Stormzy (Feat. MNEK) – Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2

Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr. (that’s a mouthful), better known as his stage name Stormzy, is a British rapper, who began his career in 2010.

His first release was a 2013 mixtape entitled 168: The Mixtape.  Since then, he released two EP’s and two albums, including:

• Not That Deep (EP, 2014)
• Dreamers Disease (EP, 2014)
• Gang Signs & Prayer (2017)
• Heavy Is the Head (2019)

As of this writing, Stormzy received 30 awards for his work.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Stormzy-blinded-by-your-grace-pt-2-lyrics.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

The grace of God engulfs Stormzy as light overtakes darkness.  Knowing that he doesn’t deserve God’s goodness, he is grateful for receiving it, adopted as a son of the Most High.

My biggest criticism is that Stormzy claims to be shirtless when he raps on stage.  This entices his audience to lust after his body, compromising his otherwise excellent message.

Score: 8/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

Most of this song agrees with Scripture; However, I cannot comprehend Verse 1’s opening, and Stormzy’s shirtless action described in Verse 1, line 8 is contrary to the Bible.

[Intro]

Line 1: Our natural inclination when we experience a bright light is to close our eyes.  We can’t handle it.  It blinds us!  In the same way, the grace that God offers is so overwhelming that we, who were in darkness, could not comprehend it (John 1:5).

Lines 2-4: Essentially repeats line 1.

[Chorus]

Lines 1-4: Stormzy recognizes that he is unworthy to receive God’s favor; the definition of grace (Luke 18:9-14, Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20-30, Romans 4:1-7, Romans 8:3, Romans 9:16, Romans 9:31-32, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10-12, Galatians 3:21, Galatians 5:2-4, Ephesians 2:8-9, Philippians 3:3-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Hebrews 6:1-2, and James 2:10-11).

Lines 5-8: Repeats lines 1-4.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-5: I’m uncertain what Stormzy is talking about.  When I think of “one time”, I think of a single occasion.  I do not believe that Stormzy intends to state that he only serves God one time for a single round of applause or a single song for producer Frazer T Smith.

In my initial review of this song, I asked if anyone has any interpretations.  I received a response, that “one time” is used in hip hop culture to express a shout out or credit due to the individual.  In other words, Stormzy praises God, shouts out to the cause, and thanks Frazer T. Smith for his musical talents.

Line 5: Though Stormzy’s earthly mother is Abigail, God is his heavenly Father, as an adopted son (John 1:12-13, John 14:18, Romans 8:14-17, Romans 8:23, Romans 9:1-8, Galatians 3:26, Galatians 4:5-7, Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 2:11-22, Hebrews 9:15, and 1 John 3:1-3).

Lines 6 and 7: Stormzy testifies about God’s grace.

Line 8: Stormzy sings on stage without his shirt on, potentially inviting others to lust after him.  This is contrary to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:7.

Line 9: Flipz is Stormzy’s friend who comes through for him.

Line 10-12: It is God’s will for Stormzy to be saved, among others (1 Timothy 2:3-4).

Line 13: Adoption by God is not a matter of natural-born heritage (John 1:12-12).

Line 14: Not spoken as blasphemy, but an exclamation about God’s goodness (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19-20, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 86:5, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 135:3, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 145:9, Lamentations 3:25, Nahum 1:7, Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19).

[Verse 2]

Lines 1-4: Stormzy prayed for survival and received salvation.  See commentary on Chorus, line 1.

Lines 5 and 6: Describes Stormzy’s migration from darkness apart from God to light with Him (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

Line 7: Combines portions of line 4 with Intro, line 1.

Lines 8-13: Repeats lines 1-7.

Score: 8/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers should find it easy to conclude that Stormzy found God whose grace is overwhelming.  These lyrics are mostly plain language, accessible to his intended audience.  I can’t comment on Verse 1’s opening.

Stormzy sans shirt does not set a good example for Godly living for those outside the camp of Christ.

Score: 8/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God in that His grace overcomes Stormzy’s sinful past, Stormzy does not glorify God when rapping on stage without his shirt on.

Score: 8/10

Closing Comments

Stormzy’s Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2 is a good song with an unfortunate behavior. Stormzy alludes to a sinful past, where God’s grace and salvation overwhelm him, bringing Him glory.  He admits rapping on stage without his shirt, inviting believers and unbelievers alike to think more about his body than his words, compromising his good message.

I cannot recommend this for corporate worship.

Final Score: 8/10

Artist Info

Track: Blinded by Your Grace, Pt. 2 (listen to the song)

Artist: Stormzy (Feat. MNEK)

Album: Gang Signs & Prayer [Explicit]

Genre: Hip Hop/Rap, Gospel

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 3:50

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

Updates:

03/25/2021 – Updated per repetition announcement.

Commenter Andrew helped me with my issue interpreting the opening of Verse 1.  I had initially subtracted a point due to my limited understanding of “one time”.  Upon correction, I restored the point, slightly raising its score from 7.5/10 to 8/10.