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Mike
Skinner, 22, has never been to Ayia Napa. He has never swung a champagne
bottle over his head, doesn't wear Moschino drainpipes with bold graphic
lettering, or drive a bimmer. When you meet Mike, and consider in his
slight figure, grey hoodie, shiny white Nikes and gentle Midlands accents,
the phrase 'bling bling' isn't what instantly springs to mind. So how come
they're calling him 'the future of garage'? Because 'Has It Come To This'
by The Streets - Mike's nom de plume - is probably the next evolutionary
leap for the British urban music.
Over the past
two years, Skinner has toured the world with his band, avoided a
plethora of award ceremonies (nominated for Brit awards, The
Mercury Prize, The Shortlist Award and winning an Ivor Novello
songwriting award for Best Contemporary Song) and found critical
acclaim not only in the UK, but in Europe, South East Asia and
most notably in the US where he became the first UK rapper to
make any serious impact. So what next? In May 2004 we'll find
out when his hugely anticipated second album "A Grand Don't Come
For Free" hits the shelves. Recorded (like Original Pirate
Material) in his bedroom studio ("but with better microphones"),
the album is a collection of songs linked together by a plots
and subplots that whilst still reflecting the typical life of
normal young Britain. “A Grand” shifts the overall focus from
the society overviews of "Original Pirate Material" to the more
personal, everyday twists of relationships, friendship and just
getting by. We won't tell you how good it is. You can find that
out for yourselves. For Skinner, it's all in a days work.
"I just have to keep making music that sounds fresh and
entertains. That's what I want to do. I'm obsessed with that.
I'm starting on the next one now..."
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