Skepta: Mom Dressed Me Like Prince Harry After Styling Herself as Princess Diana

A trailblazing impact on urban music and contemporary menswear has earned him bragging rights as British GQ’s first Men Of The Year cover star. 

But Skepta credits his Nigerian mother and her love of British royalty for helping him develop the unique sense of style on display in his latest cover shoot and influencing his love of fashion. 

‘She styled her whole life [like] Princess Diana, rest in peace,’ the rapper, 43, told GQ ahead of this year’s GQ Men of the Year event, during which he will be honoured. 

‘She used to dress me and [brother and fellow rapper] Jamie like Harry and William all the time, insane. She literally lived like a Diana moodboard.’

Tottenham born and raised, the versatile rapper, producer and designer will draw on his life experiences as the child of Nigerian parents for lyrical inspiration when the long-delayed album – originally scheduled for release in 2024 – finally drops. 

His new album, tentatively called Knife & Fork, was originally announced more than a year ago, with single Gas Me Up (Diligent) subsequently released on January 26 2024. 

But an official release date for what will be his sixth studio album, inspired by his working class upbringing as the child of Nigerian migrants in north London, is yet to be confirmed.

‘I wanted the album to be about the immigrant mindset – being in my house and it smelling this way and looking this way and feeling this way and sounding this way, and then I leave my house and [through] the front door is like going to Narnia, you’re in the UK,’ he said. 

‘I’m just talking about my story on my album. I can only speak about my story and what I think, what I’ve learned as an immigrant growing older. 

‘There’s a lot of negative things spoken when we talk about immigrants, but I’m someone who definitely just tries to look for the positives.’ 

Away from music the rapper has found a niche in the fashion industry with the successful launch of his own clothing brand, Mains, after previously condemning a lack of black representation among couture brands. 

But he admits to seeing signs of commerical improvement in that area, notably following the launch of his own fashion house in 2017. 

He said: ‘Kendrick Lamar is rapping at Louis Vuitton, [I’ve got] a fashion brand. We sit front row. 

‘So I feel what I was shouting my mouth off about, it’s played out, and now we’re just creating a space where we can show how much fashion means to us and what we have to offer.’ 

Real name Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr, Skepta kicked off music his career in 2003 as a DJ for the Tottenham-based grime collective Meridian Crew, going on to MC shortly before they disbanded in 2005.

Skepta and his brother Jaime, who performs as JME, then joined Roll Deep for a short period of time before becoming founding members of Boy Better Know in 2005.

His debut studio album, Greatest Hits, was released to much acclaim in 2007, while he followed up in 2009 with Microphone Champion and also released studio album Doin’ It Again in 2011.

The three-time Brit Award nominee’s critically lauded fourth record, Konnichiwa, featured the hit singles That’s Not Me and Shutdown, and won him the Mercury Prize in 2016.

Amid a host of hit mixtapes and singles, Skepta also ventured in acting, making his movie debut in the 2015 crime drama Anti-Social, alongside Meghan Markle.

While last year saw him make his directorial debut with Tribal Mark, a short film telling the story of a Nigerian-born hitman, played in part by Skepta and in part by Jude Carmichael.

His last solo album was 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss, while he joined Chip and D Block Europe rapper Young Adz for a collaborative album called Insomnia in 2020.

And he promises his next release, when it finally comes, will be accompanied by a tour, despite feeling less energised with age.  

‘I’m definitely walking up the stairs slower than I was seven years ago, but I tell you what: there’s something magical that happens to me when I go on a stage,’ he said. 

‘Like, “I’m back.” Ten minutes before I get on that stage, I’m fried, I’m walking slow, I’m just tired. 

‘As soon as I get on that stage and I hear my music, the energy [has] full control.’

Skepta will be honoured at the GQ Men of the Year event on the 18th of November in London.