Heavy Is the Head (album)
Heavy Is the Head | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 13 December 2019 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:36 | |||
Atlantic Records UK | ||||
Producer |
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Stormzy chronology | ||||
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Singles from Heavy Is the Head | ||||
Heavy Is the Head (abbreviated to h.i.t.h on the album cover) is the second studio album by British rapper
Heavy Is the Head was supported by the singles "
Heavy Is the Head received widespread acclaim from critics upon release, being nominated at the
Promotion
The album was promoted with numerous projections of the initials H.I.T.H around London.[5] Stormzy officially announced the album through his social media on 19 November,[6] revealing the track list and cover art, which shows him holding the stab proof vest featuring a black-and-white Union Jack that he wore during his set at the Glastonbury Festival 2019, designed by Banksy.[7]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.7/10[8] |
Metacritic | 82/100[9] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [10] |
The Daily Telegraph | [11] |
Financial Times | [12] |
The Guardian | [13] |
The Independent | [14] |
NME | [15] |
The Observer | [16] |
Pitchfork | 7.0/10[17] |
Q | [18] |
The Times | [19] |
Upon release, Heavy Is the Head received widespread acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 82, based on 17 reviews.[9]
Carl Anka of NME described Heavy Is the Head as "a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp that – while sometimes overreaching – never gets dull or overstays its welcome."[15] Praising its exploration of genres and themes, Kitty Empire wrote for The Observer, "The spaciousness, punch and depth of these productions is telling, but it is a mark of [Heavy Is the Head's] artistic integrity that Stormzy manages to transcend genre (again) without sacrificing his core griminess, or losing too much in the way of accent, word choice, content or theme."[16]
The album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2020, the second time in his career.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Big Michael" |
| 2:33 | |
7. | "Do Better" |
| Smith | 4:09 |
8. | "Don't Forget to Breathe" (featuring Yebba) (interlude) |
|
| 2:21 |
9. | "One Second" (featuring H.E.R.) |
|
| 4:01 |
10. | "Pop Boy" (featuring Aitch) |
| 2:33 | |
11. | "Own It" (featuring Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy) |
|
| 3:37 |
12. | "Wiley Flow" |
|
| 3:27 |
13. | "Bronze" |
|
| 2:25 |
14. | "Superheroes" |
|
| 3:32 |
15. | "Lessons" |
| Thomas | 3:08 |
16. | "Vossi Bop" |
| Andoh | 3:16 |
Total length: | 53:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
17. | "Sounds of the Skeng" |
| Sir Spyro | 3:32 |
Total length: | 57:40 |
Sample credits
- "Rainfall" contains a sample of "Shackles (Praise You)" written by Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell and Warryn Campbell and performed by Mary Mary. The song was featured on the video game Watch Dogs: Legion under the title "Fall on My Enemies".[16]
- "Rachael's Little Brother" contains elements of "Baby Boy" written by Cherise Roberts, Eyobed Getachew, John Horsley, Michael Brown, Michael Mugisha, Nadia Shepherd, Temi Aisida and Thelma Howell and performed by Big Brovaz.[16]
- "Superheroes" contains an interpolation of "Someday" written by Lee Jordan and Nigel Lowis and performed by CBBC show The Story of Tracy Beaker.[16]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[41] | Platinum | 90,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (12 December 2019). "Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head — a gripping album of light and shade". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (11 December 2019). "Stormzy and Headie One command respect in new song 'Audacity'". NME. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ Hussey, Allison; Strauss, Matthew (19 November 2019). "Stormzy Details New Album Heavy Is the Head". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Bruce-Jones, Henry (19 November 2019). "Stormzy details second album, Heavy Is The Head". Fact. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ a b c Copsey, Rob (19 November 2019). "Stormzy announces new album Heavy Is The Head". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Aniftos, Rania (19 November 2019). "Stormzy Confirms Release Date for 'Heavy Is the Head' Album". Billboard. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ Reilly, Nick (19 November 2019). "Stormzy announces second album 'Heavy Is The Head'". NME. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- ^ "Heavy Is the Head by Stormzy reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Heavy is the Head by Stormzy Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Simpson, Paul. "Heavy Is the Head – Stormzy". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ McCormick, Neil (13 December 2019). "Heavy is the Head, Stormzy, review: grime's swagger meets Shakespearean self-doubt". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ^ Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (13 December 2019). "Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head — a gripping album of light and shade". Financial Times. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ O'Connor, Roisin (13 December 2019). "Stormzy review – Heavy Is the Head: Assertive second album heralds a man who knows exactly who he is". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b Anka, Carl (16 December 2019). "Stormzy – 'Heavy Is The Head' review: a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp". NME. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Empire, Kitty (14 December 2019). "Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head review – a hyper-confident return". The Observer. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Pritchard, Will (18 December 2019). "Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- ^ Aroesti, Rachel (February 2020). "Force of Nature". Q. No. 407. p. 106.
- ^ Potton, Ed (13 December 2019). "Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head review — a regal gift from the grime king". The Times. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
- ^ "Stormzy Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Stormzy". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 3, 2020". VG-lista. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Stormzy Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2019". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2020". Ultratop. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
- ^ "Album Top-100 2020". Hitlisten. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2020" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ White, Jack (10 January 2021). "Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest albums of 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2020". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Stormzy – Heavy Is the Head". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 November 2020.