Its hard to believe that Mike Skinner aka The Streets is actually considered a rapper. He doesnt exactly use melody or do anything like Ive ever heard before. But hes enormously popular overseas in his native England and gaining a strong foothold here in America. His latest album is A Grand Dont come for Free.
Check out The Streets official website
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired the new album?
Mike Skinner: The most important thing was to make a good album. That was the bottom line. The stories just came about through a series of random events. There wasnt any divine thing that made me feel like I wanted to say something.
DRE: Do you write your songs by freestyling?
MS: No, I sit down and work them out on paper quite a few weeks before I perform them. Just to make sure there isnt anything there that doesnt need to be.
DRE: Did anyone ever suggest to you that you tone down your accent or would that piss you off?
MS: Not really. I was lucky in the sense that I was already quite successful before I got involved with any big music label. By the time I got to the point where people could give me any advice Id already been a success. More of what they say now is Keep it up.
DRE: The main interest of a lot of American rappers is guns, drugs and women. Are you into all of that?
MS: The British rappers really emulate American rappers because they originated the form. I do drugs. To be honest I think the British are much better at doing drugs and drinking than Americans. Americans are all soft when it comes to taking drugs. The English can really do it.
DRE: What is it you do?
MS: Anything thats available.
DRE: Why is the album called A Grand dont come for Free?
MS: A grand in England means a thousand pounds and its part of a story where I lose that amount of money. Also I thought it was clever and catchy line from a song.
DRE: Were you nervous at all about following up that first album?
MS: No, I found it easier because I had more support. I always put myself under a lot of pressure anyway. No one can match the amount of pressure I put myself under.
DRE: I read a quote from you where you said "If I was American, I wouldn't want to listen to the Streets."
MS: Yeah when I first started out I didnt think that anyone would want to hear about what I was doing. I think Ive managed to keep it interesting which a lot of people seem to identify with.
DRE: What do you do to keep yourself grounded?
MS: Ive got a big family. Im just a normal bloke. I suppose I could get carried away but I think the fact that it is important to me to make good music keeps me grounded. As long as that doesnt waver I wont get carried away in all the other crap.
DRE: Do a lot of rappers in England sound like you?
MS: No I think Im quite individual.
DRE: What were your biggest influences?
MS: A lot of rap music, reggae music and then house music. Things like that.
DRE: Do you incorporate techno or anything like that?
MS: Yeah in my own way. I turn it into something else.
DRE: What did you think when Spin magazine called you one of the most important artists making music right now?"
MS: Its a compliment for sure. I think magazines have to say stuff like that because it gives them something to write about. However the press has been really good.
DRE: How many pairs of sneakers are you up to?
MS: About 50. Ive slowed it down a bit but I still get quite a lot.
DRE: You have a diploma in engineering. How does that help you out?
MS: I do but it means a lot less than something similar would in America. Im actually not that educated.
DRE: When you first started making music you would record your vocals under a blanket.
MS: Yeah then after that I started using a wardrobe. Now Ive gotten a bit more of a professional studio space. Its very similar to the blanket but it just costs more money.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
MS: No but I was thinking of getting a Streets one.
DRE: What about piercings?
MS: No I dont like pain. I think thats the thing.
DRE: Your website is really cool. It seems like youre on the messageboard a lot.
MS: As much as I can. I havent been on there much lately.
DRE: Do people talk a lot of shite on there?
MS: I think that happens. Thats what the internet is, people passing time by talking shite.
DRE: Have you met many of the rappers you admire?
MS: Not really. I suppose I could if I wanted to do but thats not one of my goals.
DRE: Do you play any videogames?
MS: Yeah I play a lot of shooting games like Tom Clancy. Where you are a spy?
DRE: Who inspired the song Such a Twat?
MS: That was me. Thats about cheating on a girl then regretting it.
DRE: So youre a twat?
MS: Yeah.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out The Streets official website
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired the new album?
Mike Skinner: The most important thing was to make a good album. That was the bottom line. The stories just came about through a series of random events. There wasnt any divine thing that made me feel like I wanted to say something.
DRE: Do you write your songs by freestyling?
MS: No, I sit down and work them out on paper quite a few weeks before I perform them. Just to make sure there isnt anything there that doesnt need to be.
DRE: Did anyone ever suggest to you that you tone down your accent or would that piss you off?
MS: Not really. I was lucky in the sense that I was already quite successful before I got involved with any big music label. By the time I got to the point where people could give me any advice Id already been a success. More of what they say now is Keep it up.
DRE: The main interest of a lot of American rappers is guns, drugs and women. Are you into all of that?
MS: The British rappers really emulate American rappers because they originated the form. I do drugs. To be honest I think the British are much better at doing drugs and drinking than Americans. Americans are all soft when it comes to taking drugs. The English can really do it.
DRE: What is it you do?
MS: Anything thats available.
DRE: Why is the album called A Grand dont come for Free?
MS: A grand in England means a thousand pounds and its part of a story where I lose that amount of money. Also I thought it was clever and catchy line from a song.
DRE: Were you nervous at all about following up that first album?
MS: No, I found it easier because I had more support. I always put myself under a lot of pressure anyway. No one can match the amount of pressure I put myself under.
DRE: I read a quote from you where you said "If I was American, I wouldn't want to listen to the Streets."
MS: Yeah when I first started out I didnt think that anyone would want to hear about what I was doing. I think Ive managed to keep it interesting which a lot of people seem to identify with.
DRE: What do you do to keep yourself grounded?
MS: Ive got a big family. Im just a normal bloke. I suppose I could get carried away but I think the fact that it is important to me to make good music keeps me grounded. As long as that doesnt waver I wont get carried away in all the other crap.
DRE: Do a lot of rappers in England sound like you?
MS: No I think Im quite individual.
DRE: What were your biggest influences?
MS: A lot of rap music, reggae music and then house music. Things like that.
DRE: Do you incorporate techno or anything like that?
MS: Yeah in my own way. I turn it into something else.
DRE: What did you think when Spin magazine called you one of the most important artists making music right now?"
MS: Its a compliment for sure. I think magazines have to say stuff like that because it gives them something to write about. However the press has been really good.
DRE: How many pairs of sneakers are you up to?
MS: About 50. Ive slowed it down a bit but I still get quite a lot.
DRE: You have a diploma in engineering. How does that help you out?
MS: I do but it means a lot less than something similar would in America. Im actually not that educated.
DRE: When you first started making music you would record your vocals under a blanket.
MS: Yeah then after that I started using a wardrobe. Now Ive gotten a bit more of a professional studio space. Its very similar to the blanket but it just costs more money.
DRE: Do you have any tattoos?
MS: No but I was thinking of getting a Streets one.
DRE: What about piercings?
MS: No I dont like pain. I think thats the thing.
DRE: Your website is really cool. It seems like youre on the messageboard a lot.
MS: As much as I can. I havent been on there much lately.
DRE: Do people talk a lot of shite on there?
MS: I think that happens. Thats what the internet is, people passing time by talking shite.
DRE: Have you met many of the rappers you admire?
MS: Not really. I suppose I could if I wanted to do but thats not one of my goals.
DRE: Do you play any videogames?
MS: Yeah I play a lot of shooting games like Tom Clancy. Where you are a spy?
DRE: Who inspired the song Such a Twat?
MS: That was me. Thats about cheating on a girl then regretting it.
DRE: So youre a twat?
MS: Yeah.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 14 of 14 COMMENTS
Wake up Hip Hop heads.
It's quite an interesting album, with aspects that make me grin (I love the way he says "fink" when he means "think") and aspects that make me remember similar scenes in my own life (the song where he and his girlfriend split is surprisingly touching).