Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr.[1] (born 19 September 1982), known professionally as Skepta, is a British grime MC, rapper, record producer and DJ.

His influence on contemporary British popular culture as a key figure in the grime scene saw him appear on Debrett's 2017 list of the most influential people in the UK.

Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr. was born on 19 September 1982,[5] to Nigerian parents,[6] of respective Yoruba (paternal) and Igbo (maternal) backgrounds, in Tottenham, North London.

[9][10][11] Early in his career, Skepta released "Pulse Eskimo" in 2002,[12] as well as instrumentals "DTI (Pirate Station Anthem)" and "Private Caller".

Skepta has released five singles off his third studio album Doin' It Again (first with a major label), titled "Bad Boy", "Rescue Me", "Cross My Heart" featuring Preeya Kalidas, "So Alive" and "Amnesia", as well as a video for the Hello Good Morning (Grime Remix).

Both "Hold On" and "Make Peace Not War" were Top 40 charting singles in the UK but were a departure from Skepta's usual sound.

Skepta's second major label album was intended to be released in the fourth quarter of 2011, entitled The Honeymoon but was delayed till 2012.

In March 2014, Skepta provided a verse for the remix of "German Whip" by Meridian Dan, and in the same month, he released his new single, "That's Not Me", featuring his brother Jme, peaking at number 21 on the UK charts.

Skepta and others joined Kanye West at a surprise show in London, performing numerous songs together during a shared set.

[24][25][26][27] Skepta began his "Banned From America" two-part, 14-show tour on 16 April 2017 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which covered cities throughout the United States and Europe.

In the summer of 2017, rumours on the underground dance scene suggested an imminent collaboration between Skepta and drum'n'bass pioneer Goldie.

[39] In January 2024, he apologised after artwork for his upcoming single, "Gas Me Up (Diligent)", received criticism online for bearing "unintentional but palpable allusions" to the Holocaust; the pictures in question depicted images from 1980s skinhead culture.

"[40] In January 2016, Skepta punched a man in the mouth after an altercation a Melbourne nightclub and pleaded guilty to recklessly causing injury.

[45][46][47][48] He is also a visual artist: in September 2022, Sotheby's put on display some of his paintings, all of which had been created during the COVID-19 lockdowns, for the "Contemporary Curated" art series.

[49] On 2 December 2024, he hosted a DJ set at Jaguar's launch event for the Type 00 concept car at the Art Week in Miami, Florida.