Stormzy: Mel Made Me Do It 'celebrates black British excellence' ❤️💚🖤💛

[Celerity]

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-63010712

After three years without a solo release - Stormzy dropped his new single Mel Made me Do It with a powerful, 10-minute music video on Thursday night. It stars a range of black British icons, from Dave to Little Simz, as well Brenda Edwards, mother of late music producer Jamal. Cameos from sport, musical and cultural heroes have been called "a celebration of Black British excellence". The track has been an instant hit - racking up more than one million Youtube views in less than 24 hours. And many black British people have been heaping praise upon Stormzy's latest.

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Afolabi spoke to BBC Newsbeat about his own reaction. "I still struggle to call myself a black Brit. I grew up here all my life and I have strong ties here, but I'm also Nigerian" says Afolabi. "There are times when this country will remind you that we're not wanted and it makes me glad that I'm Nigerian because I have a community that I can still relate to," says the 29-year-old. "However, Stormzy's video really made me proud to call myself a black Brit." Afolabi was particularly excited to see all the stars in the video - from talk show hosts to football managers. "Take Ian Wright as an example," he says. "He's a legend that faced adversity and got into professional football at a late age and still succeeded."

Afolabi also names Jenny Francis - who "provided joy for so many of us" - and Noughts and Crosses author Malorie Blackman as personally significant appearances. In the music video Malorie walks alongside another author, Jade LB, who wrote the award winning book - Keisha the Sket. Jade told Newsbeat last year that she's an "advocate" for telling stories from "marginalised communities". "These people and so many more played a part in shaping me and our struggles and our joy are similar in one way or another and that for me is what truly makes us black British," says Afolabi.

The track is named after Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, better know as influencer Melissa's Wardrobe - Stormzy's stylist and CEO of It's a Lifestyle Hun. Her impact has been highlighted on social media as well. "Understanding Melissa's influence is not a surprise to me. I'm an invested fan so I was aware for a long time and has been aware of her affiliation with Big Mike," says Afolabi. "When Stormzy was on Instagram, she was always on the stories and look at the amazing job she did for him at The Met Gala. The core of us have known of Melissa and her influence for a long time, the mainstream are just catching up." Both Stormzy and Melissa are now in Ghana ahead of the Global Citizen concert in the country's capital Accra.

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'Stormzy has gone clear': Video featuring Jose Mourinho, Usain Bolt and Louis Theroux prompts rapturous response

Stormzy has sparked a rapturous response online with the surprise release of a new 11-minute music video featuring a plethora of cameos including Usain Bolt, Jose Mourinho and Louis Theroux.

https://news.sky.com/story/stormzy-has-gone-clear-video-featuring-jose-mourinho-usain-bolt-and-louis-theroux-prompts-rapturous-response-12703736



Mel Made Me Do It is the rapper's first solo effort in nearly three years and its sharp, twisting rhymes put his songwriting prowess and delivery on full show.

Including no chorus or hook, the surprise release on Thursday night triggered an instant outpouring of acclaim online and racked up more than half a million views on YouTube within hours.


Stormzy, Louis Theroux and Dina Asher-Smith

Much of the initial excitement on social media focused on the appearance of Mourinho - and reference to the popular meme of the football manager's "if I speak I am in big trouble" comment.

But there was also widespread praise for cameos from an array of pioneers of Black British culture, including Gabrielle, Ian Wright, Jazzie B, Malorie Blackman, Trevor Nelson, Dave, JME and a tribute to late SBTV founder Jamal Edwards.

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