Get To Know: Skepta

Skepta is heading to Auckland in September, joining A$AP Rocky, Lil Skies and Skrillex for Listen In Festival.  But who is Skepta and why should you be excited to see him perform?

Skepta's real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, and grew up in Tottenham, North London

He was part of the Meridian Crew – a grime crew named after the estate he grew up on - before joining Wiley’s Roll Deep with JME.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJWbQeVVOk

He and JME then went on to become founding members of Boy Better Know, a grime collective and independent record label which Skepta has used to publish his own music, as well as that of JME, and now Drake’s More Life.

Skepta's first huge international collaboration was with Puff Daddy. The pair linked up for a special Grime remix of Diddy's single 'Hello Good Morning.'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOYUOgmTjU4

Since the release of his fourth album Konnichiwa in 2016, Skepta has been keeping things fairly low key. That's not to say he disappeared from the public eye entirely, between six-track EP Vicious – featuring the likes of A$AP Rocky and Lil B – and helping Drake with his More Life mixtape.

Now, following multiple streetwear collabs with brands like Nike and the launch of his own brand Mains London, it seems as though Skepta is ready to return to musical greatness with new single "Pure Water". Dropped on May 8, the banger is Skepta's first solo track of 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x0G81n4LfQ

Earlier this year Skepta and A$AP Rocky joined forces for the club banger "Praise The Lord."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbj2Zss-5GY

Catch Skepta perform at Listen In Festival in Auckland - Friday 28 September. Tour info HERE.