For their 98th Issue, the guys over at The Fader are seeing in Summer in style with a series of cover stories featuring Hudson Mohawke, Meek Mill, Kacey Musgraves, and Skepta. Rarely one to give in depth features or interviews, excluding the RBMA Lecture, Skepta features are certainly few and far between. After this feature went live, written by Dan Hancox, we thought we’d compile the five key things we learnt from Skepta’s Mission so that you can get a quick low-down on what was discussed.
Check below for the five key things we learnt from Skepta’s Mission:
1. American collaborations must be on a Grime wave
In the feature, Hancox makes reference to a conversation between Skepta and London vocalist Acyde. Acyde enquires about the possibility of Drake and Earl Sweatshirt changing the direction of Konnichiwa (should they be featured). Skepta makes his first objective clear by stating that if they were to be on the record then it must be on Skepta’s wave. They must “come to the roads with me” because he “aint going to fucking America to shoot a video” – a mindset proven back in October when we were blessed with the visual for “It Ain’t Safe”. In the video below you can see New York-based rapper A$AP Bari sporting a tracksuit on a street corner in Tottenham, giving you a clear idea of what Skepta means.
2. ‘Konnichiwa’ must sound like London
Being fortunate enough to hear a few cuts from Konnichiwa, Hancox discusses the sounds we’ll hear. With all of the record – bar one track – being produced by Skepta, he is wanting “anybody from around the world to be able to listen to the album and know it comes from London.” The raw Skepta production that we’re so familiar with will shine through once again with “hard kick-drums and bass; raw lyrical energy; the odd twinkling piano riff or brass volley.” We’re reminded in the feature of the 2002 Skepta production “Pulse Eskimo”, which was produced using the Music 2000 software for PlayStation 1, and we’re also told by Skepta why it became known as the “Gunshot Riddim”.
3. Having your own Blueprint is essential
With many Grime emcees feeling chart success toward the end of the 2000s on tracks that weren’t Grime, Skepta recalls how he felt the need to follow in the steps of Dizzee Rascal and Wiley. This was the case until he thought “Rah, I’m a man—like, maybe I’m a leader? Maybe I should make a new path?” It was at this point that Skepta realised that he had to take the baton and run with it.
4. Confidence is key
Skepta reminds us of some of his early bars – “I make Nigerians proud of their tribal scars/ My bars make you push up your chest like bras” – in which he is asserting his confidence and fighting back. This reminded me of some lyrics I heard ringing out in Fabric recently when Plastician opened his set with the 2008 track “Intensive Snare” on which Skepta spits “I’m a badman from Nigeria, not St. Lucia/ Joseph Junior Adenuga, big lips, African hooter”.
5. Talent will prevail
Feeling like he’s now past a record deal because it’s “pointless”, Skepta is certain that his talent will prevail and be enough, stating ” I believe in my talent so much, it’s crazy”.
Be sure to check out the entirety of Skepta’s Mission in the feature over on The Fader here, because Skepta drops gem after gem.
Words: Hendrix Nash
Photography: Samuel Bradley