Grime star Stormzy has already taken on the music industry and the political establishment – and now, it seems, he’s tackling the world of publishing. 

He’s teaming up with Penguin Random House to create his own imprint, #Merky Books, which he says will be a “platform for young writers to become published authors”. 

“I know too many talented writers that don’t always have an outlet or a means to get their work seen and hopefully #Merky Books can now be a reference point for them to say “I can be an author” and for that to be a realistic and achievable goal,” he wrote on Instagram.

“Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart can not wait to hear your stories, your poems, your novels, your sci-fis and then getting them out into the big wide world. 

“Proper proud of this! We’ll be doing school competitions, taking entries and submissions and looking for writers as well… I’ll keep you posted.”

The first book will be Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far, written by Stormzy himself.

“In three years Stormzy has risen from one of the most promising musician of his generation to a spokesperson for a generation,” the blurb reads. “Rise Up is the story of how he got there. It’s a story about faith and the ideas worth fighting for. It’s about knowing where you’re from, and where you’re going. It’s about following your dreams without compromising who you are.

“Featuring hundreds of never-before-seen photographs, annotated lyrics and contributions from those closest to him, Rise Up is Stormzy’s story, in his words, and the record of a journey unlike any other.”

Images: Getty