Wiley Flow

Album: Heavy Is the Head (2019)
Charted: 22
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song finds Stormzy returning to his rap roots as he pays tribute to his fellow emcee Wiley. The Londoner is regarded as a key figure in the creation of grime music and often referred to as the "Godfather of Grime."
  • The track begins with a snippet of dialogue from Wiley in which he reflects on his pioneer status:

    Bruv, I didn't look at it this way before
    But as I approach my birthday
    All you man are my youngers


    Stormzy then picks up the baton; during his rhymes he presents himself as a younger version of Wiley: street tough, wealthy and successful. The rapper also interpolates a couple of Wiley's tunes, both recorded in 2006: "Nightbus Dubplate" and "Bad 'Em Up."
  • Stormzy may have recorded this homage to Wiley as a peace offering. The pair locked horns on social media after Stormzy collaborated with Ed Sheeran on the hit single "Take Me Back To London." Wiley posted a comment on Stormzy's Instagram page saying "it's sounding very weird, Ed on grime"; he also labeled the pop star a "culture vulture" and a "clout chaser." Stormzy responded by pointing out that Sheeran has been rapping since his early days.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?