The name "Skepta" originated from the word Sceptre, a type of staff. He did not like the way it was spelt and felt that he wanted a unique stage name so 'that he could type "Skepta" in YouTube and only he would come up.' So, he changed it.
Skepta started his music career after he won a MC battle with over 300 people contesting beating Tempa T in the final. He also formed a partnership with his brother JME and became renowned throughout Greater London for his hit single (he also produced), "Private Caller" which featured many of his Meridian Crew from Meridian Walk in Tottenham.
Skepta (Managing Director) along with brother JME (CEO), began their grime label Boy Better Know in late 2005. The phrase "Boy Better Know" was originated by Big H the artist.
This phrase was then taken by Skepta and JME. Early 2006 saw the release of 'Shut Yuh Mut' - Boy Better Know Edition 1 which features all 3 artists and throughout the years has contributed and aided many other artists such as Frisco and Wiley to put out mixtapes, along with JME (4 mixtapes) and Skepta's September 2007 release 'Greatest Hits', which was distributed nationwide.
However now, Wiley left because he found mainstream chart success with Roll Deep, a crew that he co-founded and has enjoyed two number one hit singles with on the UK Top 40 Chart. He also had an ongoing 'beef' with Skepta, with both artists creating diss tracks, Wiley's 'Barnet' and Skepta's 'House in the Country' were both uploaded onto YouTube by both artists. However, this 'beef' was later proved to be false, as Skepta has stated in interviews, over Twitter, and whilst appearing on Ustream.
Skepta has released three singles off his third studio album, Doin' It Again (first with a major label). Titled "Bad Boy", "Rescue Me" and "Cross My Heart" featuring Preeya Kalidas, as well as a video for the Hello Good Morning (Grime Remix).
All singles charted in the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart, with "Rescue Me" being the most successful at number 14. The chart position of "Cross My Heart" was fairly disappointing coming in at number 31 and dropping out of the Top 40 a week later, bearing in mind it had the most promotion out of any of the tracks. After the success of his first single "Bad Boy", Skepta's videos were removed from his own channel and promoted through All Around The World (a division of Universal Records).
His tracks were also premiered on the official website of the label.
It is expected that "Doin' It Again" will be either released on or in partnership with All Around The World records, scheduled for a release of 31 January 2011 for digital download and on 7 February 2011 as a CD.
Crime Riddim
Skepta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
Wanna strip a male
Put me in a prison cell
Got me biting all my fingernails
Sitting in my hotel, listening to beats
So I jumped in the shower, got ready quick
Pulled up in a taxi, text my bredrin, tell him I'm on the strip
I stepped in, went to the bar, made my order
I got my drink, I posted up in the darkest corner
This guy frantically jumping around and spilled my drink twice
But I really ain't tryna fight, really ain't tryna see no jail tonight
The feds wanna shift man
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
Wanna strip a male
Put me in a prison cell
Got me biting all my fingernails
Feds wanna shift man
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
Wanna strip a male
Put me in a prison cell
Got me biting all my fingernails
What the fuck? This pussyhole must've been off his nut
In the cut, jumping around like a little slut
I pulled him up, "yo, you spilt my Hennessy out my cup"
And still tryna run it up, it's like this guy really wants to scuff
Flexing like he had something on the waist
Pull Shorty out the way, blaow, punch him in the face
Made him Shmoney dance, I made him rock away
We ran out of the dance, we could've got away
But we came back, should've gone home and hit the sack
But he never hit me back, I was like "that's a wrap", fuck that
Shorty found some gritty tings to keep us company
Then the feds run up on me and put the cuffs on me
What you know about four man in a cell? Couldn't sleep
Spending pennies in the pissing well
You should see my cell mate, he's in shit as well
Sitting here, just waiting to hear keys in the door
I'm tryna buss this case even if I gotta get on my knees in the court, crazy
Trust me, Dex
Fucking hell, brudda, man
You actually got nicked?
Man, dickhead ting, fighting ting, fam. Look at my knuckle
Fucking hell, what? Strip-searched and?
Fam, not gonna lie, fam. Strip-searched, they made me liff up
The feds wanna shift man
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
Wanna strip a male
Put me in a prison cell
Got me biting all my fingernails
Feds wanna shift man
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
Wanna strip a male
Put me in a prison cell
Got me biting all my fingernails
So what, what happened, then? So what's the settings now, bruv?
Well, man, I was just grovelling to the magistrates, man. Literally just begging for my life brudda
In Skepta's song Crime Riddim, he talks about the constant threat of being stopped and searched by the police. The lyrics describe how the police are trying to put Skepta in the van and strip search him, which he compares to the experience of being a Chippendale dancer. Skepta talks about his fear of being thrown into a prison cell and biting his fingernails with nervousness.
Despite his fears, Skepta goes out with his friends, getting ready quickly and going to a rave. He is initially enjoying himself until a man spills his drink twice and starts jumping around erratically. Skepta confronts the man and punches him, making him do the "Shmoney Dance." Skepta and his friends leave the rave and find some "gritty tings" to keep them company. However, they eventually get caught by the police, and Skepta is left "begging for his life."
The song displays Skepta's frustration with the police and the way they treat young black men in the UK. The constant threat of being stopped and searched and being thrown in prison is a reality for many young people in the UK, and Skepta is using his platform to shed light on this issue.
Line by Line Meaning
The feds wanna shift man
The police want to arrest me
Wanna put me in the van, wanna strip a man
They want to put me in a police van and perform a strip search on me
Fuck that, I ain't a Chippendale
I refuse to be stripped like a male stripper
Wanna strip a male
The police are targeting men for strip searches
Put me in a prison cell
They want to imprison me
Got me biting all my fingernails
I'm anxious and nervous about the situation
Sitting in my hotel, listening to beats
I was relaxing in my hotel room, listening to music
My bredrin said that he's in the rave, told me that I should reach
My friend told me that he's at a party and suggested that I join him
So I jumped in the shower, got ready quick
I took a quick shower and got dressed
Pulled up in a taxi, text my bredrin, tell him I'm on the strip
I arrived in a taxi and texted my friend to let him know I'm at the party
I stepped in, went to the bar, made my order
I entered the party, went to the bar, and ordered a drink
I got my drink, I posted up in the darkest corner
I received my drink and stood in a dark corner
This guy frantically jumping around and spilled my drink twice
A guy was dancing wildly and accidentally spilled my drink twice
But I really ain't tryna fight, really ain't tryna see no jail tonight
I didn't want to start a fight and end up in jail
What the fuck? This pussyhole must've been off his nut
I was surprised by the guy's behavior - he must've been on drugs
In the cut, jumping around like a little slut
He was dancing in a suggestive manner
I pulled him up, 'yo, you spilt my Hennessy out my cup'
I confronted him about spilling my drink
Flexing like he had something on the waist
He was acting tough and pretending to carry a weapon
We ran out of the dance, we could've got away
We fled the party and could've escaped
But we came back, should've gone home and hit the sack
We returned to the party instead of going home to sleep
Shorty found some gritty tings to keep us company
Our female friend found some drugs for us
Then the feds run up on me and put the cuffs on me
The police caught me and put handcuffs on me
What you know about four man in a cell? Couldn't sleep
Do you know what it's like to share a cell with four people? It's hard to sleep
Spending pennies in the pissing well
I'm so bored that I'm resorting to throwing coins into a toilet bowl
You should see my cell mate, he's in shit as well
My cell mate is also in a bad situation
Sitting here, just waiting to hear keys in the door
I'm waiting for someone to unlock my cell
I'm tryna buss this case even if I gotta get on my knees in the court, crazy
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to win my case, even if it means pleading on my knees in court
Trust me, Dex
Believe me, Dex
Fucking hell, brudda, man
Oh my god, my friend
You actually got nicked?
You actually got caught?
Man, dickhead ting, fighting ting, fam. Look at my knuckle
It was a stupid situation that involved fighting. Look at my injured knuckle
Fam, not gonna lie, fam. Strip-searched, they made me liff up
To be honest, they strip-searched me and made me lift my genitals
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KWADWO KANKAM, JOSEPH ADENUGA, JASON ADENUGA, ALEXANDER BLAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind