Stormzy's second album,
Heavy Is the Head, addressed his status as the leading figure in the grime revival as well as his position as one of Britain's biggest pop stars, period.
This Is What I Mean is his third full-length, and it's a much more personal affair which seems unconcerned with producing chart hits or club anthems. He recorded the album during a retreat to the private Osea Island in England, where he held music camps with several other musicians, producers, and writers. The songs are more intimate and confessional than
Stormzy's past work, and he's an artist who's never been afraid to write from the heart or reflect his faith on his albums. None of the songs on
This Is What I Mean can be categorized as grime. There are barely any hard, angular beats and
Stormzy doesn't raise his voice or beat his chest. The album takes its time to unfold, with drums appearing four minutes into the eight-minute opening suite "Fire + Water." "This Is What I Mean" is a bit more aggressive, but also highly ambitious, with a full string section and busy choral arrangements. "Firebabe" is quite an unassuming single, with
Stormzy's soft singing and romantic lyrics backed by mellow keyboards. "Need You" is a simmering Afrobeats heater with a touch of trumpet and amapiano bass, and first single "Hide & Seek" is a more yearning confession with a haunting chorus.
Stormzy's collaborators, including
Jacob Collier and producers such as
P2J,
Tendai, and
Prgrshn, play a major role in shaping the album, and he lets other vocalists take the lead during several moments. "Sampha's Plea" is just that, without a trace of
Stormzy to be heard, and most of "Give It to the Water" is sung by
Debbie Ehirim, who graces several other songs on the album. The more political "My Presidents Are Black" features a choir at the end, and the arrangements on many of the songs maintain a similar church-like feel. The album's themes generally concern hope, forgiveness, and redemption, with songs like the
India Arie-assisted "I Got My Smile Back" describing how
Stormzy found inspiration and overcame depression. ~ Paul Simpson
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