Yesterday, two years after his debut album, Stormzy released Heavy Is The Head, and while he might not be in the best of moods right now – for obvious reasons – he does at least have something to smile about.
The album – which covers everything from the pressures of fame and a political platform to headlining Glastonbury in his Banksy-designed stab vest – broke records as it immediately debuted at number one on the Apple Music UK albums chart.
“Stormzy’s Heavy is the Head is the fastest-ever pre-added album on Apple Music in the UK to date,” says Apple, “as well as the most pre-added album week one on Apple Music in the UK to date.”
Of course, Stormzy’s monumental musical and lyrical talent is largely responsible for this success, but it’s undeniable that his personality must have played a part too.
Though Friday’s general election results were devastating for a lot of people across Britain, Stormzy campaigned to help ignite a conversation about our democracy, causing a surge in voter registration and vocally supporting progressive politics – now he’s topping the charts.