View source for Heavy Is the Head (album)

{{About|the Stormzy album|the T.I. album of a similar name|Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Heavy Is the Head
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Stormzy]]
| cover        = Stormzy - Heavy Is the Head.png
| alt          =
| released     = {{start date|2019|12|13|df=y}}
| recorded     = <!-- Please source recording dates/years -->
| studio       =
| genre        = <!-- Please source genres -->
* [[British hip hop]]
* [[soul music|soul]]
* [[Grime (music genre)|grime]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter-Tilney |first=Ludovic |date=2019-12-12 |title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head — a gripping album of light and shade |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d318ceca-1c1d-11ea-97df-cc63de1d73f4 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=Financial Times}}</ref>
| length       = 53:36
| label        = {{hlist|<nowiki>#</nowiki>Merky|[[Atlantic Records UK]]}}
| producer     =
* AdotSkitz
* Chris Andoh
* EY
* Jay Weathers
* [[Fred Again|Fred Gibson]]
* [[Illmind]]
* [[Jimmy Napes]]
* [[MJ Cole]]
| prev_title   = [[Gang Signs & Prayer]]
| prev_year    = 2017
| next_title   = [[This Is What I Mean]]
| next_year    = 2022
| misc         = {{Singles
| name        = Heavy Is the Head
| type        = studio
| single1     = [[Vossi Bop]]
| single1date = 25 April 2019
| single2     = [[Crown (Stormzy song)|Crown]]
| single2date = 21 June 2019
| single3     = [[Wiley Flow]]
| single3date = 15 September 2019
| single4     = [[Own It]]
| single4date = 22 November 2019
| single5     = [[Audacity (song)|Audacity]]
| single5date = 11 December 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/stormzy-and-headie-one-command-respect-in-new-song-audacity-2586427|title=Stormzy and Headie One command respect in new song 'Audacity'|website=NME|last=Krol|first=Charlotte|date=11 December 2019|access-date=22 December 2019}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''Heavy Is the Head''''' (abbreviated to '''''h.i.t.h''''' on the album cover) is the second studio album by British rapper [[Stormzy]]. It was released on 13 December 2019 through #Merky Records and [[Atlantic Records UK]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/stormzy-details-new-album-heavy-is-the-head/|title=Stormzy Details New Album ''Heavy Is the Head''|website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last1=Hussey|first1=Allison|last2=Strauss|first2=Matthew|date=19 November 2019|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> The album features collaborations with [[Aitch (rapper)|Aitch]], [[Burna Boy]], [[Ed Sheeran]], [[Headie One]], [[H.E.R.]], and [[Yebba]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.factmag.com/2019/11/19/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head/|title=Stormzy details second album, ''Heavy Is The Head''|last=Bruce-Jones|first=Henry|date=19 November 2019|work=[[Fact (UK magazine)|Fact]]|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>
''Heavy Is the Head'' was supported by the singles "[[Vossi Bop]]", "[[Crown (Stormzy song)|Crown]]", "[[Wiley Flow]]" and "[[Own It]]".<ref name="OCC">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/stormzy-announces-new-album-heavy-is-the-head__27766/|title=Stormzy announces new album Heavy Is The Head|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=19 November 2019|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> "Vossi Bop" was Stormzy's first number-one song on the [[UK Singles Chart]], while "Own It" also reached number one on the chart. Additionally, "Crown" reached the top 10 on the chart. ''Heavy Is the Head'' debuted at number two on the [[UK Albums Chart]], behind [[Rod Stewart]]'s ''[[You're in My Heart: Rod Stewart with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]]'' and ahead of [[Harry Styles]]' ''[[Fine Line (Harry Styles album)|Fine Line]]''.<ref name="OCC"/> It eventually topped the chart on 10 January 2020.
''Heavy Is the Head'' received widespread acclaim from critics upon release, being nominated at the [[Brit Awards 2023|Brit Awards]] for [[Brit Award for British Album of the Year|British Album of the Year]], while "Vossi Bop" for [[Brit Award for Song of the Year|British Song of the Year]]. By January 2020, it was certified [[BPI certification|Platinum]] by the [[British Phonographic Industry]] (BPI).
==Promotion==
The album was promoted with numerous projections of the initials ''H.I.T.H'' around [[London]].<ref name="OCC"/> Stormzy officially announced the album through his social media on 19 November,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8544208/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head-album-release-date|title=Stormzy Confirms Release Date for 'Heavy Is the Head' Album|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Aniftos|first=Rania|date=19 November 2019|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> revealing the track list and cover art, which shows him holding the stab proof vest featuring a black-and-white [[Union Jack]] that he wore during his set at the [[Glastonbury Festival 2019]], designed by [[Banksy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/stormzy-announces-second-album-heavy-is-the-head-2569480|title=Stormzy announces second album 'Heavy Is The Head'|work=[[NME]]|last=Reilly|first=Nick|date=19 November 2019|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref>
==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| ADM = 7.7/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/10186/Stormzy-Heavy-Is-the-Head.aspx|title=Heavy Is the Head by Stormzy reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref>
| MC = 82/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/heavy-is-the-head/stormzy|title=Heavy is the Head by Stormzy Reviews and Tracks|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/heavy-is-the-head-mw0003339880|title=Heavy Is the Head – Stormzy|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|last=Simpson|first=Paul|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/heavy-head-stormzy-review-grimes-swagger-meets-shakespearean/|title=Heavy is the Head, Stormzy, review: grime's swagger meets Shakespearean self-doubt|last=McCormick|first=Neil|author-link=Neil McCormick|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 May 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Financial Times]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d318ceca-1c1d-11ea-97df-cc63de1d73f4|title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head — a gripping album of light and shade|last=Hunter-Tilney|first=Ludovic|work=[[Financial Times]]|date=13 December 2019|access-date=14 May 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/13/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head-album-review-merky|title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head review – a bright light on the dark side of fame|work=[[The Guardian]]|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|author-link=Alexis Petridis|date=13 December 2019|access-date=13 December 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[The Independent]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/stormzy-review-heavy-is-the-head-tracklist-ed-sheeran-headie-one-nme-glastonbury-a9244141.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/stormzy-review-heavy-is-the-head-tracklist-ed-sheeran-headie-one-nme-glastonbury-a9244141.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Stormzy review – Heavy Is the Head: Assertive second album heralds a man who knows exactly who he is|work=[[The Independent]]|last=O'Connor|first=Roisin|date=13 December 2019|access-date=13 December 2019}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="NME">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head-review-2587757|title=Stormzy – ‘Heavy Is The Head’ review: a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp|work=[[NME]]|last=Anka|first=Carl|date=16 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[The Observer]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/dec/14/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head-review-hyper-confident-return|title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head review – a hyper-confident return|work=[[The Observer]]|last=Empire|first=Kitty|author-link=Kitty Empire|date=14 December 2019|access-date=16 December 2019}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev8score = 7.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head/|title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Pritchard|first=Will|date=18 December 2019|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Force of Nature|work=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|issue=407|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=February 2020|page=106}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[The Times]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stormzy-heavy-is-the-head-review-a-regal-gift-from-the-grime-king-2pt82fv3v|title=Stormzy: Heavy Is the Head review — a regal gift from the grime king|last=Potton|first=Ed|work=[[The Times]]|date=13 December 2019|access-date=13 December 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
}}
Upon release'', Heavy Is the Head'' received widespread acclaim from critics. At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalised]] rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 82, based on 17 reviews.<ref name="MC"/>
Carl Anka of ''[[NME]]'' described ''Heavy Is the Head'' as "a broad-reaching, genre-buckling romp that – while sometimes overreaching – never gets dull or overstays its welcome."<ref name="NME"/> Praising its exploration of genres and themes, [[Kitty Empire]] wrote for ''[[The Observer]]'', "The spaciousness, punch and depth of these productions is telling, but it is a mark of [''Heavy Is the Head''{{'}}s] artistic integrity that Stormzy manages to transcend genre (again) without sacrificing his core griminess, or losing too much in the way of accent, word choice, content or theme."<ref name="Guardian"/>
The album was shortlisted for the [[Mercury Prize]] 2020, the second time in his career.
==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Big Michael
| writer1 = {{hlist|[[Stormzy|Michael Omari]]|[[Fred Again|Fred Gibson]]}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|[[Fred Again|Fred]]|[[Fraser T. Smith]]{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length1 = 2:26
| title2 = [[Audacity (song)|Audacity]]
| note2 = featuring [[Headie One]]
| writer2 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Headie One|Irving Adjei]]|Smith}}
| extra2 = Smith
| length2 = 4:06
| title3 = [[Crown (Stormzy song)|Crown]]
| writer3 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Jimmy Napes|James Napier]]|[[MJ Cole|Matthew James Firth Coleman]]}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Napes|[[MJ Cole]]}}
| length3 = 3:33
| title4 = Rainfall
| note4 = featuring [[Tiana Major9]]
| writer4 = {{hlist|Omari|Jay Weathers|[[Erica Campbell]]|[[Tina Campbell (musician)|Tina Campbell]]|[[Warryn Campbell]]}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Weathers|Aod{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length4 = 3:18
| title5 = Rachael's Little Brother
| writer5 = {{hlist|Omari|[[JJC Skillz|Abdul Bello]]|[[Cherise Roberts]]|Eyobed Getachew|[[Big Brovaz|John Horsley]]|[[Big Brovaz|Michael Brown]]|[[Big Brovaz|Michael Mugisha]]|[[Booty Luv|Nadia Shepherd]]|[[Big Brovaz|Temi Aisida]]|[[Big Brovaz|Thelma Howell]]}}
| extra5 = EY
| length5 = 5:38
| title6 = Handsome
| writer6 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Frank Dukes|Adam Feeney]]|[[T-Minus (record producer)|Tyler Williams]]}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|Dukes|[[T-Minus (record producer)|T-Minus]]}}
| length6 = 2:33
| title7 = Do Better
| writer7 = {{hlist|Omari|Smith}}
| extra7 = Smith
| length7 = 4:09
| title8 = Don't Forget to Breathe
| note8 = featuring [[Yebba]]) (interlude
| writer8 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Paul Epworth]]}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|PRGRSHN|Smith}}
| length8 = 2:21
| title9 = One Second
| note9 = featuring [[H.E.R.]]
| writer9 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Dan Caplen]]|Owen Cutts}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Cutts|Aod{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length9 = 4:01
| title10 = Pop Boy
| note10 = featuring [[Aitch (rapper)|Aitch]]
| writer10 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Aitch (rapper)|Harrison Armstrong]]|Gibson}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|Fred|[[Toddla T]]{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length10 = 2:33
| title11 = [[Own It]]
| note11 = featuring [[Ed Sheeran]] and [[Burna Boy]]
| writer11 = {{hlist|Omari|[[Ed Sheeran]]|[[Burna Boy|Damini Ogulu]]|Gibson}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Fred|Weathers{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length11 = 3:37
| title12 = [[Wiley Flow]]
| writer12 = {{hlist|Omari|Getachew|Fateh Mohammed Aminur Rahman|[[Wiley (musician)|Richard Kylea Cowie Jr.]]}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|[[Illmind|!llmind]]|Adotskitz|EY}}
| length12 = 3:27
| title13 = Bronze
| writer13 = {{hlist|Omari|Jonathan Lee}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|Weathers|[[Cardiak]]}}
| length13 = 2:25
| title14 = Superheroes
| writer14 = {{hlist|Omari|Weathers|Alastair O'Donnell|Brian Steven Harris|Lee|Natalie Jordan|Nigel Lowis}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Weathers|Aod}}
| length14 = 3:32
| title15 = Lessons
| writer15 = {{hlist|Omari|Ed Thomas}}
| extra15 = Thomas
| length15 = 3:08
| title16 = [[Vossi Bop]]
| writer16 = {{hlist|Omari|Chris Andoh|ANDERSON|Dakarai Forbes}}
| extra16 = Andoh
| length16 = 3:16
| total_length = 53:36
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Japanese edition bonus track
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 57:40
| title17 = [[Sounds of the Skeng]]
| writer17 = {{hlist|Omari|Karl Joseph}}
| extra17 = Sir Spyro
| length17 = 3:32
}}
'''Sample credits'''
* "Rainfall" contains a sample of "[[Shackles (Praise You)]]" written by Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell and Warryn Campbell and performed by [[Mary Mary]]. The song was featured on the video game ''[[Watch Dogs: Legion]]'' under the title "Fall on My Enemies".<ref name="Guardian" />
* "Rachael's Little Brother" contains elements of "[[Baby Boy (Big Brovaz song)|Baby Boy]]" written by Cherise Roberts, Eyobed Getachew, John Horsley, Michael Brown, Michael Mugisha, Nadia Shepherd, Temi Aisida and Thelma Howell and performed by [[Big Brovaz]].<ref name="Guardian" />
* "Superheroes" contains an interpolation of "Someday" written by Lee Jordan and Nigel Lowis and performed by [[Keisha White]], which is the theme song to the [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] show ''[[The Story of Tracy Beaker (TV series)|The Story of Tracy Beaker]]''.<ref name="Guardian" />
==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2019–2020)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|11|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Flanders|25|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=15 February 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardCanada|57|artist=Stormzy|rowheader=true|access-date=24 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Denmark|6|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=25 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Netherlands|10|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|84|id=396810|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=20 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Ireland2|3|artist=Stormzy|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|20|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|13|M|url=http://www.vglista.no/topplister/topp-40-album-2020-03/|title=VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 3, 2020|publisher=[[VG-lista]]|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=18 January 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Scotland|5|date=20200110|rowheader=true|access-date=11 January 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|34|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=21 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|29|artist=Stormzy|album=Heavy Is the Head|rowheader=true|access-date=25 December 2019}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|1|date=20200110|rowheader=true|access-date=11 January 2020}}
|-
{{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|16|artist=Stormzy|rowheader=true|access-date=24 December 2019}}
|}
{{col-2}}
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20190101/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2019|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref>
| 58
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2020/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref>
| 70
|-
! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2020&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2020|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
| 87
|-
! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/top2020.asp?list=Album%20100|title=Album Top-100 2020|publisher=[[Hitlisten]]|access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref>
| 22
|-
! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2020&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2020|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=6 January 2021}}</ref>
| 44
|-
! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/irelands-official-top-50-biggest-albums-of-2020__29420/|title=Ireland's Official Top 50 biggest albums of 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=White|first=Jack|date=10 January 2021|access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref>
| 14
|-
! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20201231/37502|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
| 5
|}
{{col-end}}
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Heavy Is the Head|artist=Stormzy|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|id=9955|access-date=October 1, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Stormzy|title=Heavy Is the Head|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2019|certyear=2020|id=16100-4124-2|access-date=27 November 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true | noshipments=true | streaming=true}}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Stormzy}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2019 albums]]
[[Category:Stormzy albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Fred Again]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Jimmy Napes]]