- Music
- 07 Jul 17
In our latest issue of Hot Press we chatted with the Longitude headliner's friend and manager Tobe Onwuka about Stormzy's rise to grime fame.
Longitude 2017 is upon us, and with Stormzy kicking off the festival as Friday's headlining act Hot Press' Stuart Clark caught up with the grime artist's manager Tobe Onwuka.
Stormzy earned the admiration of fellow stars Katy Perry, Chris Martin and Eamily Eavis at his Glastonbury performance this year.
"When Stormzy greets you with a smile and a wagwan all is right in the world again," Perry tweeted. "Great show, friend. Your Mum must be well proud"
when @Stormzy1 greets you with a smile and a wagwan all is right in the world again. Great show friend your mum must be well proud ❤️
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) June 25, 2017
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But the star's manager reveals that his first celebrity admirer came forward in 2014, when Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant recognised him during an appearance on the show Later...With Jools Hooland.
"It was Robert Plant who came over and asked to have his picture taken with Stormzy rather than the other way around," laughs Tobe.
Tobe adds that Stormzy's performance on the late-night show put the artist and grime as a genre forward as "part of what is considered to be popular music."
Stormzy has also felt the love from Elton John, Kanye and Wiley. Read about that and more in the new issue of Hot Press available here, or download the iOS app for iPad.