Lauryn Hill

Stormzy has said he has made a conscious decision to promote his black peers and predecessors, to combat prejudice in the Music Industry .

" I've always understood I'm The Black act. Maybe the Token Black act, " the superstar British rapper told DJ Trevor Nelson in a

" I want to kill that where it stands. "

That's why, The Star explained, he paused his historic Glastonbury Festival set to read a list of 52 rappers who influenced him.

It also prompted him to populate the video for his recent single, with musicians Little Simz , Dave and Gabrielle; sports legends Usain Bolt , Ian Wright and Diana Asher-Smith; and the author Malorie Blackman .

" There's always been this stigma of, 'let one through', " He Said . " There's one black [man], one black woman at a time. That needs to die.

" So that's why when I get Glasto, when I do Mel Made Me Do It, it's like, 'This is us. . We stand on your Shoulders . '

" I didn't just pop out of The Blue and break The Matrix . "

Stormzy is also supporting new generations of black talent through his Merky foundation, which offers scholarships to Cambridge University; and Merky FC, which among football managers, coaches and other behind-the-scenes roles.

The 45-minute BBC special saw Stormzy perform a mix of Classic Hits and new songs, and sit down for a candid interview with Nelson about his origins, his rise to fame and why headlining Glastonbury had calmed his Inner Demons .

" It gave me such a peace in terms of knowing, all right, if it all falls [apart], you've done it. Now you can walk with your head high. "

The musician said The Performance had given him the confidence to pursue a more soulful, spiritual direction on his new album This Is What I Mean.

He cited Stevie Wonder , Frank Ocean and Lauryn Hill among the record's influences - But reserved his highest praise for Whitney Houston , who he named the " greatest of all time".

" I've got a lot of GOATs, But Whitney is my GOAT GOAT, " He Said .

" If I leave here and I Get In my car and I listen to Whitney, I'm thinking, you've done something that's intangible.

" You haven't put your hand on my back, you haven't shaken my hand, you haven't given me a hug - But you have just Hit Me in my soul. "

Stormzy also talked about his long-standing friendship with fellow Tottenham native Adele .

" I'm a genuine fan, " he told Nelson. " She's blessed with A Gift of a stunning, beautiful, moving voice and a phenomenal pen. And her ability to marry what she's gone through, her experiences, her feelings, with art and melody, is second to none. "

However, He Said he had never considered asking her to appear on one of his records.

" Our friendship ain't based off [that]. That's never The Conversation .

" Anyone who does music that is my real-life friend. . Adele , Ed [Sheeran], Dave, Chris Martin , it's never off that basis. I'll be fine to never make music with any of them.

" However, if I could get a Hook . . !" he joked, before adding: " But no, I never, I never. "

Source of news: bbc.com