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.
Listen Up
Skepta Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a Welbourne warrior, St Paul's soldier
Northumberland park, next door neighbour
Eskimo raver, L-stone visitor
Meridian resident
See me in Manny with President
Showaman or south soldiers
Don't fear olders, I never had youngers
My seventeen year olds roll with pumpers
I'mma temple tourer, champagne pourer
Winchmore warrior, Class A courier
Grime scene ambassador, Duppy maker
Four four saviour, Ally Pally jungle raver
Entry ticket and a borer fresh hair cut
With a side partin' and a border
Selby Centre explorer private caller ignorer
Go on then
Everybody knows Skepta, I'm about
I should change my name to Beadle
In a dance I get evil i get so many reloads
Somebody better bring another needle
I'm Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Wiley and Lethal
The sequel
I'm back to business, playtime's over
I've gotta stand up tall
Represent my home sweet home for my UK people
Listen up closely, pay attention
Pay attention i blaze any one of these guys
Just give me one mic
One blue Rizla and a Benson
I'm not an easy clash
Ask tiomi yie wun sen den sung
I flow darker than my skin complexion
Now I get big man money like
I was claiming a pension
But you're one of them boys from the
Past who gets asked a question
Hasn't got the answer now you're looking in
All different directions
Asking your mates for suggestions
Little did you know, nobody knows the answer
So now you're asking the host of
The show to pass the question
You better than me
That's taking the piss like a two
And a half hour detention go on then
I call my album Greatest Hit's
'Cuz all my old music is
Better than your latest shit
Yeah he's alright, but I like the basic shit
I don't like too many words
In a sentence in unreal two weeks on remand
I don't talk like I done a life sentence
Nothing to prove I shot food
On the baitest strip
Long body Mondeo's, bright red XR2's
Bagging up in the baitest whips
Now I make the best Grime music
Some man run up in the booth and lose it
Start spittin' like Dipset
D-Block and G-Unit
Kano brought a new flow to the game
Now I look around
Ten million emcees in the Grime
Scene wanna use it
It's my job to make 'em look stupid
I bury emcees on pirate radio
Spit a big boy sixteen bar hot like tar
Hotter than Trinidad and Tobago
And man know what I'm like on a stage show
Four best crews in the game
I'm doin' it again
Them kinda lyrics send man up to the
Sky with two wings and a halo
None of these emcees want war with Skepta
In Skepta's song "Listen Up," he establishes his identity as a warrior from different areas of London, including Welbourne, St. Paul's, Northumberland Park, Eskimo, and Meridian, among others. Skepta brags about his ageless attitude, being a respected member of the grime scene, and his ability to stand out in the music industry. He references the competition, including Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Wiley, and Lethal, among others, and declares his superiority.
Skepta uses metaphors and wordplay to convey his message, making "Listen Up" a powerful showcase of his skills. He asserts his dominance as a veteran street artist, and his lyrics prove his worthiness of the title. The chorus demands attention and suggests that what Skepta has to offer is essential and not to be missed.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen up, listen up yeah
Pay attention, I have something to say
I'm a Welbourne warrior, St Paul's soldier
I come from Wollombi and St Paul's, two tough places
Northumberland park, next door neighbour
I live in Northumberland Park
Eskimo raver, L-stone visitor
I like to party and have visited Luton
Meridian resident
I live in Meridian, a district of London
See me in Manny with President
I was seen in Manchester with a 'President' figure
Showaman or south soldiers
I can entertain or fight depending on the situation
Don't fear olders, I never had youngers
I am not afraid of the older generation and never had a younger crew
Age ain't nothin' but numbers
Age is not a measure of ability or respect
My seventeen year olds roll with pumpers
My 17-year-olds are involved with drug dealers
I'mma temple tourer, champagne pourer
I visit temples and pour champagne
Winchmore warrior, Class A courier
I am from Winchmore and have dealt in Class A drugs
Grime scene ambassador, Duppy maker
I am a representative of the Grime scene and can easily defeat other MCs
Four four saviour, Ally Pally jungle raver
I use a 44 caliber gun and have partied in Ally Pally jungle raves
Entry ticket and a borer fresh hair cut
I was admitted with a ticket and freshly cut hair
With a side partin' and a border
I have a side parting hairstyle and a specific border design in my clothing
Selby Centre explorer private caller ignorer
I have explored the Selby Centre while ignoring private callers
Go on then
Continue listening to me
Everybody knows Skepta, I'm about
Everyone is familiar with me and what I represent
I should change my name to Beadle
I am so popular that I should change my name to a well-known personality, Beadle
In a dance I get evil i get so many reloads
I am popular in nightclubs and receive many requests to repeat my music
Somebody better bring another needle
A metaphor meaning that I am so good that people need another needle to play my music
I'm Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Wiley and Lethal
I am as talented as these famous UK MCs
The sequel
I am back and better than ever
I'm back to business, playtime's over
I am focused on making music and am done playing games
I've gotta stand up tall
I must assert myself and defend my reputation
Represent my home sweet home for my UK people
I want to represent the UK and its culture through my music
Listen up closely, pay attention
I have something very important to say, so listen closely
Pay attention i blaze any one of these guys
I am better than my competition and can easily defeat them
Just give me one mic
I only need one microphone to show my skills
One blue Rizla and a Benson
I only need one rolling paper and one type of cigarette to enjoy smoking
I'm not an easy clash
I am difficult to defeat in a music competition
Ask tiomi yie wun sen den sung
A phrase in Yoruba language meaning to ask someone to bring their best game
I flow darker than my skin complexion
My music and lyrics are darker and more intense than my skin color
Now I get big man money like
I am now earning a lot of money and have reached a high level of success
I was claiming a pension
I am earning so much money that it feels like a pension
But you're one of them boys from the past who gets asked a question
You are someone who is considered old-fashioned and not up to date
Hasn't got the answer now you're looking in all different directions
You do not know the answer, so you are searching for it in vain
Asking your mates for suggestions
You are asking your friends for advice on what to do, but they don't know either
Little did you know, nobody knows the answer
None of us know the answer because it is not something we can solve with words
So now you're asking the host of the show to pass the question
You are now asking someone else to solve the problem because you cannot do it yourself
You better than me
You are not better than me
That's taking the piss like a two and a half hour detention
You are being disrespectful and taking the situation for a joke
I call my album Greatest Hit's
I am confident in my body of work and consider it a success
'Cuz all my old music is better than your latest shit
My older songs are better than what you are currently producing
Yeah he's alright, but I like the basic shit
I prefer simple and straightforward music over more complicated styles
I don't like too many words in a sentence in unreal two weeks on remand
I do not appreciate complex sentences, and I recently spent two weeks in prison
I don't talk like I done a life sentence
Even though I have been in prison, I do not talk like a career criminal
Nothing to prove I shot food on the baitest strip
I am not trying to prove anything and have sold drugs in a well-known area
Long body Mondeo's, bright red XR2's
I have seen many expensive cars in my time
Bagging up in the baitest whips
I have dealt drugs in very obvious places
Now I make the best Grime music
I am now creating the best Grime music
Some man run up in the booth and lose it
Some MCs try to compete with me in the studio but can't handle the pressure
Start spittin' like Dipset, D-Block and G-Unit
I am very good at freestyling and can rap like many famous American artists
Kano brought a new flow to the game
Kano introduced an innovative style of MCing in the UK
Now I look around ten million emcees in the Grime scene wanna use it
Now, many Grime MCs copy Kano's style, but I am still better than them
It's my job to make 'em look stupid
I am going to outperform these copycats and make them look foolish
I bury emcees on pirate radio
I am so good that I can defeat other MCs on unlicensed radio stations
Spit a big boy sixteen bar hot like tar
I can perform a flawless 16-bar verse with ease
Hotter than Trinidad and Tobago
My music is so good that it is like the heat of the Caribbean
And man know what I'm like on a stage show
People are aware that I am an excellent performer on stage
Four best crews in the game
I am competing with the four best MC crews in the UK
I'm doin' it again
I am going to be successful again, just like before
Them kinda lyrics send man up to the sky with two wings and a halo
My lyrics are so good that they can elevate a person to a higher plane of existence
None of these emcees want war with Skepta
No one wants to compete with me because I am better than them
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HANNAH BLILIE, MARY BETH PATTERSON, NATHAN HOWDESHELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind