Massive grime legend Stormzy not only has a new book coming out, but is also launching his own publishing imprint – like a record label, essentially – called #Merky Books, under the aegis of print giant Penguin Random House.
He’ll kick off the imprint with his own fresh forthcoming tome, Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far, due out November 1. According to his publisher, the book will feature “...never-before-seen photographs, annotated lyrics and contributions from those closest to him.”
So that’ll be nice.
Discussing his reasons for wanting to start his own imprint, the MC shows he's is characteristically eager to help people from difficult backgrounds like him get a good start.
“I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen,” he wrote in a statement.
“Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart can not wait to hear your stories, your poems, your novels, your sci-fis and then getting them out into the big wide world.”
What a geezer.
Not only that, but #Merky Books will be taking on paid interns (!) from next year, about the same time they start accepting submissions.
In other Stormzy news, earlier this week the grime ledge stopped dead in the middle of his own headline slot to watch England trounce Colombia on penalties.
The London MC wasn’t headlining any old festival, by the way – it was his own self-organised #MERKY Festival, at Ibiza Rocks in (you guessed it) Ibiza.
And straight after we all watched Eric Dier’s devastating winning strike twat the back of the net, the confetti cannons exploded and Stormy launched into a barnstorming rendition of giant hit ‘Big For Your Boots’.
It’s coming home.
