Stormzy has used his ascent to fame to draw attention to issues affecting people whose voices are less likely to be heard. Following on from his “Yo, Theresa May, where's the money for Grenfell?” comments at the BRITS, he put the disaster back on the government agenda and became a tabloid target. Now he’s turned his attention to the overwhelmingly white world of publishing.
The 24-year-old announced yesterday (July 5) that he has launched #Merky Books, a new venture which will see the rapper publish a couple new books a year with Penguin Random House. The titles will be curated by Stormzy who wants to create a new home for the next generation of writers.
“I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen,” the rapper wrote in a statement. “We’ve created #Merky Books for many reasons, the first simply for it to be a reference point for talented young writers to say “I can be an author” and for that to be a feasible and realistic achievement and not something in the distance. I look forward to publishing writers from all different walks of life, especially those who may have never had the opportunity to get into the industry so early.”
It will launch with his first book Rise Up, an inspirational story of how he got to where he is, faith and following your dreams – so like 8 Mile or Get Rich or Die Tryin’, but in book form. According to Penguin, the book features “never-before-seen photographs, annotated lyrics and contributions from those closest to him.” It’s available to pre-order now via Amazon.
For all the budding writers wanting to know how to get involved, #Merky Books will soon launch an open submission competition to find new works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry, and paid internships.
Learn more about what else is coming up here