For a bit of background, though visible with a “beef” against Joyner Lucas and a somewhat constant stream of singles, the wait for a bona fide Skepta album rolls on. This hiatus, in many ways, mirrors his overseas compatriot A$AP Rocky. Funnily enough, both men’s PUMA partnerships headline a stacked set of out-of-studio responsibilities, with Skepta adding his stewardship over fashion label MAINS and event series Mas Tiempo with Jammer. To that end, Skepta.. Fred finally finds an applicable middle ground between those electronic-focused concerts and the hip-hop Skepta has paced his catalog with.
Neither Rapper Nor Producer Hit The Brakes At All With Collab EP
In accomplishing that, this EP functions almost as a “back to basics.” Fred brings his superstar skills behind the boards that’s made him a titan in the modern scene, but bends his style towards old school grime, obviously a lane that the BBK head is plenty comfortable in. By distancing from the executive seat for this project, Skepta carries renewed focus into his performances, leaning harder into his strengths than in recent efforts that attempted to catch onto broader demographics (“Why Lie” with Flo Milli an obvious example.)
For specific highlights, “London” might be Skepta’s most “in-charge” performance, dotting killer two-liners like “Somethin’ like Quavo, they treat me like the huncho / She knows the city is mine, where you wanna go?” “21 Years” sees Skepta take a different candor atop the booming Fred Again.. production, going introspective and retrospective about his position in the game. “I’m in my room up late, I’m pacin’, overthinkin’… Spent all this money on a hotel suite, but I spent the night in my head.”
Finally, we reach “Victory Lap,” the song that started this partnership. At electronic sets all summer, this song has been a serious weapon in every DJ’s arsenal, and again it excels in the context of this record, propelled by a three-head monster of throbbing bass, a killer Doechii flip, and Skepta at his most confident.
The Wait Continues For A Full Skepta LP, But Fred Again Stems The Tide
To zoom out on Fred Again’s part of the equation, this once more speaks to his talents as a connector, now having worked with an impressive list of A-listers in hip-hop. Explicating that rolodex, Skepta now joins Baby Keem, Lil Yachty, Anderson .Paak and Sampha in enlisting (or tagging along with) the multi-hyphenate.
Will Skepta.. Fred entirely fill the void with the MC’s fans they’ve been holding onto for nearly 8 years? Likely not, but if we’re to trust the grime legend’s word, that LP isn’t far out, making this a fantastic way to whet appetites in the meantime. It also justifies that level of anticipation in the first place, demonstrating his S-tier talents behind the mic and how he still holds ultimate command of the sub-genre he helped form even more than “21 years” in.
Find Skepta.. Fred wherever you stream your music.
