UK Rapper Stormzy and his label have pledged to donate over £10m to Black Empowerment groups over the next 10 years.
What We Know
- The UK rapper has taken a stance to try and battle against racial inequality within his own country. He has pledged to donate upwards to £10m over the next 10 years to various Uk based organizations in hopes to battle against police brutality and racial inequality.
- Stormzy is a 26 year old UK grime artist who has been topping the UK rap scene for the last 10 years. His debut album “Gang Signs and Prayers” won Album of the Year at the 2018 Brit Awards and his second ‘Heavy Is The Head” released last December. Both were released through his own independent label, #Merky Records.
- Stormzy has become a large black activist over the course of his career. He has most recently seen at the Black Lives Matter protests at Parliament Square in London. He has also called out the British government on multiple occasions. In an interview in 2019, Stormzy when asked to comment on the state of Britain, he described the country as “100% racist” and Boris Johnson as “encouraging hate among them”.
- Along with his pledge to donate, Stormzy has also released a larger statement commenting on the moment. “I’m lucky enough to be in the position I’m in… I am not the UK’s shining example of what supposedly happens when a black person works hard, ” Stormzy stated. “Black people have been playing on an uneven field for far too long and this pledge is a continuation in the fight to finally try and even it.
Despite the 10 year goal, Stormzy sees this as “the beginning of a lifetime commitment,” towards supporting pro black movements and change within the UK. He also encourages other artist to make their own pledges to support black artists. Other celebrities to make similar statements include Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, Lizzo etc.
