In the Grime world, the ability to execute deft freestyles with originality and precision has the highest currency of all. It’s ultimately a weapon to shoot down your most vocal opponent that threatens your ranking.
At present, there’s nobody in the Grime scene with a higher ranking than Stormzy, simply put. Veterans like Kano and Skepta are held within the same regard, however the new kid on the block has risen from the unknown and right to the top of the throne with huge chart success from his breakout track, “Shut Up.”
This has fundamentally meant a lot of hate has been thrown his way from fellow artists plus (oddly) British heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte, who only a few weeks ago claimed he was going to knock the fellow South Londoner out.
When you’re at the top, the reaction is expected to be almost imminent and contain enough firepower to shoot down your enemy with devastating effect. Stormzy defiantly does just that, taking a swipe at not only Whyte (with a subtle finale containing the boxing commentary from when Anthony Joshua recently KO’d him) but also The Brit Awards, after no nominations for Grime despite the scene enjoying its most prolific year.
Sporting his regular Adidas tracksuit and also a fetching all white gown, the freestyle was filmed in Tokyo against the backdrop of the beautifully lit streets of the city. Watch for yourself as the man himself silences his haters.
