Grime was born on the estates and pirate radio stations of London. Skepta helped take it from there to the Mercury Prize stage and to international festivals. Along the way, he also became a Nigerian chief.
Tottenham roots
Skepta was born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr on 19 September 1982, to Nigerian parents: his father’s side is Yoruba and his mother’s is Igbo. He grew up in north London, in a musical household.
Pirate radio
As a young MC and DJ with the Meridian Crew, he performed sets on pirate radio, where grime developed its fast, aggressive sound. Fellow crew members sometimes called him “Scoopa Daniels”.
Boy Better Know
With his younger brother, JME, he briefly joined Roll Deep before they became founding members of Boy Better Know in 2005. The collective became one of grime’s most influential groups.
The clash
With Boy Better Know, Skepta faced MC Devilman in the video release Lord of the Mics 2, remembered as one of the biggest clashes in grime history.
Konnichiwa
His fourth studio album, Konnichiwa, released in 2016, featured the hit singles “That’s Not Me” and “Shutdown”. It was widely acclaimed and won the Mercury Prize, a major moment for grime.
Independence
Skepta released much of his music independently, showing that grime artists could succeed without major labels.
Ignorance Is Bliss
In 2019, he released Ignorance Is Bliss, which charted in fifteen countries.
A Nigerian chief
On 4 April 2018, Skepta received a Nigerian chieftaincy title, “Amuludun of Odo-Aje”, in recognition of his success and connection to his roots.
Beyond music
He has also worked as a fashion designer, film director and DJ, and has collaborated with international artists and brands.
Style
Skepta’s lyrics are direct and often humorous, dealing with fame, loyalty and life in London. His beats, many of which he produced himself, are stripped back and hard-hitting, true to grime’s roots.
International fans
Collaborations and festival performances brought him fans in the United States, Japan and Africa. He helped open doors for British rappers abroad at a time when UK rap was rarely heard outside the country.
From pirate radio to the world
Skepta’s career traces grime’s journey from London estates to global stages. He never softened his sound to get there, and that refusal is a big part of why fans trust him.
