Source : Times of India
Grime rapper Stormzy, 24, is all set to set-up a new publishing imprint called #Merky Books in a partnership with Penguin Random House. The announcement was made by the rapper on his official Instagram recently. This new development also puts Stormzy at par with Hollywood celebrities including Oprah and Johnny Depp, who also have their own literary imprints.
#Merky Books will be a part of the growing #Merky empire, which includes a record label and a music festival already. Announcing the development on social media, Stormzy had wrote in a post, “We will be using this as a platform for young writers to become published authors, I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can now be a reference point for them to say “I can be an author” and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal.”
He further shared that the first book to be released under the #Merky Books imprint will be Rise Up: The #Merky Journey So Far which is expected to be out in November 1. The book is currently available for pre-order.
Stormzy’s real name is Michael Omari. He became popular with his Shut Up freestyle in the year 2015; in 2017 he became the first grime artist to top the UK charts for his debut album Gang Signs and Prayer. He also has his own #Merky record label, which along with Atlantic Records have a deal to find “fresh new talent” apart from releasing his own music.
