Last week on July 3, Skepta posted “I want to clash an American rapper” on X, to “get this UK/US rap debate sorted”. In following posts, he selected some lyrical lineups to battle it out. In full, he suggested Chip vs Kendrick Lamar, Dave vs Lil Wayne, Central Cee vs Jack Harlow, Queenie vs Megan Thee Stallion, JME vs Tyler, the Creator, Eminem vs Ghetts, Lancey Foux vs Travis Scott, Youngs Teflon vs Meek Mill and Blade Brown vs Pusha T.

I wanna clash an American rapper anyway, finally get this UK/US rap debate sorted.

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) July 3, 2025

Skepta even put himself forward for a clash with a surprising opponent: friend and longtime collaborator, A$AP Rocky. Some fans were confused at the idea given the two’s close relationship, but Skepta emphasized that the competition is all in good nature. “It’s not beef, Rocky is my family,” he posted. “Rap is a sport, same way we have dissing matches on the block we can do it on record.” He wrote that it’d be a “fire clash,” between him and Rocky, with “No violence, just bars, punchlines and counteractions.”

The Tottenham grime veteran also argued that the Brits would have the upper hand in this match up, as they’ve gotten to know the styles of their American counterparts over the years, whereas UK rap has been under appreciated (and sometimes unnoticed) by US artists and fans: “The average American rapper don’t even listen to UK rappers, but we’ve listen to them (for years) and that is exactly why the UK can’t lose”

While none of the proposed clashes have been confirmed, American rapper Joyner Lucas confidently came forward to join in battle, posting on X: “The moment I’ve been waiting for… say the word, Joyner Lucas vs Skepta #UKvsUS”

The moment I’ve been waiting for… say the word, Joyner Lucas vs @Skepta #UKvsUS pic.twitter.com/G78knC2ySE

— Joyner Lucas (@JoynerLucas) July 4, 2025

In response, Skepta goaded Joyner, while offering him some respect for stepping up to the plate. In a short video, he said: “I’m gonna respect the fact that you stood up and said something. The first man, you get me? But this is just another example of the ignorance. Jonah, if you was from the UK, fam? Quiet, bro, understand?”

“So, when I make my diss track for Rocky, I’m gonna give you two bars and then make one of the young Gs just rub you out… I didn’t do the work that I did for Jonah Lucas just to be saying my name anyhow. I got diss track on YouTube with 30 million views, no ad-libs. It’s levels, bro.”

Skepta responds to Joyner Lucas calling him out to battle him:

“You make up the numbers out there”

“When I make my diss track for A$AP Rocky I’m gonna give you 2 bars”

“I didn’t do all the work I did my life just for Joyner Lucas to be saying my name” pic.twitter.com/eYyiu1YU9C

— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod (@big_business_) July 6, 2025

Skepta recently made a surprise appearance at Glastonbury, filling in last minute after Deftones dropped out of their set. You can read our coverage on that here.

Deftones expressed their disappointment in having to miss the show. The band said on their Instagram story, “We’re devastated to be missing out on something we’ve been looking forward to for months, but sometimes circumstances out of our control interfere with things we want to do the most.”

Without preparation, Skepta only had a DJ to perform alongside. Though, the Glastonbury crowd were in safe hands as he gave an impressive show, hyping the audience as he called out “Let’s go!!! No crew, no production but am ready to shut Glastonbury down. Victory lap time. Pre-Big Smoke 2025!”. The rapper gave massive energy and an unforgettable set with only 30 minutes on the mic, performing fan favourites ‘That’s Not Me’, ‘It Ain’t Me’ and ‘Greaze Mode’ among others.

@.dailyconcerts NAH THATS NOT ME #skepta #glastonbury #glastonburyfestival #boybetterknow ♬ original sound – dailyconcerts

If there weren’t enough surprises already, Skepta then performed his latest collaboration with Fred Again ‘Victory Lap’.  

@m0redailyconcerts THEY REALLY GOT PLAQUEBOYMAX PLAYING AT GLASTONBURY #skepta #boybetterknow #glastonbury #glastonburyfestival #plaqueboymax #fredagain ♬ original sound – moredailyconcerts

Skepta didn’t perform tracks from his current project ‘Knife And Fork’, but he did tease a potential collaboration, wearing a graphic tee that fans suspect to be in an upcoming line with the clothing label Corteiz and Skepta’s own label Boy Better Know. 

@dametalmessiah Upcoming Corteiz x Boy Better Know? #skepta #boybetterknow #corteiz #glastonbury #glastonbury2025 ♬ Victory Lap – Fred again.. & Skepta & PlaqueBoyMax

Fans took to X to declare the artist the best replacement and one of the best sets of Glastonbury. One fan said this in reply to Skepta’s tweet post-Glastonbury, revelling in being able to pull off his set with such little notice. 

BEST set at Glastonbury https://t.co/ZIjWr6XV2d

— Bonita (@BonitaRochelle) June 30, 2025

Long time listeners have praised the London grime artist for his authenticity and artistry, which he spoke to Dazed about recently. The rapper said, “I don’t care about fame. Really. I care about art. I care about making the best song. I hate being famous”.

Skepta is gearing up for this year’s Big Smoke Festival, an event curated by the artist himself. Find tickets here, with merch and exciting updates on Skepta’s official website.

Carti’s set mainly saw him debut his new material, performing almost the entire 30-song tracklist, as well as some old hits from his older catalogue.

The Weeknd also made a surprise appearance, performing both “Rather Lie” from ‘Music’ and his Carti collab, ‘Timeless’, from The Weeknd’s new album ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’.

THE MOSHPIT!! #IAMMUSIC https://t.co/xZS6M0hZAI

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) March 17, 2025

In the new song ‘Toxic’, Skepta raps “I broke America, big in the East, I’m big in the West, I’m big in the South’. These lyrics hold true to Skepta’s transatlantic success – he’s one of a few UK rappers who have managed to make a name for themselves stateside as an overseas success.

His fourth studio album ‘Konnichiwa’ secured a spot on the Billboard 200, which is a grand feat for a UK grime artist. Skepta and Carti have joined up before on ‘Lean 4 Real’, from Carti’s breakout album ‘Die Lit’. Through collaborations with rappers like Carti, Kid Cudi, ASAP Rocky and Future, he’s kept an open line to the US market and positioned himself as a representative of British rap. His most successful American collab would be ‘Praise the Lord (Da Shine)’ with ASAP Rocky, which landed him on the Billboard Hot 100.

Carti’s new album, ‘Music’, has received generally positive reviews and taken the streaming world by storm, becoming Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day during 2025. It’s been a long wait for his fans, as the album has been frequently teased, and retitled since he dropped his last album, ‘Whole Lotta Red’. Many fans despaired that the record was stuck in “development hell”.

The new album features a star-studded lineup of collaborators including Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Future, Skepta, The Weeknd, Lil Uzi Vert and Ty Dolla Sign. It also features well known producers such as Cardo, Metro Boomin, Southside, F1lthy, Ye, Cash Cobain and the production duo Ojivolta, among others. Sales numbers for it haven’t yet been certified but it’s expected to pull in 250,000 album-equivalent units, not including physical sales.

You can watch Carti’s full Rolling Loud California performance below.

Big Smoke Phase one lineup

My only UK live solo performance of 2025, ft. Grime MC FM B2B The Den, Chip, Chy Cartier, Skyla Tylaa, Jordss, Bxks & more to be announced

Final tickets drop this Friday at 10am, sign up now https://t.co/ghFoHyfPLQ pic.twitter.com/mSdykYFbg1

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) March 4, 2025

Skepta has confirmed the first round of acts for its opening day on August 9. The ‘Shutdown’ hitmaker himself will headline on the Saturday, joined by a handful of exciting names.

JME and Frisco will present a b2b set – a collaboration between their collective sets “Grime MC FM” and “The Den”. The previous performances from each set has hosted heavyweight lineups of emcee’s, including Jammer, Novelist, Lethal Bizzle and Manga Saint Hilaire to name a few. Both JME and Frisco performed at last year’s Big Smoke Festival.

Also joining the bill are the alt-trap newcomer Chy Cartier and grime icon Chip, whose new album ‘Grime Scene Saviour’ is dropping next month. Skepta recently joined Chip onstage for a ‘Grime Scene Saviours Set’ at Outernet, featuring a stacked lineup full of grime royalty.

On the Sunday (August 10), Skepta’s dance label Más Tiempo will be taking over, with the rapper himself providing a DJ set. He originally got his start in music as a DJ, and in recent years has ventured into house music, spinning the decks at clubs in Miama and Ibiza, and releasing a popular house remix sampling Amy Winehouse called “Can’t Play Myself”.

In a press release, Skepta shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming event, saying: “Big Smoke is a festival in London, for London and I can’t wait for fans to see what we’ve got planned for this year’s edition. We continue to think of new ways to do things differently, so I’m excited to release the full line-up. See you at the Bowl in August- greaze!”

Tickets for Saturday go on general sale this Friday (March 7) at 10am. A pre-sale for Sunday is scheduled to go live at the same time – you can sign up for that here. Tickets for the Sunday are expected to go on general sale at the end of this month.

Fans of the quintessential grime artist have been waiting a while for new music – he announced his sixth album, ‘Knife and Fork’, at the start of 2024. Since then, he’s released two singles, ‘Gas Me Up (Dilligent)’ and ‘Alpha/Omega’, the latter of which was produced by legendary trap producer Lex Luger.

He also collaborated with Flo Milli for a smooth grime/R&B track “Why Lie?” last October. We can only wonder if after announcing the Big Smoke Festival line-up he’ll be dropping some new material soon.

The event kicks off early with a 24 hour radio DJ set which will begin at midnight PST / 8am GMT on Dec. 31, with a 24-hour DJ mix from Justice, John Summit, Rufus Du Sol, and other DJs worldwide.

.@Skepta and @unclewaffffles take #AppleMusicLive to London to ring in the new year. Watch their special performances on December 31st at 11pm GMT, only on Apple Music. https://t.co/KrhNzMXvo1 pic.twitter.com/nSM3T1uSqE

— Apple Music (@AppleMusic) December 18, 2024

The whole thing promises to be a cultural collision, uniting disparate sonic worlds under the auspices of Apple’s meticulously curated playlists. 

The event is all anchored by a rare DJ set from Björk, who is known for her ethereal voice and boundary-pushing albums, her foray into DJ-ing is a rarity. It acts as a glimpse into her singular musical mind refracted through curated tracks rather than original compositions. Expect her set to oscillate between the hauntingly experimental and the unexpectedly rhythmic, a sonic journey that only Björk could conceive.  

Skepta enters as a pioneer of grime, the genre that gave a voice to London’s streets, he has since ventured into new sonic territories, exploring house music with the same uncompromising energy. Whether delivering razor-sharp lyrics or curating beats that get the crowd moving, Skepta remains a compelling presence. His set promises to be as unpredictable as it is exhilarating—a reflection of his ever-evolving artistry.

The lineup also includes genre-defying artists like Swazi-born, South Africa-based DJ Uncle Waffles, a rising star in the global dance scene, who has become the face of amapiano, the hypnotic South African house subgenre taking over airwaves and dance floors alike. Born in Eswatini and based in South Africa, she exudes an effortless charisma behind the decks, her sets a celebration of rolling baselines, syncopated rhythms, and infectious vocal loops.

Both Skepta and DJ Uncle Waffles’ sets will be video rather than simply radio recordings from London’s The Cause—a venue celebrated for its contributions to dance culture, local nightlife, and mental health initiatives.

Tim Sweeney, has long been a tastemaker through his influential ‘Beats in Space’ radio show. Now, as a cornerstone of Apple Music’s DJ programming, Sweeney bridges the gap between niche dance floor sounds and mainstream accessibility. His sets are an education, seamlessly blending the familiar with the obscure, a testament to his encyclopaedic knowledge of electronic music and fitting for his role.  

Last year’s inaugural event featured names like Kaytranada, Peggy Gou, and Honey Dijon, setting the stage for Apple Music to position itself as a leader in the intersection of live music and streaming innovation. It seems that this year’s line up will aim to transcend the humdrum of conventional New Year’s Eve fare. Apple Music hopes to reimagine the celebrations as more than just a concert, positioning itself at the forefront of innovation and connectivity in the streaming era.

Complete line up and respective timings for the event are listed below: 

24-Hour Radio Takeover (Starting at 12am PST / 8am GMT on December 31):

• Justice
• John Summit
• Rüfüs Du Sol
• Sonny Fodera
• horsegiirL
• David Rodigan
• Chris Stussy
• SPINALL
• Jyoty
• Skratch Bastid
• Kayan
• DIDI HAN
• Erol Alkan
• Malechin
• DJ KOCO
• Yanamaste
• Stacey Hotwaxx Hale
• Dylan Ali
• ARCHANGEL
• Cashu

This segment will be broadcast on the new Apple Music Club and Apple Music 1.

Apple Music Live: NYE Performances (Recorded at The Cause in London):

• Björk
• Tim Sweeney
• NAINA

These performances will air at 1pm PST / 9pm GMT on Apple Music Club and Apple Music 1.

Video Livestream:

• Uncle Waffles
• Skepta

The video livestream begins at 3pm. PST / 11pm. GMT on Apple Music, Apple Music Club, and Apple Music 1.

All performances will be available to stream in Spatial Audio exclusively on Apple Music.

I’ve been waiting to drop Gas Me Up (Diligent) since teasing it April last year, worked hard getting the artwork right for my album rollout which is about my parents coming to the UK in the 80’s, Skinhead, Football culture and it has been taken offensively by many and I can…

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

After the artwork was posted, many were quick to point out that the photograph evoked imagery of the Holocaust. Men lined up with shaved heads in combination with the phrase “GAS ME UP” can understandably be taken as a tasteless pun, in reference to the millions of victims systematically murdered by the National Socialist Party throughout the early 1940s. According to Adenuga, this was by no means the intention, following up his first tweet with another post outlining how the artwork was inspired by British Skinhead and football culture of the 1980s, rather than anything more sinister. Citing the cultural environment that his parents entered when they moved to the UK from Nigeria in the 1980s, the track’s artwork was designed to capture the image of British football culture. In a follow up tweet, Skepta shared a selection of images that were used to inspire the creation of the “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” artwork. Speaking on the matter, Skepta said: “I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention.”

I can honestly see how my single artwork without context can be deemed offensive, especially in a time like this but again that was not my intention. But after some thought I don’t feel like I could continue being the artist you all know and love if my art is policed, I have to… pic.twitter.com/59oUOPe8Hp

— Big Smoke – (@Skepta) January 10, 2024

To ‘gas’ someone or to be ‘gassed’ means to be excited for someone or about something. Pioneering Grime MC Dylan Mills, also known as Dizzee Rascal, used the colloquial term in a similar way with his track ‘Don’t Gas Me’ in 2018. The track is about Dizzee wishing to avoid being hyped up by others because he hypes himself up enough. In a similar manner, Skepta’s “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” means that he wishes for others to be excited for him and his music.

Some fans have applauded Skepta’s hasty removal of the controversial single cover with one Twitter user saying: “Thank you for taking and down and going with different artwork”. However, many other Twitter users have expressed their dissatisfaction with the change, claiming that the decision is a suppression of artistic expression. Given that Skepta has gone on record several times to say that the Holocaust reference was by no means his artistic intention, he is well within his right to remove the work.

Skepta’s single “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” will release on January 26 as planned in the lead up to his new studio album Knife & Fork.

In the announcement post on Instagram, Skepta expressed gratitude to his fans for their unwavering support and proclaimed his anticipation to reconnect with fans at the Big Smoke Festival in 2024, writing, “It’s been years since I dropped my last album and I want to thank you for all the love during my hiatus. I’ve seen the messages, tweets and Tik Toks, I’m truly grateful that my music is still resonating with the world, even in my absence. I’m happy to announce my next studio album #KnifeAndFork is loading this year, the first single #GasMeUp (Diligent) will be out January 26th Can’t wait to see you all @bigsmokefestival happy 2024″

‘Knife and Fork‘ is set to be Skepta’s sixth solo project, with the first single, ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent),‘ scheduled to drop on January 26. The album signifies Skepta’s long awaited return after a five-year hiatus following the acclaimed ‘Ignorance is Bliss’ LP in 2019.

In the absence of his solo work, Skepta has been active in collaborations, releasing the EP ’48 Hours’ with 19-year-old producer Ryder in November 2023. Ryder’s TikTok remix of Skepta’s ‘Konnichiwa’ track ‘Text Me Back’ achieved viral acclaim with the hashtag #skeptacore, prompting the rapper to make contact. Additionally, Skepta and BBK collaborator Jammer also delved into club culture, founding the house music label Más Tiempo, and acting as producers and DJs for the project. The duo celebrated with a sold-out event at London’s Drumsheds venue late last year.

In November, Skepta revealed plans for the inaugural Big Smoke Festival scheduled for July 6 at Crystal Palace Park in London. The festival promises a full live performance by Skepta, complemented by a Más Tiempo DJ set side-by-side with Jammer. Big Smoke Festival stands as Skepta’s only announced live performance for 2024, and tickets are already available here.

Hailing from North London, Skepta’s influence on the grime scene is unmistakable, evident in both his solo projects and contributions to the musical collective BBK (Boy Better Know). His groundbreaking album ‘Konnichiwa,’ released in 2016, earned him the prestigious Mercury Prize Award, solidifying his place as a heavyweight within the music industry.

With the impending release of ‘Gas Me Up (Diligent)’ this month and the promise of ‘Knife and Fork,’ Skepta’s return is set to make 2024 an exceptional year for grime enthusiasts.

On 15^th May the festival announced the fiery lineup all over their social media accounts and website. The duo from Manchester was set to perform a DJ set at the Arcadia Spider last year but were forced to pull out of the festival and several other summer shows due to contracting COVID-19. Thankfully, the English DJ Bonobo and English duo Groove Armada stepped in to ensure EDM heads at Worthy Farm still got their electronica fill.

Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons have been the Chemical Brothers since 1995. The illustrious duo has had six UK number-one albums as well as won six Grammys throughout their career. Following the release of the single “No Reason“, the duo revealed via Instagram their tenth studio album will be released this Autumn which will coincide with a UK tour. Their last album, No Geography, was released in 2019. Watch the video for the third single from the album (and the theme tune for the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury) “Got to Keep On” below:

Also set to play the spider this summer is progressive IDM musician Floating Points, the beloved DJ Shy FX, the boiler room fave VTSS, grime’s champion Skepta alongside Jammer, and DnB hero Wilkinson. See the poster above for the full lineup.

The awe-worthy fire-spitting Arcadia stage is a 50-tone installation built from recycled military hardware by Pip Rush and Bert Cole. First appearing at the festival in 2010, the stage returned last year after its replacement by the Pangea crane in 2019. The team behind the giant spider wrote in their Instagram caption, “The Spider’s built on creative recycling and now she’s got transformation running through her veins. This year, the entire Arcadia field runs on recycled energy – waste cooking oil turned to high-grade biofuel”.

The festival also revealed the bill for the newly named Woodsies stage (previously known as the John Peel stage) earlier this week. Stellar acts include Hot Chip, Christine and the Queen, Pheonix, Warpaint, Rina Sawayama, Caroline Polachek, Slowdive, Shame, Pale Waves, and FLO. See the full lineup below.

“Although the WOODSIES STAGE takes a new name for 2023, it will offer the same raucous, effervescent and gloriously sweaty vibes it did when it was known as the John Peel and, before that, the New Bands Tent”, the organisers have promised. This year over 1000 trees have been planted in the arena, the festival has revealed, “as part of our commitment to maintain the magic of the original Worthy Farm and to let us remember the importance of keeping the land as a haven for wildlife as well as festivals and farming”.

Earlier this month, the festival announced its lineup for this year’s Left Field including Crawlers, Billy Bragg, Cavetown, and Kid Kapichi. Headliners for Glastonbury this year were announced in March and include Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, and Guns N’ Roses.

Though tickets for this year’s Glastonbury are sold out, those feeling lucky may try their luck at winning tickets by purchasing Tony’s Chocolonely‘s Willy Wonka-style chocolate bar. As it stands two pairs of tickets are waiting to be unwrapped.

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The legendary grime rapper took to Pressplay media freestyle platform ‘Plugged in’ with Fumez to drop his first freestyle on a UK platform since he would appear on Westwood freestyle in the early 2010s, having never dropped a Grm daily duppy or link up tv Behind Barz.

Skepta is one of the greatest exports from the UK music scene, the grime legend has always stayed true to his sound and has always carried the grime culture with him no matter if he is on a track alongside his fellow BBK members or creating platinum hits alongside ASAP Rocky. Skepta kept to his Grime sound on his ‘Plugged in’ with Fumez, a platform often used by drill artists. Skepta rapped over a carns hill beat, carns being one of the pioneers of the UK drill sound-producing songs for a large number of the early drill artists who came out of Brixton, south London.

Despite performing over a drill beat Skepta used many of his classic grime lyrics throughout his freestyle, a key characteristic of grime music. The lyrics such as “It’s the return of the mac I’m still alive just like Tupac” and “God forgive me if I bust my nine” from classic Skepta tracks such as “What D’ya mean” and “That’s not me”. Skepta has had an eventful week appearing on the American late-night show, The tonight show with Jimmy Fallon. The 39-year-old appeared on the show and performed his song “Lit like this” off his newly released project All in.

 

 

 

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A post shared by Skepta (@skeptagram)

As well as this the UK grime legend turned ut for Lancey Fouxs sod out show at Earth hall in stoke Newington. Skepta has always been a big supporter of Lancey bring him on his Sk level tour and appearing on track alongside the artist.

Skepta has begun to support the younger artist in the UK music scene more intently in the last few years. Whether it’s artists such as Lancey Foux and Slowthai who create a more alternative type of UK hip hop or Drill rappers such as Headie one, Bandokaay, Double Lz and Abra Cadabra from Tottenham, the area Skepta grew up in and is still connected with, the UK rap legend was friends with Bandokaays father Mark Duggan who was killed by the police in 2011 sparking the London riots.

Skepta’s appearance of Plugged in with Fumez was another example of him supporting the younger generation in the growing UK music scene.

Skepta’s Plugged in with Fumez is available to watch here:

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The 5 track project is set to be released on the 30th of July and will be the 11th project from the UK grime veteran.

The project has 3 solo Skepta tracks titled; ‘Belllator’, ‘Lit like this’ and ‘Eyes on me’. The 2 songs that have features are, ‘Peace of mind’ featuring Kid Cudi and Teezee and ‘Nirvana’ with J Balvin.

Skepta has gone international with the features on his upcoming project, Kid Cudi is an American hip hop legend whose melodic sound and synonymous humming has made him the model to follow for the likes of Travis Scott and Lil uzi vert. The artist from Clevland has worked with the likes of Kanye West and featured Skepta on his latest project ‘Man on the moon 3’. Alongside Kid Cudi on ‘Peace of mind’ is Nigerian Alte artist Teezee who formed the alte scene in Nigeria and has been influential in building the bridge between Nigeria and those in the Diaspora. The last feature on the project is from Colombian superstar J Balvin, the so-called ‘prince of reggaeton is one of the biggest artists on the globe with nearly 60 million monthly streams on Spotify.

Skepta’s new project will be released this coming Friday, 30th July.