Ever since his legend was forged with WickedSkengMan—a series of underground video freestyles that staged a raid on the conventional charts—Croydon-born MC Stormzy has both championed grime culture and boldly pushed it forward. On the one hand, his hallmark is a frenetic kind of uncut lyrical potency; the dextrous, knotty magnetism that fuels hard-edged assaults like breakthrough single “Shut Up” and the brooding, muscular “Scary”. But the erstwhile Michael Omari is as much of an unapologetic pop stylist as he is a verbal pugilist. Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy collaboration “Own It” drips sultry, Afro-tinged appeal while “Crown”—a stirring, devotional rap epic—showcases his range as an artist, an innovator and, yes, a singer.