Stormzy Appears On LBC To Make Impassioned Defence Of Grime Music, After Criticising Radio Station On His Album

A caller to the station previously suggested grime was partly responsible for the UK's knife crime problems.
LOADINGERROR LOADING

Stormzy made a triumphant appearance on LBC Radio on Wednesday (1 March) to make an impassioned defence of grime music, three months after he tweeted the station to disagree with one of their callers, who claimed the genre was partly responsible for knife crime.

The incident clearly stayed with him, as he went on to namecheck LBC in the opening track of his recently-released debut album ‘Gang Signs & Prayer’, with the lines: “LBC’s tryna’ black ball me, / And tryna’ blame your boy for knife crime, / I don’t use a shank, I got money in the bank.”

With the record inching its way towards the number one spot, Stormzy stopped by Shelagh Fogarty’s show, discussing what it’s like being a black man who grew up in South London, as well as defending grime.

Stormzy in the LBC studio
Stormzy in the LBC studio
Shelagh Fogarty on LBC

He began the interview by contesting the fact caller claimed in October to have heard Stormzy’s album, even though it wasn’t actually released until last week, explaining: “It’s clear that he was very misinformed and has probably had one glance at grime, listened to one song, watched one set and made his mind up.”

Turning his attention to the question of why knife crime is mentioned in his tracks, he continued: “The reason why we speak about these things is because they are things that go on in our community so we’re just being social commentators.

“I feel like that [the caller’s claim] is such a far-fetched statement. You see, for someone to say that grime music is the reason for the country’s knife crime epidemic - that is wild. How do you even get there?”

FRIDAY. #GSAP 🌎🙏🏿

A post shared by Gang Signs & Prayer (@stormzyofficial) on

Shelagh then questioned whether Stormzy feels a duty of care to his young fans, and considers the way they could interpret his talk of criminal acts, to which he replied: “Every time I write a lyric or I make music, firstly, I have the responsibility and the duty to tell my own truth - whatever that is, whether it’s positive or negative.

“Secondly, now that I’ve progressed to a certain stage, I try to be more careful, but I don’t like to just put some censor. Everything I talk about is truth.

“It’s things I’ve done in the past, or things that my friends have done, or things that we were immersed in.”

Stormzy and Shelagh, who took the call in October
Stormzy and Shelagh, who took the call in October
Shelagh Fogarty on LBC

Afterwards, the pair ended on a handshake, as numerous fans took to Twitter to praise the rapper:

👏 @Stormzy1 defending his right to discuss his and so many others reality in his music on @LBC we are more than news headlines and violence

— In Ya Girl (@jellybean_cc) March 1, 2017

Kudos to @LBC and @Stormzy1 4 addressing this nonsense narrative. If we want music to cease violent/criminal content, change our enviro'

— Dwayne Dwayne (@IAmDwayneDwayne) March 1, 2017

Really interesting interview with Stormzy on @LBC - thought he spoke well and was a great insight.

— James Andrews (@jamesandrews10) March 1, 2017

What a fantastic interview #stormzy l@lbcnews @LBC @Stormzy @dulwich you rock #newcross

— Lawrence B Collins (@mentalmapping) March 1, 2017

It’s been a big few weeks for Stormzy and losing out on the Brit Award for Best Breakthrough hasn’t stopped him in his stride.

See his full appearance on LBC below:

Close

What's Hot