1. A British rapper
2. A Finnis… Read Full Bio ↴There are two artists with this name:
1. A British rapper
2. A Finnish rock band
1. Mike Skinner (born November 27, 1978), more commonly known by his stage name The Streets, is a rapper from Birmingham, England. He was born in Barnet in North London and that's where his accent, sometimes called 'Mockney' by the press, comes from. You can hear his actual accent on the start of 'Fake Streets Hats' from his album The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living recorded in 2006. He moved to Birmingham shortly after he was born and is a Birmingham City fan. He has suffered from epilepsy since he was five.
He signed a five album record deal in 2002, and has fulfilled his contract by releasing five albums: Original Pirate Material (2002), All Got Our Runnin's (2003), A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004), The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006), Everything Is Borrowed (2008) and Computers and Blues (2011).
When playing live, Skinner is joined by Kevin Mark Trail on backing vocals, Johnny Drum Machine on drums, Wayne Fibes on guitar and bass, Chris Brown on keyboards and Magic Mike on samplers.
In January 2011, Skinner's management announced that Skinner will no longer perform as The Streets.
---------------
2. The Streets was a band originated from Turku, Finland in the early 1980's. Their most known song is KestÀÀkâ siivet from the album KestÀÀkâ siivet (1980), which is also featured on the soundtrack of Mika KaurismÀki's film Arvottomat (The Worhless) 1982.
The Streets were:
Asmo KΓ€rkkΓ€inen, guitar
Jouni Hemberg, lead vocals
Kari Laihonen, keyboard
Tapio Vesa, bass guitar
Eero Valkonen, drums
Has It Come to This?
The Streets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Make yourself at home
Sit back in your throne, turn off your phone 'cause this is our zone
Videos, televisions, 64s, PlayStations
Weigh up Henry with precision, few herbs and a bit of Benson
But don't forget the Rizla, lean like the Tower of Pisa
These are, I'll raise ya and this is the day in the life of a geezer
For this ain't a club track, pull out your sack and sit back
Whether you white or black, smoke weed, chase brown or toot rock
We're on a mission, support the cause, sign a petition, summon all your wisdom
The music's a gift from the man on high, the Lord and His children
Triple team here of rude boys, come rain or snow, the Buddha flows
You don't know? Stand on the corner, watch the show 'cause life moves slow
Sort your shit out then roll, sex, drugs and on the dole
Some men rise, some men fall, I hear your call, stand tall now
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
I'm just spitting, think I'm ghetto? Stop dreaming, my data's streaming
I'm giving your bird them feelings, touch your toes then touch the ceiling
We walk the tightrope of street cred
Keep my dogs fed, all jungle, all garage heads
Gold teeth, Valentinos and dreads now
We were verbally slapped up, physically tip-top, spinally ripped up
I do the science on my laptop and I get my boys mashed up
You're listening to The Streets
You'll bear witness to some amazing feats
Bravery in the face of defeat
All line up and grab your seat
'Cause Tony's got a new motor
SR Nova, driving like a joyrider
Speeding to the corner
Your mother warned ya, it's a sound system banger
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
My Underground train runs from Mile End to Ealing
From Brixton to Boundsgreen
My spitting's dirty, my beats are clean, so smoke weed and be lean
I step out my yard through the streets
In the dead heat, all I got's my spirit and my beats
I play fair, don't cheat and keep the gangsters sweet
Turn the page, don't rip it out at your age, move to the next stage
Lock the rage inside the cage, like SK, it's a new day
But don't take the shortcut through the subway
It's pay or play, these geezers walk the gangway
Deep seated urban decay, deep seated urban decay
Rip down posters I like from last week's big garage night
And the next Tyson fight
I cook 'em at ninety degrees Fahrenheit and don't copy the copyright
I got 'em in my sights
Blinding with the lights, taken to dizzy new heights
Blinding with the lights, blinding with the lights
Dizzy new heights
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
Has it come to this? Oh, oh, oh, oh
Original Pirate Material
You're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial
The lyrics to The Streets' song "Has It Come to This?" portray life on the streets from the perspective of Mike Skinner, the lead vocalist. The song highlights issues such as drug use, apathy, and the struggle to make ends meet. Skinner speaks of the pleasures of smoking weed while listening to music, and the desire of individuals to escape the harsh realities of life.
The song has a laid-back vibe that is heavily influenced by garage and hip-hop. Skinner's simple yet clever lyrics, paired with the catchy beat, create a feeling of solidarity among his listeners. He speaks of "original pirate material," referencing the gritty and raw origins of his music, and declares, "You're listening to the streets," suggesting that he represents the reality of life for many who live in the same circumstances, and they can relate to his words.
Skinner's lyrics also touch on the wider issue of urban decay, and the way that society overlooks and neglects the needs of those living in impoverished communities. He calls for change, asking his listeners to "sign a petition" and "summon all your wisdom." The song's message is both critical and hopeful, urging people to wake up to the issues and take action.
Line by Line Meaning
Original pirate material
This music represents an authentic, raw sound that is not influenced by commercial interests.
Yer listening to the streets
This is music by and for the people who live and breathe the urban environment.
Lock down your aerial
Turn off all distractions and focus on this music β it's that important.
Make yerself at home
Relax and get comfortable β this music is like a welcoming friend.
We got diesel or some of that homegrown
We have all kinds of ways to get high and experience the music in a more intense way.
Sit back in yer throne, turn off yer phone
Become the ruler of your own world and disconnect from outside influences.
'Cause this is our zone
The streets are where we belong, and this music is our way of expressing ourselves.
Videos, televisions, 64's PlayStations
We are surrounded by media of all kinds, but this music is different and more meaningful.
We're paring with precision
We are experts at crafting our words and music to deliver a powerful message.
Few herbs and a bit of Benson
We like to smoke tobacco mixed with herbs to enhance our musical experience.
But don't forger the Rizla
Rolling paper is a key component of our smoking ritual.
Lean like the tower of Pisa
We get so high and relaxed that we become as unstable as a leaning tower.
Liza, I'll raise yer,
We are always looking to push the limits of our experiences and understandings.
And this is the day in the life of a geezer
This music tells the story of urban life and the challenges faced by those who live it.
For this ain't a club track
This is not the kind of music you hear at a trendy nightclub β it's much more real and gritty.
Pull out yer sack and sit back
Pack a bowl with some weed and get comfortable, because this music is going to take you on a journey.
Whether you white or black
This music is for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Smoke weed, chase brown
We like to smoke weed and drink alcohol in conjunction to experience the music on a deeper level.
Or toot rock
Not all of us do drugs, but some of us do cocaine to get the most out of our musical experiences.
We're on a mission, support the cause
Our music is more than just entertainment β it's a statement and a call to action.
Sign a petition, summon all your wisdom
We want our listeners to engage in the world around them and make a positive difference.
The music's a gift from the man on high
Our musical abilities come from a higher power, and we are grateful for the opportunity to express ourselves.
The lord and his children
We see ourselves as part of a larger family, all connected through the power of our music.
Triple teen year rudeboys
We are young and brash, but we have something to say and we will not be silenced.
Come rain or snow the boodah flows
We will continue to smoke weed in all kinds of weather, because it helps us create and appreciate our music.
You don't know?
If you haven't experienced our lifestyle and our music, you can not begin to understand it.
Stand on the corner watch the show
Our music is not just something you hear β it's a culture that you can observe on the streets.
'Cause life moves slow
We take our time living and creating, because we know that the best things in life can not be rushed.
Sort yer shit out then roll
Take care of your own life and problems so that you can then enjoy our music to the fullest.
Sex, drugs 'n' on the dole
Our lifestyle involves sex, drugs, and welfare β it's not glamorous, but it's real.
Some men rise, some men fall
Life is not fair, and some of us will succeed while others will not β but we will keep making music regardless.
I hear ya call, stand tall now
We are here to respond to the call of our listeners and supporters, and we will do so with pride and confidence.
Has it come to this?
Is this the state of our society and culture today? Is the only way to express ourselves through sex, drugs, and music?
My underground train runs from mile end to Ealing
My music can take you on a journey through the urban landscape, from the outskirts to the center.
From Briton to Boundsgreen
My music represents the breadth of the urban experience, from the most affluent areas to the most poverty-stricken.
My spitting's dirty my beats are clean
My lyrics are raw and uncensored, but my musical talent is polished and refined.
So smoke weed and be lean
If you want to truly appreciate my music, you need to smoke weed and let it take you to another level of consciousness.
I step out my yard through the streets
I am always ready to take to the streets and spread my musical message to anyone who will listen.
In the dead heat all I got's my spirit and my beats
I create my music with nothing but my own inspiration and talent β no fancy equipment or studio tricks needed.
I play fair don't cheat
I create my music with honesty and integrity, never taking shortcuts or plagiarizing.
And keep the gangsters sweet
I have the respect and admiration of even the most hardened criminals, because my music speaks to everyone.
Turn the page, don't rip it out at yer age
Life is a journey, and you need to embrace every chapter β even the difficult ones.
Move to the next stage
Keep moving forward in life and always strive to improve yourself and your situation.
Lock the rage inside the cage,
Don't let your anger and frustration consume you β keep it under control and use it for positive change.
Like sk it's new day
Every day is a new opportunity to embrace life and make a difference.
But don't take the shortcut through the subway
Life is not easy, and you need to take the long way around to truly appreciate its ups and downs.
It's pay or play, these geezers walk the gangway
You need to put in the effort and hard work to succeed in life β there are no shortcuts or handouts.
Deep seated urban decay
Our cities are crumbling and decaying, but we fight on in the face of adversity.
Deep seated urban decay
Our cities are crumbling and decaying, but we fight on in the face of adversity.
Rip down posters alight
Our music goes against the mainstream and the establishment, so we are not afraid to rebel and make a statement.
From last weeks big garage night
We don't just make music β we live it and breathe it in the clubs and on the streets.
And the next Tyson fight
We combine our music with our love of boxing and other aspects of urban culture.
I cook em at ninety degrees Fahrenheit
We take our music to the limit, pushing ourselves and our listeners as far as we can go.
And don't copy the copyright
We make our music our own, never copying or imitating anyone else's style.
I got em in my sites, blinding with the lights
Our music is so powerful and intense that it can blur your vision and overwhelm your senses.
Taken to dizzy new heights
Our music can take you to another level of consciousness and emotion.
Blinding with the lights, blinding with the lights
Our music is not just heard β it is seen and felt with every fiber of your being.
Dizzy new heights
Our music can take you on a journey that you never thought possible.
Has it come to this?
Is this really the best that our society and culture can offer? Is our music a reflection of our urban decay and desperation?
Original pirate material
This music comes from a place of authenticity and defiance, standing up against the establishment and the powers that be.
Your listening to the streets
Our music is a product of and a tribute to the gritty, real street culture of the urban environment.
Lock down your aerial
Forget about everything else and focus exclusively on this music β it's that important.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Geoffrey Skinner, Tina L Moore, Tommie Ford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christophermacdonald7902
The lyrics, the delivery, the piano, the bassline. Still untouchable 20 years on.
@cainmccoy804
A young boy in Richmond, Virginia discovering this song via Limewire in 2003. STILL BANGS. The wormhole that got me to UK garage, 2 step, jungle, dub, grime, and UK Hip-Hop. Peace to Mike Skinner! Shouts BBC 1Xtra, (ChoiceFM RIP) and CapitalXtra.
@ZoolulooZ
Cain McCoy me too in richmond VA
@stressedtechie518
I'm from the UK and only 15. Never really understood CapitalXTRA/1Xtra/the music they play. Maybe now's the time
@MrIcecolddd
Big up to the USA mate, props for giving the UK scene a change π¬π§πΊπΈ
@jacksteadman1423
From Richmond Virginia to Richmond London
@NoahAWeinbaum
804 to the 757 to the 212. whats goood!
@ak-9295
The song that changed the uk game forever.
@symbolitical4158
@β’ AzzA β’ you're too young to know lol
@Jie67
@β’ AzzA β’cause it was fucking Spice Girls before them thats how.