Published
Fri, Mar 2, 2018, 22:04
- The grime innovator collected the medal of recognition from Prince William.
Wiley received an MBE at Buckingham Palace earlier today.
The 39 year-old East London native braved the blizzard to be honored alongside Soft Cell's Marc Almond and the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman. Wiley, born Richard Kylea Cowie, spoke with the Press Association following the award presentation.
"I did think in the music industry you could do work that people would recognise... but I didn't know if, like, the royals would." Cowie also congratulated recent BRIT award winner Stormzy, saying he represents "the evolution" of grime. He noted the MBE "could open up doors for me in terms of going back to teach, to help, because I don't care about myself anymore, I care about others."
The eskibeat originator's next album, Godfather II, is out later this month, reports NME.