Critics praise Stormzy at Ivor Novello for calling out Theresa May and raising awareness for Grenfell victims
Stormzy was praised by his musical peers today for his activism and using his art to raise awareness for Grenfell victims.
Its been three months since Stormzy moved the nation with a passionate takedown of Prime Minister Theresa Mays handling of the Grenfell Tower fire, yet people cant seem to stop talking about it at the Ivor Novello awards today.
The rapper won the album award at Grosvenor House on Park Lane for the exclusive luncheon honouring artists, songwriters and producers for their work from the last year.
As the 24-year-old celebrated his win for Gangs Signs and Prayers, Billy Bragg, who the won music outstanding contribution to British music award this afternoon, had nothing but praise for Stormzy after he rapped Like yo Theresa May wheres the money for Grenfell? at the end of the Brit Awards in February.
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Billy Bragg – who is best known as the frontman for Red Wedge, a collective of musicians formed in the 80s who attempted to engage young people in politics in the hopes of ousting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher – pointed out that Stormzy has done more than he ever did.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk at the Ivors the 60-year-old left-wing activist said: This is powerful stuff, this is big-time stuff, the fact that Number 10 had to respond to what Stormzy said.
Referring to Theresa Mays responding statement following Stormzys performance at the Brits, he added: Thats more than anything that happened when we were doing Red Wedge. Number 10 never took any notices of us.
Billy also expressed that the work shouldnt stop when the artist with the message goes home as he praised the British public for rallying around Stormzy.
It [an artists work] has responsibility but it doesnt have agency. The audience changes the world, he said. That was shown at The 02 [the venue for the Brits] when Stormzy spoke. If he was met with silence nothing would have happened.
He added: The audience roared with approval when he spoke about Grenfell. And thats how it works. Its what the audience does when we go home that matters.
However, Billy isnt all too pleased with the progress the music industry has made since Red Wedges heyday in the 80s.
He said: One of the things that havent changed for my liking is the fact that it is a racist, sexist industry, we need a little bit of the #MeToo.
Stormzy isnt the only one challenging the Prime Minister, as one of the big winners of the night had their political passions to thank for their new Ivor award.
More: Theresa May
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South London rapper Daves seven-minute long indictment of British politics, Question Time, was named best contemporary song at the event today.
The track, which took aim at prime ministers past and present as well as NHS funding and the Grenfell Tower disaster, was praised for the truth and execution of the lyrics and its outstanding originality.
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