Skepta released his sixth album The Fork and Knife on Friday, his first album since 2019's Ignorance Is Bliss. The Mercury Prize-winning rapper uses the album to explore themes of immigration, racism, Brexit and culture wars, drawing on his own experience as the son of Nigerian immigrants in north London.
Regarded as one of the pioneers of British grime, Skepta released his Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa in 2016. His new album includes a track featuring Chase and Status and Madness frontman Suggs. The track Innocent Smile includes the lyric: "Ain't no love for an immigrant child / The writing's on the wall, has anyone else noticed? / Was it Brexit? Was it Covid? / They point fingers, I feel hopeless."
In an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Skepta said grime is "a product of immigration" and that it was important for him to represent "what it looks like if you give an immigrant child a chance". He said he wanted his stance known: "I'm for multiculturalism."
The album took six years to make, in part because Skepta said he wanted to avoid being tone deaf. He drew that lesson from a 2024 controversy when he had to remove artwork for his single Gas Me Up (Diligent) following allegations that it referenced the Holocaust. "It took six years to make this because it's important to make sure we're not tone deaf," he said.
Early reviews are mixed. Complex called the album "top-tier" and worth the wait, while The Observer said it was well-intentioned but questioned whether it was "over-egged".
Skepta has also expressed dissatisfaction with standards in grime, saying "I don't think there's been a good grime album for a long time" and that he is "here to set levels". He said he was hopeful BBC Radio 1Xtra's first UK rap chart show would inspire more grime artists, and said it would give newcomers and bedroom producers a chance to be seen and heard.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Skepta's return marks a significant moment for UK grime, a genre that has seen fewer major releases in recent years.
- The album directly engages with pressing social and political issues, using grime as a platform for commentary on immigration and identity.
- His stance on multiculturalism and the UK rap scene could influence emerging artists and shape the direction of British hip-hop.
Background
Skepta, born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr. in Tottenham, north London, to Nigerian immigrant parents, is regarded as one of the pioneers of British grime. He won the Mercury Prize in 2016 for Konnichiwa and has since headlined major festivals including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds. The Fork and Knife is his first album in seven years, following 2019's Ignorance Is Bliss.
Key Perspectives
Skepta: Says grime is a product of immigration and he wants to represent what it looks like if you give an immigrant child a chance. He believes the album is a classic and that the UK scene needs better standards. He is "here to make rap sophisticated again."
Complex: Called the album "top-tier" and worth the wait.
The Observer: Said the album is well-intentioned but questioned whether it was "over-egged."
Digga D: Rapper who said he is "not happy with how the UK scene is right now" and described a viral trend as "foolishness."
What to Watch
- How the album performs on the new UK rap chart and whether it sparks a grime revival.
- Further critical reception and fan reaction, particularly to the political themes.
- Whether Skepta's stance on immigration and multiculturalism sparks broader cultural conversation.