As a lifestyle expert, I’m always excited to see true innovators. This artist is one of them! He’s made a huge splash in both music and fashion, and it’s fantastic to see that recognized – he actually made history as the first man to grace the cover of British GQ’s Men Of The Year issue, and rightfully so!
Skepta says his mother, who is Nigerian and a fan of British royalty, played a big role in shaping his distinctive style and sparking his passion for fashion, as seen in his recent photoshoot.
The 43-year-old rapper told GQ that someone modeled their entire life after Princess Diana. He’ll be honored at this year’s GQ Men of the Year event.
Growing up, my mom was obsessed with Princess Diana – seriously! She used to dress my brother Jamie and me in outfits that were totally inspired by Princes William and Harry. It wasn’t just a passing phase; she really lived and breathed that whole aesthetic, like her house was a giant Diana mood board. It was a bit much, honestly, but looking back, it was definitely…unique!
Born and raised in Tottenham, this multi-talented rapper, producer, and designer will share stories from his life growing up as the child of Nigerian parents on his new album. The album, which was initially planned for release last year, is finally coming out soon.
The upcoming album, currently titled Knife & Fork, was first announced over a year ago. The single “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” followed on January 26, 2024.
Although he’s been working on his sixth studio album – a project influenced by his childhood as the son of Nigerian immigrants in North London – a firm release date hasn’t been announced yet.
He explained that the album explores what it’s like to be an immigrant – the familiar sights, smells, and feelings of home, contrasted with the shock of stepping outside and entering a completely different world, like the UK. He described leaving his house as feeling like walking into Narnia.
I’m simply sharing the personal experiences reflected in my album. I can only really talk about my own life, my thoughts, and the lessons I’ve learned as someone who immigrated and grew up.
People often focus on the negative aspects of immigration, but I personally make an effort to highlight the positive contributions immigrants make.
Besides his music career, the rapper has become a successful fashion entrepreneur. He recently launched his clothing brand, Mains, after speaking out about the lack of Black representation in high-end fashion.
However, he acknowledges that the area has shown some commercial growth, especially after he started his own fashion brand in 2017.
He said: ‘Kendrick Lamar is rapping at Louis Vuitton, [I’ve got] a fashion brand. We sit front row.
I realize now that my initial strong reaction wasn’t helpful. We’ve moved past that, and now we can focus on showcasing our passion for fashion and what unique contributions we can make.
Born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr., Skepta began his music career in 2003 as a DJ with the Meridian Crew, a grime collective from Tottenham. He soon started rapping before the group broke up in 2005.
Skepta and his brother, JME, briefly joined the grime collective Roll Deep before co-founding Boy Better Know in 2005.
He first gained recognition with his acclaimed debut album, Greatest Hits, which came out in 2007. He continued his success with Microphone Champion in 2009, and later released Doin’ It Again in 2011.
Skepta’s fourth album, Konnichiwa, received widespread critical acclaim and earned him a Mercury Prize in 2016. The album included the popular singles ‘That’s Not Me’ and ‘Shutdown’ and he’d previously been nominated for a Brit Award three times.
Besides releasing popular mixtapes and songs, Skepta also tried acting. He first appeared in the 2015 crime film Anti-Social, where he acted alongside Meghan Markle.
Last year, he directed his first film, a short called Tribal Mark, which tells the story of a Nigerian hitman. The film stars Skepta and Jude Carmichael in the leading role.
Skepta released his most recent solo album, ‘Ignorance Is Bliss,’ in 2019. The following year, in 2020, he teamed up with Chip and Young Adz from D Block Europe to create a collaborative album titled ‘Insomnia’.
He says his upcoming album will be followed by a tour, even though he doesn’t have as much energy as he used to.
He admitted he doesn’t climb stairs as quickly as he used to, but being on stage still feels incredible. ‘There’s something magical that happens,’ he explained.
Right before I go on stage, I get incredibly nervous and exhausted. I’m completely drained, moving slowly, and just feeling worn out. Then, as soon as I step into the spotlight, it’s like a switch flips and I’m ready – it’s like saying, ‘I’m back!’
‘As soon as I get on that stage and I hear my music, the energy [has] full control.’
Skepta will be honoured at the GQ Men of the Year event on the 18th of November in London.
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2025-11-12 15:34