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Grime star Stormzy scores first UK no.1 single with 'Vossi Bop'

  (Reuters)
London, United Kingdom
Sun, May 5, 2019 Published on May. 4, 2019 Published on 2019-05-04T21:37:03+07:00

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British rapper Stormzy performs on stage at the Arena Stage during the Roskilde music festival on July 5, 2018 in Roskilde, Denmark. 
British rapper Stormzy performs on stage at the Arena Stage during the Roskilde music festival on July 5, 2018 in Roskilde, Denmark. (AFP/Ólafur Steinar Gestsson )

G

rime artist Stormzy scored his first No. 1 in the UK singles charts on Friday, beating US songstress Taylor Swift to the top spot.

"Vossi Bop", which features a cameo appearance from actor Idris Elba in its music video, is the London-born rapper's first single since 2017's "Gang Signs & Prayer", which topped the UK album charts.

The Official Charts Company said in a statement "Vossi Bop" had 12.7 million listens, allowing Storzmy to claim "the biggest week of streams ever for a rapper – smashing the previous figure set by Drake's 'In My Feelings' by over two million – and the fifth biggest streaming week of all time".

Read also: Grime star Stormzy announced as Glastonbury's first headline act

"Words don't really do it justice. I'm genuinely, for once in my life, speechless," Stormzy said in a statement, thanking his fans.

Stormzy, who will perform at June's Glastonbury music festival, pushed down last week's no.1 - "Old Town Road" by American rapper Lil Nas X - to no.2 while Grammy Award winner Swift's pop duet "ME!" went into the charts at no.3.

American pop singer Pink topped the UK album charts with Hurts 2B Human

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