Stormzy's talk at Oxford University is now streaming - News - Mixmag
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Stormzy's talk at Oxford University is now streaming

How the grime icon blew convention out the window

  • William Dyett
  • 8 March 2016

Grime and Oxford University? Not exactly strawberries and cream is it?

Still, Stormzy's hour-and-a-half talk last night, streamed live on Periscope, at The Oxford Guild was an overwhelming success.

He tackled diversity issues in the music industry, how UK music is going, his stance on him using the ‘N’ word and and the lack of black artists nominated for this year's Brit Awards.

Asked where he stood on the recent issue of the #BritsSoWhite and diversity in the UK music industry, the south Londoner, real name Michael Omari, played down the whole thing.

He said: "It was something that it wasn't. I'm not too sure of how much of a race or diversity issue it was. Having spoken to Ged Doherty [chairman of the Brit awards]. I think it’s more of a discussion about the voting panel. Most of them are middle-aged white men. Most middle-aged white men probably don’t know about little old Stormzy from London.”

The 22-year-old went on to discuss his frequent use of the 'N' word in his music, confessing it’s something he’s addressing.

“It’s horrible, it’s disgusting, but I’m the worst. I don’t even wanna do a 'N' word count in my lyrics. I’m trying to stop. It’s not cool.”

If he hadn’t won the audience members over already with his heart-on-his-sleeve outlook on life, the Croydon MC finished proceedings with a big “shut up” shout-out to Oxford's rivals Cambridge, inviting audience members on stage to join him in a freestyle spat.

Watch the talk here.

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