His debut album, Gang Signs & Prayer, was released on 24 February 2017, and was the first grime album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart and won British Album of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards. In 2019, Stormzy achieved his first UK number-one single with "Vossi Bop" and his headline appearance at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival was widely praised; he wore a Union Jack stab vest designed by Banksy, in light of the rise in knife crime in London. His second album, Heavy Is the Head, was released on 13 December 2019. On 22 September 2022, Stormzy released the single "Mel Made Me Do It" accompanied by an 11-minute music video featuring popular artists, actors and sports figures such as Usain Bolt and José Mourinho. He returned to social media on 12 October 2022 to announce his third album This Is What I Mean, which was recorded on Osea Island in England. It was released on 25 November 2022. The first single to be released was titled "Hide & Seek" on 14 October 2022.
Michael Ebenezer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr. was born on 26 July 1993 in Croydon, London. His mother is Ghanaian, his father was a taxi driver and he is a cousin of rapper Nadia Rose. He grew up in South Norwood, London, with his mother, brother, and two sisters. Stormzy did not come from a particularly musical household, although he liked music. He attended Stanley Tech South Norwood. He began rapping at the age of 11 and would clash with older rappers at his local youth club.
First Things First
Stormzy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a rebel with a cause (with a cause)
Had problems with the fam
I had problems with the gang
But I put that shit on pause (put that shit on pause)
I've been gone for a while but I saw you niggas smile
When I cancelled all my tours (little pussies)
Someone tell 'em that I'm back
I got brothers up in jail, going mad up in their cells
When you hear me, bang your doors (bang your doors)
Niggas moving chatty, someone tell them that I'm scatty
Bro, I'll pull up uninsured like (skkkkkrrr)
Running through my strip, rappers jumping on my dick
Just to build up a rapport (it's embarrassing)
I can tell them man are bitter
But they're begging it on Twitter, man, I swear I'm so appalled
Before he takes a shot, I'll shoot him first (shoot him first)
And poor mum, we was going through her purse (through her purse)
We were doing road and doing church
Looked the devil in his face like motherfucker, do your worst
Still here tryna' find another blessing
I'm over-loyal, man, I'll ride for what I'm repping
Dark times niggas dying in recession
You was fighting with your girl when I was fighting my depression, wait
Okay
Alright, first things first, coulda put you in a hearse
Man, I gave you boys a lifeline (lifeline)
I was scrolling through my tweets, had Adele up on repeat
And saw a madness on my timeline (on my timeline)
LBC's tryna' black ball me
And tryna' blame your boy for knife crime (like what?)
I don't use a shank, I got money in the bank
Man, I'd rather do a drive by (dickheads)
Mad, mad demons in my thoughts
Young Stormz wasn't ready for the limelight (he wasn't ready)
Took a little break from the game, started praying
Man, I had to get my mind right (started praying)
All black clothes till I shine bright
Full beams fucking up my eyesight
They hate me on the sly
But I bet you if I died, you would see em at my night night (fake youts)
They asking if I'm real, I'm real enough ('nough)
Still got a couple killers in the cut (cut)
If he's coming nice
I big him up, drugs kill
But my niggas make a killing off a drug (aye)
Rapping like I'm jigga but I'm puff (puff)
West End wanna show a nigga love (love)
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
There's riots in the city just tell me where I sign up
The rave goes silly every time I pick the mic up (whoa)
I got smoke, you can hold a bit
A coloured brother with a bone to pick
But I still get to gunning, don't be running when I bang mine
Before we said our prayers, there was gang signs (gang signs)
In Stormzy's song "First Things First," he starts by saying that he's been working hard and is a rebel with a cause, but has had issues with his family and gang in the past that he's had to put on pause. Stormzy admonishes people talking on Twitter, saying that he's back and ready to fight whoever, even if they haven't been loyal in the past. He talks about his friends in jail and how he's still fighting even in dark times where other people might give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Like, alright, first things first, I've been putting in the work
I've been working hard and it's time to address some things.
I'm a rebel with a cause (with a cause)
I have purpose even if it goes against societal norms.
Had problems with the fam
I've had family issues.
I had problems with the gang
I've had problems with my group.
But I put that shit on pause (put that shit on pause)
I took a break from it all to focus on myself.
I've been gone for a while but I saw you niggas smile
I had to attend to personal issues, but now I'm back.
When I cancelled all my tours (little pussies)
Some people were happy to hear that I cancelled my tours.
Someone tell 'em that I'm back
Let people know that I'm back in the game.
I don't never ever slack, grab my gun and go to war (boy)
I'm always ready for whatever comes my way.
I got brothers up in jail, going mad up in their cells
My friends are in jail and struggling.
When you hear me, bang your doors (bang your doors)
Pay attention when I speak.
Niggas moving chatty, someone tell them that I'm scatty
Some people are talking too much and need to be quiet.
Bro, I'll pull up uninsured like (skkkkkrrr)
I'm so reckless that I'll even drive without insurance.
Running through my strip, rappers jumping on my dick
Rappers are trying to use my success to boost their own careers.
Just to build up a rapport (it's embarrassing)
It's embarrassing how desperate they are to connect with me.
I can tell them man are bitter
Some people are jealous of my success.
But they're begging it on Twitter, man, I swear I'm so appalled
They're complaining on Twitter and it's frustrating to deal with.
Before he takes a shot, I'll shoot him first (shoot him first)
I won't let anyone hurt me before I defend myself.
And poor mum, we was going through her purse (through her purse)
My family and I went through a hard time financially.
We were doing road and doing church
We were balancing a dangerous lifestyle with our faith.
Looked the devil in his face like motherfucker, do your worst
I faced challenges head-on and didn't let them defeat me.
Still here tryna' find another blessing
I'm seeking out more positive experiences in my life.
I'm over-loyal, man, I'll ride for what I'm repping
I'm deeply committed to what I stand for.
Dark times niggas dying in recession
There is a lot of pain and death during tough financial times.
You was fighting with your girl when I was fighting my depression, wait
I had to deal with mental health struggles while others were dealing with relationship issues.
Alright, first things first, coulda put you in a hearse
Don't underestimate my power.
Man, I gave you boys a lifeline (lifeline)
I helped people out when they were struggling.
I was scrolling through my tweets, had Adele up on repeat
I was enjoying a song and then saw something negative on social media.
And saw a madness on my timeline (on my timeline)
I saw some crazy things online that affected me.
LBC's tryna' black ball me
A radio station is trying to cancel me.
And tryna' blame your boy for knife crime (like what?)
They're making false accusations against me and others.
I don't use a shank, I got money in the bank
I don't need to use weapons to protect myself.
Man, I'd rather do a drive by (dickheads)
I'm willing to take revenge in a different way.
Mad, mad demons in my thoughts
I struggle with negative thoughts and emotions.
Young Stormz wasn't ready for the limelight (he wasn't ready)
I wasn't prepared for the fame and attention at first.
Took a little break from the game, started praying
I needed time off to focus on my spiritual well-being.
Man, I had to get my mind right (started praying)
My mental health needed attention.
All black clothes till I shine bright
I dress in all black despite now being successful.
Full beams fucking up my eyesight
I'm experiencing difficulty adjusting to success.
They hate me on the sly
Some people secretly dislike me.
But I bet you if I died, you would see em at my night night (fake youts)
Those same people would pretend to care if I died.
They asking if I'm real, I'm real enough ('nough)
People are questioning my authenticity, but I know who I am.
Still got a couple killers in the cut (cut)
I still have dangerous people in my circle.
If he's coming nice
If someone is acting friendly towards me...
I big him up, drugs kill
...I might still be suspicious of them because I know how dangerous drugs can be.
But my niggas make a killing off a drug (aye)
My friends might make money from selling drugs despite the risks.
Rapping like I'm jigga but I'm puff (puff)
I rap like Jay-Z, but I don't have as much money as him.
West End wanna show a nigga love (love)
People now accept me in high society.
But if it weren't me you would never let my niggas in the club
I know that my friends wouldn't be accepted in certain places if it weren't for me.
Fuck DSTRKT and fuck all these nightclubs
I'm upset with certain clubs that are not welcoming to black people.
And fuck giving money to people that don't like us
I don't want to support businesses and people who are against us.
There's riots in the city just tell me where I sign up
I'm not afraid to fight for what's right and be part of necessary protests.
The rave goes silly every time I pick the mic up (whoa)
I'm successful and in demand as a performer.
I got smoke, you can hold a bit
I have drugs with me that I'm willing to share.
A coloured brother with a bone to pick
I'm a black man who has issues to address.
But I still get to gunning, don't be running when I bang mine
I'm not afraid to use a gun if necessary.
Before we said our prayers, there was gang signs (gang signs)
I'm associated with a violent lifestyle and it's a part of my past.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MICHAEL EBENAZER KWADJO OMARI OWUO JUNIOR, ALEXANDER GEORGE EDWARD CROSSAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Stormzy - 0 to 100 (Lyrics)
I wasnt even gonna do one but...
Fuck your bandanas, we dnot see no colours
I want a holiday, I tell 'er pack your luggage
They're like Stormz, why you only doing covers
I'm sitting on some bangers you can go and such your mothers
But for now I might just take a little tune and then I kill it
We're just warming up a second in minute
Got the E.P coming sooner when we're finished
I just dash my boy a drawer 'nd tell him bin it, OH LORD!
I'm the one to get it popping
I just phone my brudda Flips, we'll go and shop it
Another nigga's talking shit, I need a coffin
And we don't care about your taper when its dropping, nigga oh shit
Promoters on the phone, he's got a booky
I got some pagans on the phone, they say they're looking for me
Got your girlfriend on my phone, she's got some pussy for me
I give my little brudda ?? and make him cook it for me
All this talking's gonna get a nigga into beef shit
I'm on my ????? shit
They're talking recky but them niggas haven't seen shit
I've seen them turn some gangstas into pussies, nigga real quick
Real quick, run Stormz, run Stormz
Please Stormz, that nigga's got a gun Stormz
They love Stormz, so if that nigga bun Stormz
They'll come for him, you can put that on my mum boy
Is this the karma
You're talking doe but you can't even bring your son up
They always miss but they just love the fancy run up
Selfies with my bitch, we're taking pictures looking tun up
And yeah, man I gotta put him on, my brudda's waiting for me
I just had a meeting with my man, he told me 'play it for me'
I aint even saying nothing, please just keep on praying for me
Still a couple niggas that still owe a couple favours for me
But we're gonna cash 'em all in when we need it
Heard your songs, they're kinda wack, yeah I don't feel it
They couldn't say it to my face they had to tweet it
Still thinking why they got me on the remix, that's some other shit
You wanted more, I dropped The Second Quarter through
If he needs it, then I've got a year, I'll sort it through
Yeah we're humble, you won't ever know we brought it through
That brudda's thirsty, can we please just get some water through
And 1 litre, 2 litre, 3 litres man he's thirsty
Couple man are old, they're in their thirties
My brudda stabbed me in my back, he done me dirty
And if I'm down my brudda ?? will reimburse me
Real nigga shit, real nigga shit, yeah
Real nigga shit, real nigga shit, yeah
Murky!!