I Got My Smile Back - Stormzy

Stormzy slowed the pace on his latest album for his message to be heard louder.

If you've been following Stormzy at all, you know that his latest album “This Is What I Mean” was released today and the hype has been INSANE. In September, we got the epic 11-minute track "Mel Made Me Do It" featuring a star-studded music video with cameos from Jose Mourinho, Usain Bolt, Louis Theroux, and more. Just the fact that Stormzy can deliver a 7-minute rap with such consistent quality and hard-hitting bars is a testament to his talent.

But what really sets Stormzy apart is his ability to deliver both hard-hitting lyrics and emotionally powerful tracks. Just think of "Cigarettes & Cush" on his debut album featuring Kehlani and Lily Allen, or "Superheroes" on "Heavy Is The Head". But for me, one of my all-time favorite Stormzy tracks is "Hide & Seek" off his latest album. Co-written by previous One of One artist Tems and featuring Nigerian singers Oxlade, Äyanna, and Teni, this song is thoughtful, calming, and had me hyped for the rest of the album.

This album is described by Stormzy as an "intimate love letter to music", and it features some world-class musicians including up-and-comers like Ayra Starr and Black Sherif, as well as established artists like Jacob Collier on this track.

However, after setting so many expectations.. this album is the calmest album I've heard from Stormzy. And I mean that in the best way possible. Stormzy has always been hard to pigeonhole, and that's what makes him so great. If he remained a "typical" grime artist, his message would only reach a certain audience. But by slowing things down and reframing his message, he's able to reach a whole new group of people who may not have given him a chance otherwise. And in turn, this helps to open doors and opportunities for underrepresented artists in the British hip hop scene. Stormzy has always been a trailblazer in this regard, from hitting number one to winning album of the year to headlining Glastonbury. And on his latest album, he does it again.