Stormzy is launching his own publishing imprint called #Merky Books, which will help young writers become published authors.
The rapper announced his new venture, a collaboration with Penguin Random House, on Instagram.
He wrote: “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.
“Reading and writing as a kid was integral to where I am today and I from the bottom of my heart cannot wait to hear your stories, your poems, your novels, your sci-fis and then getting them out into the big wide world.”
He added that he is “proper proud of this” and that #Merky Books will “be doing school competitions, taking entries and submissions and looking for writers as well”.
Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, added: “#Merky Books will also be offering a paid internship in 2019!”
The 24-year-old grime star’s first book to be released under the imprint will be his own called Rise Up: The #Merky Journey So Far, which will be available from November 1.
He’s the voice of a generation. Now, Stormzy is releasing his own book, Rise Up, the launch title for a brand new publishing imprint, #Merky Books. Find out more here: https://t.co/fiFjnHZU6H pic.twitter.com/ERhBx0dmWt
— Penguin Books UK (@PenguinUKBooks) July 5, 2018
Stormzy was described by Penguin as the “voice of a generation” in a tweet from the publisher.
The imprint aims to publish two to three books per year, and “form a home for a new generation of voices”, Penguin said on its website.
#Merky Books is the latest addition to the Mobo and Brit Award-winning artist’s Merky empire, which already includes a record label and a music festival.