Stormzy's debut album will 'put him up with Ed Sheeran and Adele', says producer Fraser T Smith

Stormzy's debut album will see him reach the level of success achieved by Ed Sheeran and Adele, the record's producer Fraser T Smith has claimed. 

Smith, who has previously worked with Adele as well as a string of acts including Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, Craig David and Kano, believes Stormzy's debut album Gang Signs & Prayer will "come to define 2017". 

"This record will put Stormzy up there with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Adele and The Weeknd,” Smith told Music Week. "A lot has been said about whether or not a UK grime artist can break outside the UK, but if there is one artist that can, it’s Stormzy.

"He’s a spokesperson for his generation, and he’s not taken that title lightly."

Smith also explained how the pair took a traditional approach to recording the album, revealing: "We locked ourselves away for 10 months to make the record. Everything had to fit the concept in terms of the sonics, the title, the lyrics, the tracklisting and the mix.

"As much as Stormzy is the hottest new artist releasing a record, it was made in a very old school way.

"We were using the ‘gang signs’ as the hard beats, and the ‘prayer’ side being church bells, harp, live strings for a more ethereal, divine sound."

Stormzy releases Gang Signs & Prayer on February 24. Look back at Stormzy's complete Official UK Chart history, including two Top 10 singles.  

Watch the video for his latest single Big For Your Boots below: