Being the first homegrown solo black musician to headline the music festival, the 'Vossi Bop' hitmaker heats up the first night with a show-stopping set that highlights several issues in today's society.
- Jul 1, 2019
AceShowbiz - British grime superstar Stormzy wowed fans with an explosive headline set on the first night of 2019's Glastonbury festival.
The "Vossi Bop" hitmaker, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr., took to the iconic music event's main Pyramid Stage on Friday night (June 28) for his biggest gig to date.
Several African-American stars have topped the bill at the event, including Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z, and Kanye West, but Stormzy is the first homegrown solo black musician to receive the honour.
Entering the stage to his hit "Know Me From", the star wore a Union Jack stab proof vest - the first of the show's political messages, in reference to London's knife crime epidemic. He wore the vest for his first five songs, and also displayed a series of crime statistics in his third song "First Things First".
For his hit "Don't Cry For Me", he shared the stage with two ballet dancers, and the screen behind him read, "Ballet shoes have not traditionally been made to match black skin tones. Until now.", as he called for greater "inclusion" and an end to casual racism in society.
A number of Stormzy's celebrity pals also appeared during the set; the star played a small clip of rapper Jay-Z, who headlined the event in 2008, offering him advice prior to his show, while Coldplay's Chris Martin took to the stage, playing piano for a stripped back rendition of the rapper's hit "Blinded By Your Grace Pt.1".
Following the gig, stars took to social media to congratulate the 25-year-old for his "inspirational" set.
"@Stormzy headlining Glastonbury and that. Madness congrats," tweeted Canadian rapper Drake, while Ed Sheeran, whose song, "Shape of You", Stormzy performed a remix of, wrote, "Just an inspiration to so many... looking forward to see you do more achievements like this."
On Instagram, 2016 headliner Adele, added: "You (Stormzy)and your team are all so good, hard working and beautiful and deserve everything that comes your way."
Stormzy's girlfriend, TV presenter Maya Jama, simply wrote: "ICONICCCCCCCC."
Tweeting ahead of his performance Stormzy gushed he was "overwhelmed with emotions", adding: "I feel my entire life has lead to this moment. Can't explain or fathom what this all is but I am 100% sure this is all God and his favour. Giving him all the glory."
