13. Stormzy - 168 The Mixtape
Stormzy is one of the new breed of MCs (along with the likes of Novelist) taking the template of their predecessors and creating something new with it. Anointed by Kanye West during his 2015 UK performances, Stormzy's reputation has exploded and he has become one of the most sought after figures in grime. This can only be a good thing, as he is one of the most inventive and open-minded figures in the scene. He cites vocalists such as Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill as influences, which should immediately point to the intriguing new places that his work takes grime towards. 168 The Mixtape is his biggest statement of intent to date. While Stormzy's voice immediately brings Dizzee Rascal to mind, his often choral backing and pop sensibilities take his music into areas that most grime artists wouldn't even dream about. In For The Kill is stunning, while Get Smoked is genuinely creepy and coated in a hazy smog. Along with Novelist, Stormzy is the future of grime. He's brave enough to stick to his favoured sound, and talented enough to figure out ways of making that style attractive to wider audiences.