2017 was a big year for singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. With the release of his album entitled ‘÷’, Ed’s career shot to new heights as the album reached number one in over 25 countries and saw the release of hit singles such as ‘Castle on the Hill’ and ‘Shape of You’. Following the release of the album, Ed was invited to perform some of the album’s hits at the Brit Awards 2017. Ed first treated the audience to a performance of his first single from the album, ‘Castle on the Hill’.
Released only a month prior, Ed’s performance of ‘Castle On The Hill’ went down a storm with the Brit Awards audience, with actress Maisie Williams seen bopping along in the audience. However, the next song took his appearance to a whole other level. Ed started his performance of ‘Shape of You’ simply, guitar hanging by his side – but there was a surprise in store for attendees. Before Ed could launch into the second verse, Stormzy strode out on stage to provide a rap verse for the song.
Nominated in the ‘British Breakthrough Act’ category, Stormzy had been building up his profile for three years prior, but his collab with Ed proved the status he had built for himself. As he came out on stage, cheers filled the auditorium, and fans surged towards the stage. The performance took place only two days before the release of his debut album, Gang Signs and Prayer. The enthusiastic response to his appearance preceded a feverish response to an album that shot straight to number one.
Luckily for fans, Ed and Stormzy’s collaboration was not to be a one-time event. Only two years later, the pair joined forces again to release the single ‘Take Me Back To London’. A commercial success, the track was Ed’s eighth number one and Stormzy’s second. Expanding their collaboration, Sir Spyro was invited to produce a remix version of the song. Rappers Jaykae and Aitch got in on the action, too, with all four artists rapping on the track and appearing in the song’s music video.
Even as far back as 2011, with his No. 5 Collaborations Project, Ed Sheeran has collaborated with artists from the grime scene, often choosing to invite them to feature on his songs, as well as featuring on their songs in return. For many, Ed and Stormzy’s partnership makes for the ultimate collaboration. With Ed renowned for his melodic talents and genre-blending music and Stormzy having now established himself as one of the most successful grime artists in British history, the coming together of the two was a truly special moment in Brit Awards history.
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