Skepta

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Skepta, in full Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr., is a British grime MC, rapper, producer and DJ, born in North London in 1982 to Nigerian parents. He began as a DJ with the grime crew Meridian Crew from Tottenham, which broadcast on pirate radio. After the crew disbanded in 2005 he joined Roll Deep together with his younger brother Jme, and in 2005 or 2006 they founded Boy Better Know together. Wiley persuaded him to start rapping. His clash with Devilman on the DVD Lord of the Mics 2 is regarded as one of the best-known in the history of grime.

Music and breakthrough

His first albums, Greatest Hits from 2007 and Microphone Champion from 2009, were released independently. Doin' It Again followed in 2011 on a major label. In 2014 came That's Not Me, whose video won the MOBO for best video. Shutdown was released in early 2015. Both were on Konnichiwa from 2016, which won the Mercury Prize and became the highest-charting album in grime history. In 2018 he produced Praise the Lord (Da Shine) by ASAP Rocky, and in 2019 Ignorance Is Bliss followed. Insomnia from 2020, with Chip and Young Adz, reached the British top ten.

Influence

Skepta's music is hard and bare: a fast beat of around 140 beats per minute, a heavy bass and a raw, short rap. He brought grime from pirate radio to the big stage. He received three Brit nominations and in 2017 appeared on Debrett's list of the most influential Britons.

Listening

• 
  Shutdown · Skepta, 2015
  Apple Music ↗

Discography

Studio albums

• 2009Microphone Champion
• 2011Doin’ It Again
• 2016Konnichiwa
• 2019Ignorance is Bliss
• 2020Insomnia

Mentioned in other articles

• Grime GenreIn 2003 Dizzee Rascal won the Mercury Prize with his debut Boy in da Corner, and later Skepta and Stormzy became big stars.

See also

• Ignorance is Bliss