Grime legend Skepta is preparing for the release of his long-awaited album, The Fork and Knife, which arrives next week after a 33-month wait since its first announcement. Now 44, the self-proclaimed king of grime describes the project as a culmination of his growth, balancing his desire to remain relevant with a heightened sense of responsibility toward his message. Speaking from his studio in London's West End, Skepta emphasized that while he cannot be perfect, he strives to be conscious, noting that his words now reach parents and children during school runs, leaving no room for loose talk.
The album serves as a platform for Skepta to address the ignorance surrounding immigration, which he describes as horrible and un-British. He argues that multiculturalism is second nature to him, rooted in his upbringing where his Nigerian parents, from different ethnic groups who historically clashed, found love and unity in England. This theme is central to his recent single, Innocent Smile, featuring Suggs of Madness and breakbeats from Chase and Status. The track critiques MPs for scapegoating immigrants while celebrating the resilience of his parents' journey from Nigeria to Meridian Walk in Tottenham.
Skepta's choice to collaborate with Suggs is a deliberate nod to the two-tone movement, which he has loved since childhood when his father played ska records at home. He recalls seeing skinheads and white friends in his house, viewing this cultural mix as the foundation of both ska and grime. He asserts that the current wave of anti-immigrant sentiment contradicts the British identity, pointing out that everyday workers are often immigrants trying to make a living.
The creation of The Fork and Knife took seven years, reflecting Skepta's ongoing reckoning with his personal responsibility and past missteps. He acknowledges making ignorant songs in the past but highlights his evolution as an artist who is learning and growing. The 15-track album features a range of styles, from a zouk-flavoured R&B collaboration with Aya Nakamura on Chippie to the fierce eight-minute grime track Belly, which showcases younger MCs like Kibo alongside established Boy Better Know members JME and Frisco.
Skepta's journey has been marked by public apologies for past controversies, including a 2011 pornographic music video, transphobic lyrics in 2009, and a 2024 incident where album artwork inadvertently evoked the Holocaust. He also apologized for a 2022 contract with Puma due to the brand's sponsorship of the Israel Football Association, admitting he failed to do his due diligence. These moments have become part of his redemption arc, which began gaining momentum after his 2016 Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa.
Reflecting on his career, Skepta notes that while early rap pioneers like Run-DMC and Tupac brought sophistication to the genre, modern rap has often been bought into focusing on superficial topics. He aims to create timeless classics comparable to songs by Oasis or Shakespeare, believing that global appeal requires lyrics that resonate universally. His persistence paid off, as he recently headlined major stages at Reading and Leeds festivals, proving his belief that grime did not need to change to succeed.
Despite his success, Skepta remains grounded in his origins. He recently moved out of London for a quieter life but took his four-year-old son back to the Tottenham estate where he grew up to process trauma and share his humble beginnings. While his son was more interested in ice cream than the history lesson, Skepta sees this as part of the long journey from struggling artist to a global figure who has finally achieved the widespread recognition he always envisioned.
Sources: The Guardian Music.