Tobe Onwuka, founder of Stormzy’s #Merky management company, has stressed the importance of the Croydon MC’s residency at O2 Academy Brixton.
Stormzy begins a run of three sold-out shows at the south London venue tonight (May 2), and Onwuka described the gigs as “the crown jewel” of the campaign so far.
“We’ve probably done about 400-450 shows since we’ve been working together,” he said. “And it feels like they all culminate at Brixton Academy. We’re putting everything into them.”
Two dates were announced in February as part of UK tour, with a third added due to demand. The excitement followed the release of Stormzy’s chart-topping debut album Gang Signs & Prayer, which has so far sold 148,400 copies, according to the Official Charts Company.
“The initial thought was to do one date at Brixton, which is amazing in itself – selling 5,000 tickets down the road from where you were raised, anybody would be excited about that,” Onwuka continued. “But being able to add a second and then a third… I couldn’t tell you I thought that would happen!”
Read the full interview in the new issue of Music Week, which is out now.
Stormzy plays O2 Academy Brixton on May 2, 3 and 4.
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