Skepta Reveals Mom Dressed Him Like Royal After Copying Princess Di Style
A Legacy of Style and Substance
Skepta, the British rapper and fashion icon, has carved a unique path in both urban music and contemporary menswear. His influence is so profound that it earned him the prestigious title of GQ Men Of The Year cover star. This recognition is not just for his musical achievements but also for his distinctive sense of style, which has been shaped by his Nigerian heritage and his mother's admiration for British royalty.
Skepta credits his mother, Ify Adenuga, for instilling in him a deep appreciation for fashion. "She styled her whole life like Princess Diana," he shared with GQ. "She used to dress me and my brother Jamie like Harry and William all the time. She literally lived like a Diana moodboard." This upbringing has had a lasting impact on Skepta's approach to fashion, blending elements of British elegance with his own cultural identity.
Born and raised in Tottenham, Skepta's journey as a musician has been marked by versatility and innovation. He has transitioned from being a DJ for the grime collective Meridian Crew to becoming a successful rapper, producer, and designer. His upcoming album, tentatively titled Knife & Fork, is inspired by his working-class upbringing as the child of Nigerian migrants in north London. The album aims to capture the immigrant experience, highlighting the contrast between the home environment and the outside world.
"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," Skepta explained. He emphasized the importance of sharing his personal story, noting that there are many negative perceptions about immigrants, but he focuses on the positives.
Beyond music, Skepta has made significant strides in the fashion industry. His clothing brand, Mains, was launched after he criticized the lack of black representation in couture brands. However, he acknowledges progress in this area, especially following the launch of his own fashion house in 2017. "Kendrick Lamar is rapping at Louis Vuitton, [I’ve got] a fashion brand. We sit front row," he said. "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."
A Journey Through Music and Beyond
Skepta's career began in 2003 when he started as a DJ for the Tottenham-based grime collective Meridian Crew. He soon transitioned into MCing before the group disbanded in 2005. Alongside his brother Jaime, who performs as JME, they joined Roll Deep for a short period before founding Boy Better Know in 2005.
His debut studio album, Greatest Hits, was released in 2007 and received widespread acclaim. This was followed by Microphone Champion in 2009 and Doin' It Again in 2011. His fourth record, Konnichiwa, featured hit singles such as That's Not Me and Shutdown, and won him the Mercury Prize in 2016.
In addition to his music career, Skepta has explored acting. He made his movie debut in the 2015 crime drama Anti-Social, alongside Meghan Markle. Last year, he directed a short film titled Tribal Mark, which tells the story of a Nigerian-born hitman, partially played by himself and Jude Carmichael.
The Future of Skepta
Despite his success, Skepta remains grounded. His last solo album, Ignorance Is Bliss, was released in 2019, and he collaborated with Chip and D Block Europe rapper Young Adz on the album Insomnia in 2020. He promises that his next release will be accompanied by a tour, even though he admits to feeling less energetic 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 honored at the GQ Men of the Year event on November 18 in London. His journey continues to inspire, blending music, fashion, and culture into a powerful narrative that resonates globally.
