He didn’t just ride the first wave of grime, he helped build the boat with his younger brother JME. Back in the early 2000s, the brothers were part of Meridian Crew. When that dissolved in 2005, instead of folding, they started Boy Better Know (BBK), an independent label and collective that became a cornerstone for raw UK grime.

SIMONE JOYNER

Skepta’s early hits like “Private Caller” and the DIY pirate radio grind showed real hunger. Then came the reset: 2014’s “That’s Not Me” with JME stripped away the pop-grime polish and brought back the energy that made the scene special.

His 2016 album Konnichiwa was the global breakthrough, Mercury Prize winner, Drake collabs, and proof that authentic grime could travel. But longevity is what really sets Skepta apart. While many from that era faded or chased trends, he stayed reinventing: music, directing short films, running his Más Tiempo label for house and techno, organising Big Smoke festival, even earning a chieftaincy title back in Nigeria.

OLIVER HADLEE PEARCH

Fashion has always been part of his DNA too. He relaunched his own label MAINS and has a long-running partnership with Puma as global ambassador. He doesn’t just slap his name on trainers — he designs, curates campaigns, and brings that tech-luxe, cultural edge (think Skope Forever packs with reflective details and street sophistication). It’s hands-on, like everything he touches.

People love Skepta because he embodies progression without losing the plot. Raw lyricism, work ethic most don’t see, and that unapologetic Nigerian-British pride. In a scene that swings between hype and burnout, he’s the steady don, still dropping heat well into his 40s, still influencing new generations.

COURTESY OF PUMA

What makes his craft so good? It’s the balance: gritty storytelling rooted in Tottenham streets, clever wordplay, and a refusal to dilute the culture for mainstream comfort. Skepta and JME didn’t just help take grime mainstream, they showed how to do it while keeping your soul intact. In 2026, with UK rap still evolving, his longevity feels like a masterclass.