The 23 moments that defined Skepta‘s biggest year so far

Drake references That’s Not Me on Lil Wayne collab Used To

20 January

Drake’s ever so slight begfriend vibe has been aired towards Skepta and his BBK collective several times this year (more on that later), but this is a classy bit of mutual respect passing from one rapper to another. It only goes dramatically downhill much later on. Again, stay tuned.

Skepta appears on the cover of Crack

02 February

Yes, we got on the hype-wave early and had Skeppy on our cover in February this year. We spoke to him about spontaneity, dignity over capital and the thoughts behind his forthcoming and long-awaited LP Konnichiwa.

Read it in full here.

Skepta gets the tube to the Brits to appear onstage with Kanye West

25 February

Skepta and his crew keeping it real as per.

Releases Shutdown

1 March

Christ alive, if you don’t know what this is you must have locked yourself in a basement with no wi-fi for the past 12 months. Shutdown showcases Skepta at his defiant best, and coins a chorus that you’ve heard out of context a million times this year.

Ring, ring pussy, this was 2015’s #shutdown moment.

Skepta collaborates with Brooklyn rap group Flatbush Zombies on Redeye To Paris

14 March

In the same month that he smashed out Shutdown, Skepta teamed up with Flatbush Zombies on a darker slice of hip-hop that proves Skeppy can bar on most anything. Skepta comes in around 3:40.

SXSW show

19 March

North London’s finest is just as comfortable performing in Texas as he is in his own ends as this shutdown of a show proves. As well as performing his own material solo, Skeps was also joined onstage for a rendition of It Ain’t Safe by A$AP Mob and covered Dizzee’s I LUV U.

Shutdown video released

26 April

Note: You’ll rarely find a better comment section than the one under a grime artist’s video. Truss mi daddi.

Released Devlin collaboration 50 Grand

11 May

North and East London MCs combine on this return to form from Devlin.

Skepta and JME perform headline slot at The Great Escape

16 May

While Skepta’s been cosying up with Drake, Kanye and the like, JME’s been on his own tip. His obsession with Pokémon cards led to him swapping vinyl of his critically lauded Integrity>, for example, something you’d probably never catch his brother doing, but you can tell they’re cut from the same cloth a mile off: a sense of humour and hard work are both instilled into the brothers’ respective ethics.

In May this year the pair headlined what’s slated as the industry’s choice of festival and delivered a killer line in grime classics.

Of course, they’re playing Bristol as a duo this weekend at Simple Things too.

Performs Shutdown on Jools Holland

19 May

Jools, to be fair to him, is a good egg when it comes to lining up eclectic acts that are going to make his telly-watching audience think (or balk).

“Man’s never been in Jools Holland when it’s ‘Shutdown‘, aye?”

Idris Elba jumps on Shutdown remix

1 June

You know you’ve made it when John Luther’s spitting over your beats.

Shares Lukey World

11 June

Skepta shares a slow-burning tribute to his close friend Lukey Maxwell who was fatally stabbed in North London on 5 June.

50 Grand video released

12 June

The streets of Dagenham are treated to a view of Skepta’s Helly Hansen jacket and all-black Air Maxes. Sharp.

Drops Fekky collaboration Way Too Much

2 July

Skepta coins another classic chorus on Fekky’s Way Too Much and in turn dominates the song. Sorry Fekky.

Appears on stage with Drake at London’s Wireless Festival

3 July

The symbiotic relationship between Drake and Skepta is fascinating. While Skepta gives Drake edge, Drake gives Skepta credibility on the world stage.

When Drake brought out Skepta at Wireless the crowd, and then the world, went absolutely mad for it. Also worth watching for Drake’s London accent.

OVO Sound’s Apple Music program premieres a remix of Wizkid’s Ojuelegba featuring verses from Skepta and Drake

11 July

Drizzy premiered a remix of Wizkid’s Ojuelegba featuring himself and Skepta contributing to the track on his shiny new Apple Music radio show.

Skepta comforts young man who’s been dumped by his girlfriend for getting a Skepta tattoo

21 July

A bloke called Liam thought it would be a good idea to have “SKEPTA” tattooed to his hip while on his hols. His girlfriend, only identified as Lauren, was less than impressed.

What you saying @Skepta pic.twitter.com/hteg8gI6HZ

— Liam Scott (@liamscott1997) July 20, 2015

At least Skepta himself approved.

@liamscott1997 At least you now know Lauren’s love weren’t real, how can she finish it over a tattoo? Smh. Plenty more fish in the sea bro. — SKEPTA (@Skepta) July 21, 2015

Smh indeed.

Skepta appears at Drake’s OVO festival in Toronto

3 August

Other guests include Kanye West, Travis Scott and Future. Skepta is blowing up abroad.

Skepta collaborates with Bashy and Kano on Can’t See Me Again

26 August

Kano and Bashy have been going just as long as Skepta has. Listening to all three of them on the same beat sounds like a chapter in the ultimate grime guidebook.

Skepta hands out physical compilations of his music in New York

6 September

Skepta took to the streets of NYC after having a chat with Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg and handed out a mixtape that featured new song Top Boy.

Hosts surprise London gig as part of the Future Underground series

11 September

Skepta, being the loyal individual that he is, brought out long-time friends DJ Logan Sama, Section Boyz, Shorty, Giggs and Jammer at his secret show.

We spoke to DJ Logan Sama in more detail for our Turning Points feature. See that here.

Skepta and JME’s Brixton Academy show sells out in three hours

9 October

Testament to the moment grime’s having in the youth culture’s conscious right now.

If you missed out here, Simple Things still loves you. The pair will be headlining on Saturday so you should probably get a ticket.

Drake gets a BBK tattoo

15 October

BBK has obviously steeped indelibly into Drake’s mind, so why not draw it onto his skin too? Skepta shared this lovely tribute to the boys of BBK this month. Let’s just hope they never fall out.