This Is What I Mean is a journey of pious self expression, worship and a sporadic flex of rap muscle, laced with plenty of opportunities for poetic punches along the way. The rapper's third studio album is an exploration of self, an acceptance to aberrations of old and a submission of self for penitence all these laced with big flex that serenades the whole Christian humility outlook.
The bulk of This Is What I Mean was recorded on Osea Island, a private slab of land that sits in the Blackwater Estuary, off the coast of Essex. It is reported that the rapper needed to isolate himself, - from the world, from expectations, and from his inner doubts and demons - to remind himself what freedom feels like.
With handpicked features joining him at the coast of Essex to create the masterpiece, Stormzy projected an album rich in Christian undertones, while exhibiting a singing propensity that was almost nonexistent in his former bodies of work. He opened the album with an ode to his lover on Fire + Water, singing beautifully crafted lyrics as he portrays the lady as a super being over undulating piano chords.
It's as if he's an erring penitent crouching and seeking for redemption at the feet of the higher loving power even as he makes erotic claims of the being promising to take her out to dinner before then making a snack of her, and then giving her orgasms more than she can fathom. This plea then slowly generates into a high pitch triumphant up tempo chorus.
As if in a bid to show off his swagger and versatility, the rapper switched to his forte as he went rampage on the theme song This Is What I Mean. "time to make a statement/time to free my mind of limitations" he chants over humpy coos. From his romantic flex, he delved into the kind of self glorification that would make other rappers wriggle in awe.
The flow and rhythm along with his rhymes gave a mental picture of a zombie-esque oversized human hopping around in a room with microphone in hand, singing praises of his prowess while intimidating other smaller animals. The flow coherent, the swagger effortless and the instrumentation bouncy, with even the features blending in seamlessly.
If it had a flow chart, this album would've been more volatile than the crypto market with the high octane title track dropping sharply into a sorrowful plea on Please where he lays bare his shortcomings over a choral chant of "oh please" over undulating piano chords. His voice sorrowful and reverberating of one in pain, the rapper addresses his creator, stands up for Meghan, and pleads for strength to forgive his father, and as his voice slowly fades, the choir swells to engulf his lyrics like a fire consumes a sacrifice.
He might have erred and made atonement, but still beaming with pride and not here to let his chin down, Stormzy takes a stroll through the after life of his relationship on Need You. Like a juvenile reeling from the pain of a bad breakup and seeking petty ways to hide his hurt, the rapper goes on a humpty dumpty lyrical over amapiano beats, letting his lover know that as much as he's seen the new guy, she also need to see his new chick.
And as if being awaken to the wild realities that the babe doesn't care anymore, he switches to letting her know that he's the only one who truly knows her, is the best for her, and if she's planning to come back, she should do that fast as time's running out. Sounds more like a jealous ex who's finding it difficult to move on, but has too much pride to come out clean and beg for forgiveness.
True love? Eff that, let's get back to talking reality as the self acclaimed “community provider, multiple diss track survivor” takes a swipe at the prevalent racism in the music industry, has a go at the government by telling Michael Gove that "we got something for your nose” and also announcing that he won’t be reactivating his beef with fellow rapper Wylie based on the fact that he “can’t war with no broken man”. A gesture that seemed more like a reactivation of the beef.
This is an anthem that should reverberate with all blacks and the struggle they go through, the racism they face and the discrimination they endure and just as Stormzy said, "this is for the Koffis and the Adeolas". He paints a picture of victory through the murky waters with him as the captain of the ship, letting us know what he's lost in the quest for freedom, that we're now tuned in to his magnum opus, and calls himself the Serena to our Sharapovas who just keeps winning.
The sins have piled up again, the rock bottom retested and his soul is heavy with guilt, seeking even more atonement that he had to employ Sampha for the plea duty on Sampha's Plea. With piano chords stringing along in wild wavy tunes as if being vamped upon by a man gently overtaken by spirits beyond his control, Sampha pleads for virtues like proactiveness, patience, and divine direction.
This plea for mercy teeters into more plea, but this time directed at the Holy Spirit as Stormzy begs for the upliftment of the burdens from his shoulders. The rapper delivers a beautiful gospel melody that even Donnie McClurkin would've been proud of. His voice oozes solemn submission to the powers of the most high as he pays tribute to God's role in his success while still pleading to be filled more with the spirit even as it keeps him grounded.
It sounds like a lean towards his maker and backbone in his quest for inner peace even while he trods around in landmines, hoping that he'll be held up and his foot won't be let to hit the stone. While still praying, that's when he remembers that no matter how filled he is with the holy spirit, the flesh still requires its own satisfaction of love and he somewhat recreates Need You on Bad Blood.
But unlike on Need You, here he came out clean to talk about the pain of his lost love, the times they spent, and how loving her is easy because she's beautiful. "it should be me by your side because I know your heart" he boasts before laying it on a platter the mountains he's ready to move on her behalf, how he'd love her openly, and how he'd be her ride till death.
It's an open letter which sounds enticing and tempting when also weighed with the promise of numerous orgasms in Fire + Water. Here he says his mind and pushes the ball into the court of whoever this lover of his is. It's a blend of truism in love and confidence in his sexual prowess, a mixture that might be too tempting to turn down.
Just when you think he's about to go mellow because of love he switches up the flex again. With the choral hum opening up the rather low tempo I Got My Smile Back Stormzy takes aim at the dumb advisors giving out dumb tips on how to stay true to culture without ever walking their own talk. "was it beginner's luck or was it the blood of Christ/ they said it was a fluke, so then I done it twice", he boasts while warning that he's about to up his price.
Talk about big flex and Stormzy takes the stage, effortlessly swerving through mellow beats, taking his time with his Patek Phillipe. Doing the big fish talk with reference to God and still showing a vulnerability that was never there in his previous bodies of work. The encounters with paranoia, loneliness, suicidal thoughts, self doubt and his new found rapport with peace of mind, love, and joy. He thinks he's got his smile back.
It might've started with a battle between fire and water, strolling through different cadences, wave forms and inner expositions, and then climaxed with Give It To The Water. The flow is wavy just as the lyrics of the song. If fills the empty spaces, floods through his veins and healing all the bruises. It keeps him flowing when he feels straight and washes away the pains.
The climax is an exhilarating slow melody of piano chords awash with a sweet melodious female voice and a choral hum that swells and retreats like the waves of the water. Then Stormzy beams in slowing to create a duet about holding onto the water no matter what happens as it's what shows him the way.
This Is What I Mean is the most conscious music yet made by the talented British rapper. He reveals layers of his personality and abilities that were erstwhile unseen and seemingly nonexistent. The album has songs for almost every weather and situation. On his third studio album, Stormzy stamps his authority as the best out of the UK. I rate the album a 9/10 as the production is topnotch, the lyrical content is indepth, and the features were perfectly selected and utilized.
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