Skepta has completed The Fork and Knife, his sixth studio album and first full solo record since 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss. The project was initially announced earlier this year and arrives after a seven-year gap, which the 44-year-old artist attributes to his growing concern about using his platform responsibly.
The album features 15 tracks that blend various musical styles, including a smooth R&B collaboration with French-Malian artist Aya Nakamura titled Chippie and an eight-minute grime track called Belly showcasing verses from emerging MCs alongside established Boy Better Know members. The project demonstrates Skepta’s continued commitment to clear, direct delivery over technical flourishes, though his distinctive voice now carries what he describes as the authority of accumulated experience.
Skepka has centered recent promotional efforts on the single Innocent Smile, a collaboration with Suggs and production from Chase and Status, which addresses discrimination against immigrants and celebrates multicultural Britain. The artist reflects on his upbringing on Meridian Walk in Tottenham, where his father was a DJ who introduced him to ska music and where his parents—from different Nigerian ethnic groups—built a life together. He views multicultural identity as intrinsic to British musical movements including ska and grime.
The artist expresses concern about current attitudes toward immigration, characterizing them as contrary to British values. He describes his evolution from creating party-oriented tracks to crafting more conscious messaging while maintaining the energy and swagger characteristic of his work. Skepta emphasizes balancing these conscious themes with an engaging sound rather than producing a straightforward manifesto. The album also features the reflective track Revenge, which addresses his mid-career missteps and redemption over his 20-year music career.
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