”. Hide & Seek is a beautiful R&B song, but somehow it just makes me want to cry at my nonexistent love life.
It would be amazing to see more Stormzy collaborations with Afrobeats artistes.
‘My Presidents Are Black’ is definitely the most powerful song on the album. As a “community provider and multi diss track survivor”, Stormzy has no need to prove himself again. He is the epitome of black excellence, confronting racism, social exclusion and advocating black excellence every single chance he gets; “We are the needle movers, we are the table shakers/ They gotta move around us, ’cause nothing moves without us/ black boy fly, black girl fly, we all fly”. I have a huge grin on my face because of the shout-out to Dave and the Kendrick Lamar line. Stormzy’s strengths lie in his self-assurance and his ability to empathise with others. I absolutely love being black.
A direct sequel to “Please,” “Sampha’s Plea” is an impassioned request for help. It’s the kind of music that gets stuck in your head and makes you wish for a good, hot heartbreak just so you can cry along to it. This is the first Sampha song I’ve heard, and I must say, he is incredibly talented. I just know everyone was crying in the studio when he was recording this interlude.n
It’s no surprise that Stormzy’s latest album is more spiritual than his previous ones; he’s been taking us to church through his music for quite some time. “You gave me peace and purpose/ Although I don’t deserve it, although I’m far from perfect,” Stormzy sings on “Holy Spirit,” further emphasising the importance of his faith in his life. Even though I’m not particularly spiritual, I can’t help but get emotional whenever Stormzy performs a gospel song. “Holy Spirit” in particular.
Stormzy details his recent relationship with Maya Jama on the song “Bad Blood,” claiming that “news and the blogs and the sites never bother us.” Here’s Stormzy declaring that his love will prevail, and he’s there whenever she’s ready: “It should be me by your side cause I know your heart.”
In the face of loneliness, anxiety and depression, I’m glad Stormzy got his smile back. I hope you do too.
Beautifully written and sung, “Give It To Water” is about letting go of the pain and moving on, because better is coming. It’s part of my top songs off the album, and Debbie is an excellent vocalist who is deserving of all the praise she has received.
Growth is an imperative part of our lives and careers: and in genres like rap and grime, spiritual wellbeing and vulnerability aren’t particularly the norm. It’s amazing to see that the leader of the pack is breaking the norm: “This ain’t the same guy who said his head was heavy.” This is a 10/10 album, and my Album Of The Year.
