Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr. (born September 19, 1982) was born in Tottenham, London, England. He is a British grime MC, rapper, record producer and DJ. He is professionally known as Skepta. Skepta, alongside his younger brother Jme, emerged onto the scene in the mid-2000s, initially affiliating with Roll Deep before co-founding Boy Better Know in 2005. One of his notable early moments was the clash with fellow MC Devilman, showcased in the video release Lord of the Mics 2, a pivotal event in grime's history.
Skepta's musical journey includes the independent releases of his debut album, "Greatest Hits," in 2007, followed by "Microphone Champion" in 2009. His third studio album, "Doin' It Again," dropped in 2011 under AATW. Venturing into acting, he made his debut in the 2015 film "Anti-Social." However, it was his fourth studio album, "Konnichiwa" in 2016, that solidified his status, boasting hit singles like "That's Not Me" and "Shutdown" and earning him the prestigious Mercury Prize.
Collaborating internationally, Skepta's production work on ASAP Rocky's "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)" in 2018 soared to global success. In 2019, he released "Ignorance Is Bliss," which achieved significant chart success across fifteen countries. Further, his collaborative project "Insomnia" in 2020, with British rappers Chip and Young Adz, marked his third top 10 entry on the UK Albums Chart.
Skepta's impact extends beyond music, garnering nominations for prestigious awards like the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist. His influence on British culture earned him recognition on Debrett's 2017 list of the UK's most influential individuals. Notably, he was honored with a Nigerian chieftaincy title, "Amuludun of Odo-Aje," on April 4, 2018, highlighting his cultural significance and global reach.
