Stormzy has just become the first UK rap artist to feature on the cover on TIME Magazine in a huge moment for the Croydon-raised artist and UK music.
Big Mike announced the news on his Instagram in a state of disbelief, remarking, "I’ve stared at this cover for a few minutes and it feels like one of those “how the fuckkkkk did man get here?!” moments."
Continuing his heart-felt and candid caption, the 26-year-old opened up on how it felt to feature on the cover on the iconic publication, "God’s favour and the ever lasting love and support you guys show me has elevated me to a place in life where this South London kid is worthy enough to grace the cover of the most prestigious publication in the World. This is a huge honour - one of TIME’s Next Generation Leaders. I wanna thank God for purpose - I say this because anyone who knows me knows how much I shy away from being anything other than “Mike”."
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"Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race" author Reni Eddo-Lodge interviewed Stormzy for the cover piece of the latest issue of TIME, which focuses on 'Next Generation Leaders', in which nine other cover stars who are "trailblazers shaping the world" will join the grime superstar on the cover.
Read the whole Stormzy cover story with TIME here, and listen back to Stormzy's latest cold track “Wiley Flow” here.