In recent years, Stormzy has gone from underground UK grime rapper to being one of the leading figureheads in the emerging rap sub-genre, and the poster boy for grime’s growing international appeal. Now, the London-native emcee can add publisher to his rap sheet, with the launch of his newly announced partnership with Penguin Random House to expand into the world of book publishing with his new imprint, #Merky Books.

Stormzy took to social media to announce the news to fans. The “Scary” rhymer is looking to give opportunities and inspiration to young writers and help create the next generation of authors of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. #Merky Books will be hosting an open writing submission competition and a paid internship program in 2019, hoping to get young people into the world of book writing and publishing. The first release from #Merky Books is by Stormzy himself, titled Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far. More than just another extension of his #Merky brand, Stormzy’s dive into literature highlights his multidimensional capabilities as a creator as well as his desire to help groom an up and coming generation of fellow creatives.

Super proud to announce our new venture #Merky Books, a publishing imprint in collaboration with Penguin Random House @penguinukbooks 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. Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart can not wait to hear your stories, your poems, your novels, your sci-fis and then getting them out into the big wide world. Proper proud of this! We’ll be doing school competitions, taking entries and submissions and looking for writers as well but I’ll keep you posted! #Merky Books will also be offering a paid internship in 2019! The first book to be released under the imprint will be “Rise Up: The #Merky Journey So Far” out November 1st and available for pre order now (The link is in my bio!) 🙏🏿❤

A post shared by Gang Signs & Prayer (@stormzyofficial) on Jul 5, 2018 at 8:21am PDT

Tags: Book publishing, grime, Penguin Random House, stormzy

Categories: News