Gang Signs & Prayer

Image from Stefan Heinrichs

Gang Signs & Prayer is the debut album from Stormzy and trust me when I say, I'm glad it's here. As soon as I started listening to it, I could tell how hard the 23-year-old grime artist has worked to create an album that emphasises his passion and determination for what he does. And why not? He's pulled it off. The album is brilliant - he's made grime music mainstream, broken records and his collaborations are like nothing else.

While he made the album, Stormzy silenced his social media and came back with the biggest announcement of his life. It's pretty much kicked off from there and I can only imagine what lies in store over the next few years but I can't wait to hear more of Stormzy and what he has to offer. Gang Signs & Prayer is such a good start to 2017, a year that's going to be big for this London born artist. 

At the moment, all I'm hearing from entertainment stories and programmes is 'who's Stormzy up against?' Being compared to other artists is something that definitely doesn't come to mind when you hear Stormzy's interviews, watch his snapchats or even read his tweets. He's offering something different to everyone else at the moment and he's very gracious in his album and the meaning behind it. However, Gang Signs & Prayer is a serious contender and this album is going to take him a long way. Whether it throws the album chart or not, it will most definitely go down as one of the best grime hip-hop albums of this time.

After other huge grime albums released in the last year from the likes of Skepta, Kano and Wiley, Stormzy has finally made his own mark on the scene. The album has already been celebrated by so many other iconic artists and the praise keeps on coming. The catchy 'Big For Your Boots' combined with the determination behind 'First Things First' and the softness of 'Blinded By Your Grace' have done it for me - it's an album that I think I'll always go back to.

From watching his YouTube videos to seeing him live in 2015 and now this breakthrough album, it's clear to see that Stormzy is grateful for the opportunities he has been given and the journey that it's taken him on. This is just the beginning for Stormzy and this album is like no other. In his own words, "nothing can define you."

My debut album "Gang Signs & Prayer" is OUT NOW - https://t.co/5PLL98qT0t 🙏🏿🌎 pic.twitter.com/XaghlRl1IP

— 24/02 (@Stormzy1) February 24, 2017

Beyoncé is back

Beyoncé slays once more with her brand new single, Formation. 

After keeping things pretty quiet through 2015, Queen Bee is back. Her new single is just a teaser of what we can expect from her upcoming album, and does definitely not hold back. I will have this song on repeat for days and cannot wait to see where she will be heading on her world tour.

The artwork for the single is obviously, flawless. With designer names, risqué dancing and catchy lyrics, I can't wait to see whether this album will be just as good as Beyoncé:Platinum Edition.

Image from Beyoncé's wesbite

Film review: Straight Outta Compton

Wow, wow, wow. Although (as you've probably noticed) I have been at the cinema practically every weekend this summer, this film will be the one I definitely won't be forgetting anytime soon.

I'm not sure what I was expecting from this film before seeing it, would the acting do justice to one of the greatest groups ever? Would the storyline be over exaggerated? Or how would they portray the group?
But from the start, the directing and acting in this film was obviously incredible. With O'Shea Jackson Jr. playing Ice Cube, Corey Hawkins as Dr Dre, Jason Mitchell as Easy-E, Neil Brown Jr. playing Dj Yella and Aldis Hodge as MC Ren, the 5 amazing performances are what make this film as good as it is. They have clearly all put all they could to research background details of N.W.A and the individual artists in order to mould their character to perfection.

Taking us right back to the start of N.W.A, the film honestly portrays what exactly it was like to live in Compton and the dangers not only these 5 guys, but everyone else in the neighbourhood faced. Freedom of expression left them with risks but with brutally honest lyrics and courage to speak out, this film shows the challenges these artists had when they put their thoughts and frustration into the most powerful form, music.
The film is incredibly uplifting, you can tell that the group really believed in themselves, through everything. The moment they release 'Straight Outta Compton', although we know now that it obviously was one of the best albums of all time, the passion and love that N.W.A show for their music is inspiring.

Throughout the film, not only do we see the rise and risks that N.W.A took to get to where they wanted, but the personal challenges they all faced individually. Dr Dre blaming himself for the loss of his brother is something that a lot of people can relate to and this scene in the film gripped on our heartstrings, after seeing how passionate and loving he really felt towards his family. As well as this, the scene where Easy-E is diagnosed with AIDS and the former N.W.A members come to visit him in hospital after years of not speaking, captured all of my emotions especially. The feeling that no matter how much you disagree with the people that really know you best, they'll always be there and this really came across in an emotion ending.

This film is one that will really make you think. Not only leaving you thinking about the love, passion and hope that this group had but their personal challenges, emotions and efforts they went to in order to show themselves as courageous, determined men throughout. I personally can not wait for the sequel to come out and I can really see why this film has topped box office records for the third weekend in a row. One of the best films of the year.