Today music history has been made. Stormzy is the first Grime artist to debut at #1. This is amazing. Today is a celebration, not just for Stormzy, but for all of us. So in light of this, here is my Track by Track Review of the masterpiece that is #GSAP.
First things first
This track is a lot of things. Smart. Honest. Juxtaposed. I respect and can definitely identify with the inner battle. He addresses a lot of issues off the bat, such as racism, depression and his faith.
Verdict: Intellectual Banger.
Standout lyrics:
“We were doing road and doing church”
“You was fighting with your girl when I was fighting my depression, wait”
“But if it weren’t me you would never let my niggas in the club
Fuck DSTRKT and fuck all these nightclubs
And fuck giving money to people that don’t like us”
Cold
The head banger produced by Swifta Beater is a particular favourite of mine. I love the motivational lyrics, the infectious beat and the playful banter; that you can’t help but fall in love with this track. Stormzy declares his longevity in the Grime game and on the Streets in mentioning Giggs “Talkin Da Hardest” which was a clear anthem in London back in 2007. (Can’t even believe it’s been 10 years!!) He even references his “Fire in The Park” where he performed “Shut Up” and quickly “Charted” and entered the UK Top 10. He goes on to reference Darcus Beese who is the UK president of Island records in reference to his newly established label #Merky Records.
Verdict: Certified Banger.
Standout lyrics?
“I’ve been cold the whole season (aye)
I should call my next one “Freezing””
“I just went to the park with my friends and I charted (Wow)”
“#Merky the label and I’m coming like Darcus (Cold)
I was on the roads when Giggs made “Talkin’ Da Hardest” (Wow)”
Bad Boys
This is where Stormzy doesn’t mess around. He samples the iconic Bashy vs. Ghetts clash where Ghetts back then, known as Ghetto didn’t like some of the bars Bashy was spitting and calls him out on it. This is an iconic moment in Grime history as you have Crazy Titch in the background laughing and Ghetts tells Bashy to “Ask Carlos” when he mentions his time in Feltham prison during the clash. “You’re not Bad, I’m bad, ask Carlos” becomes the hook for Bad Boys which J Hus smoothly handles and is pure genius in having Ghetts bless the track. Stormzy has done what most new MCs haven’t been able to, bridge the gap between Old Skool and New Skool Grime and he has done it with so much finesse. For me Stormzy calls out the fake “Bad Boys” similarly to Nicki Minaj’s “Lookin Ass” but does it in such a way that, not just an Iconic moment in Grime history has been honoured but UK Urban Culture has too. Stormzy refers to The 2006 cult classic Kidulthood where the protagonist Trife is Killed by Sam.
Verdict: Bridging 2 Schools of Grime together. Sure to be a Certified Banger.
Stand Out Lyrics:
“Them man are some “Bro, could you get me on the guest list?” bad boys
And then they wanna get up in the club and start flexing bad boys”
“So fuck these niggas, all these likkle gun drillers
Wanna come and try do me like Trife”
“Yo, yo, them man are selective bad boys
Some “we just wanna be accepted” bad boys
Some big whips but no electric bad boys
Think they’re bad ’cause of Narcos, they’re some Netflix bad boys”
“Eighteen when I told man “Ask Carlos” (facts)”
“It was all calm before Stormzy
Now it’s lightning”
Blinded by your Grace part 1
I cried. Like real tears. The imperfections of Stormzy’s voice, scratch that Michael Omari’s voice, make me feel the sincerity of his love for God. This song touches my heart. Like seriously touches my soul. I love seeing the softer side of Big Mike and I’m sure it’s something we will consistently see.
Verdict: Hard Favourite.
Standout Lyrics:
“And I was lost, yeah
But ever since you found me
I’m blinded by your grace”
“The way that I see you
You’re all that I’m needing
Your love never lets me down
Your love never leaves me, how?”
Big for Your Boots
The lead single from the album is solid. And strong. The beat has you nodding and doing a head twist. I feel like this track was fun to lay. Like, I have fun to listening to this. This track is cheeky and Stormz even references Popular Comedian RS (Roll Safe) saying “ith mad”.
Spyro seriously delivers with this beat and I definitely get nostalgia like I’m 15 again.
Verdict: Strong Banger.
Standout Lyrics:
“I was covering Krept like a bootcut
Ith mad, that’s a family ting, straight family ting”
“Had a peng ting called Amy
Telling me to come round hers on a Valerie ting”
Velvet
So so so smooth. This track is exactly way I say this album is not a grime album. Stormzy samples Nao and brings back that noughties nostalgia with legendary Ex Choice FM DJ Jenny Francis on the Interlude. Takes you back right?
Verdict: Beautiful. Smooth. Classic.
Standout Lyrics:
“You’re tryna’ look into my soul and see the real Mike
I got a long term plan, I’m a long term man
I’m just tryna’ get the deal right
But my issue is pride”
“But the truth is I ain’t got the tissue or time”
“I will never ever lead you astray (aye)
That’s all I never needed to say (aye)
The boys wanna tease at my faith (aye)
That’s just another reason to pray (aye)”
Mr Skeng.
Stormzy is challenging all those that said he couldn’t do this. That he can’t be great. He’s like nah, I’m good. I’m an artist, I’m an MC. I’m a musician. He proves his talent and decisions shouldn’t be your business because he’s got it.
Verdict: Determined.
Standout Lyrics:
“If I sign now what’s the buyout clause
One top 10, 5 sold out tours
Might fling a mixtape out when I’m bored
My life’s okay, how about yours?”
“They said Stormzy can’t be the king of grime
Cuh he can’t do radio sets”
Cigarettes & Cush
This is for the ladies, I don’t care what anyone tells me. This track is chilled, relaxed and carefree. Having UK icon, Lily Allen’s vocals, soothe and serenade on the hook just seals the deal, making this a crowd favourite. Stormzy has international singer/songwriter Kehlani to finish this off and gives us a contrast to the very British vocals laid by Allen and Stormz.
Verdict: Chick Fav.
Standout Lyrics:
“All those other girls just look
They ain’t never takin’ your crown”
21 Guns Salute
This songs speaks to me. I think everyone can relate to this track if you really think about it. It’s a track that is beyond what you see. Wretch32’s vocal are soothing and reminds me of prayer and confession. Like a conversation with God. The realness of the line “Was up all night praying for revenge/I don’t need more enemies for friends.” Is as real as it gets. I love this song. Full stop.
I love it.
Verdict: Realness Church.
Standout Lyrics:
“Woke up on my crucifix again
Was up all night praying for revenge
I don’t need more enemies for friends”
“Yeah, okay, our father who are in Heaven
Know that I pray that I still stay reppin”
Blinded by Your Grace part 2.
This was the track that I saw EVERYONE on Twitter talking about. Like EVERYONE. Atheists, Christians, Muslims, everyone and I completely understand why. This song takes you to church. Literally. He gave us powerhouse vocalist MNEK to anoint us with that gospel vocal that this track deserves. I can’t say a bad word about this record. There’s a lot to be said about a man who is strong in faith and doesn’t shy away from it.
Verdict: Perfection
Standout lyrics:
“Lord I’ve been broken
Although I’m not worthy
You fixed me, now I’m blinded
By your grace”
“I feel we got one
I stay prayed up then I get the job done
Yeah I’m Abigail’s yout, but I’m God’s son
But I’m up now, look at what God’s done”
“You saved this kid and I’m not your first
It’s not by blood and it’s not by birth
But oh my God what a God I serve”
Return of the Rucksack
Spyro was really spinning out beats with this album and Return of the Rucksack is no different. Stormzy uses RoR to pay Homage to legendary Grime MC Dizzee Rascal’s Creeper Freestyle.
Verdict: Certified Grime.
Standout Lyrics:
“But I roll deep on these
Show these likkle MC’s about greaze
Show these likkle MC’s about me
I was on my steeze from 2003
Like I roll deep on these
Put these MC’s on deep freeze”
“Man wanna know what they paid for the part
Know that I’m comfy, shout out Noel Clarke
Bro you’re too thirsty, I don’t blame you”
100 Bags
Arguably one of the best songs on the album. Stormzy samples a his mum leaving him a message and it is most certainly something that resonates within the West African culture and community.I’m Nigerian and I can only speak about what I know. Just about every Ghanaian and Nigerian I know has an example of this type of prayer left by their mum. This track is personal and I think the moment at the beginning where he clears his throat attests to how deep this is to him. I’m sure he did his mother proud with this one.
Verdict: Pure and True Certified banger.
Standout Lyrics:
“Yeah, I bought mumzy a pad
Yeah, like mumzy you’re bad
Ghanaian queen, let ’em know that you’re back”
“Done some dirt and I ain’t too proud that you’re living on the road that your son got stabbed
I had you on the station, your son got nabbed
Tough luck, just mums no dads
And we all know growing up in London’s mad”
“All them times that you worked on a late shift
Just to see you come short on your payslip
Always in and out of beef with the bailiffs”
Don’t Cry for Me
For me, Don’t Cry for me is for the guys, Stormzy boys. Young Stormz speaks about losing friends, family and being where he is today. It’s reflection on where he came from and where he’s reached and the changes that have occurred in between. Raleigh Ritchie’s vocals are smooth and give the right level of intensity that I believe the hook needed to be strong. Stormzy references my fellow DMU alumni Charmz, Carl Beatson Asiedu, who was murdered in 2009.
Verdict. Reflective.
Standout Lyrics
“Now I’m just picturing Charmz all dressed in white
On the steps with Christ”
“Tryna tell my young Gs to relax and invest in life
They invest in knives
Man I was in my history class when my bredrin died
So vexed that I cried
But I come from a place where the mandem can’t let shit slide
So we rest in pride
And it kills us slow”
Crazy Titch – Interlude
Tying in with the legendary genius of Bad Boys, Stormzy reached out to Grime icon, the “Gangster of Grime”, himself Mr Crazy Titch (who is still in prison) and had him speak on Stormzy, the industry and what he is about to do. Its quite Prophetic.
Verdict. Historical Genius.
Standout Lyrics:
“I am the certi one
I am the one that they call ‘Gangster of Grime'”
“If you put all bias aside, Stormzy has to be Neo, he has to be
So therefore that makes me Morpheus so I’m telling the council right now”
“I don’t like it but I don’t mind it”
“But what people do need to understand is, you see anyone from my era of grime, need to recognise
That if you cannot fathom that this guy’s about to take it from a second rate genre to a first rate genre
Then you need to look at yourself and be ashamed”
Shut Up
Classic. That’s all I’ll say.
Lay Me Bare
I feel like this track is a turning point. I can’t imagine a better ending to such a great album. I love this song because for me, we meet Michael Omari again and understand that there are levels and layers to this guy. He makes us understand that his hiatus was not only to drop the album but also because he was battling depression. Stormzy confesses how he lost his faith for a while, and even explains his struggle with depression. I for one am so grateful for this song. Stormzy has a rage for his dad that I can relate to but for different reasons. He gives us so much of himself and is vulnerable in a way we haven’t seen an MC can be. Lay Me Bare is literally stripping away at the façade that may come with who we think Stormzy is.
Verdict: Soul freeing.
Standout Lyrics
“Before I die, I say my prayer
Don’t worry about the mess just lay me there
This is all I got so lay me bare”
“Yo God, what’s good? I need you bad
Devil’s in my ear I need you back
Got scars in my soul I’ve been attacked”
“Like man’a get low sometimes, so low sometimes
Airplane mode on my phone sometimes
Sitting in my house with tears in my face
Can’t answer the door to my bro sometimes
Roaming around all alone sometimes
Don’t know sometimes”
Read my full Review: Gang Signs and Prayer Album Review here
If you haven’t yet purchased Gang Signs & Prayer go and get it NOW!!
