Stormzy praised for Superheroes music video featuring 'powerful' Black Lives Matter message
Stormzy has been praised for his powerful Superheroes music video, which highlights the work of the Black Lives Matter movement and includes a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, among other pertinent topics.
The grime artist, 27, premiered the Taz Tron Delix-directed, animated music video earlier today.
In the video, there are nods to Marcus Rashford's campaign to tackle child poverty, Dave the rapper, author Malorie Blackman’s young adult race novel Noughts and Crosses (the BBC adaptation of which featured Stormzy) and an unexpected reference to children's show Tracey Beaker.
Fans have since praised the rapper online, with one writing: "Nothing but respect for Stormzy on this one."
Another implored other to watch the music video, commenting: "Mate Stormzy’s video for Superheroes is so beautiful man [...] Give it a watch please."
The track is the latest single to be released from Stormzy's 2019 album, Heavy Is The Head, and was premiered in schools in London, Glasgow, Dublin and Manchester, along with an inspirational speech.
In the address, Stormzy said: “I wanted to show it to you guys first [because] being students at school, I think it’s important that you guys understand how powerful you are…
“Despite the colour of your skin, despite where you come from, despite your religion, despite whatever it is that you feel may be holding you back: you are a superhero.
“So, I wanted to make this video to inspire you guys, to let you know that the sky is the limit. To let you know that all those things inside of you, make you incredible.”
Director Delix told Little Black Book that the clip was inspired by the London Black Lives Matter protests in June.
“We can’t ignore what happened,” Delix said. “It’s what the whole song is about. And it’s what Stormzy’s about. He was there on the day, out there protesting.”
In August, the 27-year-old rapper donated £500,000 to the Black Heart Foundation to provide scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
In August 2018 he announced The Stormzy Scholarship, to fund two black British students to go to the University of Cambridge.
He has also set up #Merky Books, an imprint within Penguin Random House UK.