Stormzy releases new song 'Crown' ahead of Glastonbury headline performance

Track addresses the artist's feeling of pressure to be a role model as his fame increases, and the work he's put in so far

Stormzy in visuals for his new single 'Crown' (Press image)

Stormzy has released a brand new single titled “Crown” ahead of his headline performance at Glastonbury Festival.

The track was produced with MJ Cole and Jimmy Napes, who co-wrote the track with Stormzy, and is accompanied by live visuals filmed at the iconic Church Studio in London.

Stormzy is shown performing backed by gospel singers who provide some additional soul to go with Stormzy’s raw and honest lyrics.

At one point he addresses the backlash to his pioneering scholarship for black students at Cambridge University, rapping: "I done a scholarship for the kids, they said it's racist/ That's not anti-white, it's pro-black."

Check out the video below:

In a statement, Stormzy commented: “I’ve been struggling to find words to describe how much this song means to me... struggling to explain exactly why I felt the needed to say what I’ve said on the record... and can’t quite summarise the journey of emotions the song takes me on when I listen back to it.

“I’m very proud of myself for making this song and I can’t wait for you all to hear it. Nothing but love and respect for my brother Jimmy Napes a world class phenomenal talent and MJ Cole the genius and legend - an honour and a pleasure to work with you both my brothers. We’ve created something very special and close to my heart.”

“Crown” is the follow-up to Stormzy’s comeback single “Vossi Bop”, which became his first number one single in the UK with 94,495 combined sales – breaking the record for week one streams by a British rapper at 12.7 million.

Stormzy will perform "Crown" on The Graham Norton Show tonight (21 June) on BBC One.