This morning, British grime rapper Stormzy dropped his second studio album titled “Heavy Is The Head“. The highly-anticipated album is the follow-up to Stormzy’s 2017 album “Gang Signs & Prayer”.
When Stormzy first announced the new album, fans wondered how he could top “Gang Signs & Prayer”, which shot straight to number 1 after its release.
It was one hell of a debut and one that would be hard to follow. Stormzy knows this. Even the title of his new album, “Heavy Is The Head”, is indicative of the pressure that comes with the level of success Stormzy enjoyed.
Stormzy takes his album title from his second single from the album, “The Crown”, which he released this summer. The full line is “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”. Therefore, the weight that comes with being the UK’s king of grime anchors down the main themes of the album.
But Stormzy did not fall short of expectations on this album. Hours after its release, critics have already given it very positive reviews. The grime rapper is already being praised for elevating his craft in “Heavy Is The Head”.
The 16-track album contains hits like “Own It“, “Vossi Bop”, and “Wiley Flow”. Out of 16 tracks, the majority ruminate on life at the top, whether he’s defending his title with bravado, talking down to his enemies or simply reflecting on how things have changed.
But if you think it would be an eye roll to listen to a successful person lament about his success, you couldn’t be more wrong. Stormzy pairs its incredible production with openness and honesty.
This makes for a quite intimate album and saves the tracks from being too indulgent. One might even say that this way, Stormzy has solidified his claim as the King of Grime.
