Mike Skinner is the British rapper, musician and producer who, through The Streets, married poetry with beats and connected with a generation.
Mike Skinner first shot onto our airwaves in 2002. The Streets’ debut Original Pirate Material, an instant classic about modern British life that spoke on a level to anyone interested about relationships, going out and all the pleasure and pain in between. Then came sterling follow-ups: A Grand Don’t Come For Free (learning curve dealing with fame which included number 1 single Dry Your Eyes), 2004, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (meltdown), 2006, Everything Is Borrowed (reflection), 2008 and now Computers And Blues, Skinner’s swansong under The Streets moniker, out this month. despite initially being inspired by Berlin and the warm euphoria of rave, the record has ended up a Streets album, knockout lyrical prowess as ever. Dark and uplifiting? Job done.
