Skrein
Location:
London, UK
Biography:
Skrein is a razor-tongued North Londoner with a release schedule to rival even the most hard-working artists. Having been touted as ‘one to watch’ by the likes of DJ 279, the industrious MC has two albums in the pipeline, and kicks off with ‘The Eat Up’; a smorgasbord of lithe lyricism, delivered in his own distinctive flow.
Hailing from North London, Skrein began his Hip-Hop career teaching DJing in schools and youth clubs while playing at Camden Palace and Dingwalls at under 18 raves with Bigga Fish Promotions. Also sparring with local rappers in his secondary school including Restless 29, with whom he enjoyed his first performance in the world famous Roundhouse in Chalk Farm in 99’ backed by a full live band. This continued with performances in open mic’s, poetry meets, talent showcases and local Colleges, which is where he met Underground Alliance for the first time in 2001.
After officially becoming a full fledged member of the Alliance, whilst building up a strong catalogue of tracks networking with many producers such as Dag Nabbit (Foreign Beggars), Wyt-Fang (Underground Alliance) and Jimmy Wha G’wan (Contact Play). Skrein gained valued experience in creating, promoting and distributing mix tapes and mastering his mic presence and technique at regular shows in and around London performing alongside Skinnyman, Mud Family and DVS amongst others.
Underground Alliance continued their rise in stature performing nationwide from Newcastle to Brighton alongside such established home grown acts as Klashnekoff, Task Force, Rodney P and Skitz, Braintax, Mystro, Poisonous Poets and The Raw Dog Band. As well as supporting legendary U.S acts, Maseo from De La-Soul, Razhel and The Beatnuts. Along with group tours, Skrein travelled with a five piece live band on a mini solo tour of the South of England, performing at diverse show cases alongside Rock, Punk, Folk and Heavy Metal Bands.
Skrein’s CD debut was a feature on The Beat Brikkies, “Tha Mix”(2003), followed by Underground Alliance’s, “Basementality II” (2004) and the Foreign Beggars album, “Asylum Speakers” (2004). Soon following was the Underground Alliance “Basmentality E.P” (2004) and Skreins much anticipated solo debut “Mind Out/Once upon a Skrein” (2004).
“Mind Out” received extensive airplay with many DJs Nationwide, and the B side track “The Youth” (Produced by Jimmy Wha’ Gwan) was selected by Choice FMs DJ 279 as one of the best UK Hip-Hop tunes of 2004.
Review:
The Eat Up
‘The Eat Up’ showcases the various faces of Skrein and with ‘Mine For The Taking’ feat Dr Syntax, Farma G, Verb T and DJ Skully warms up listeners for the hotly anticipated SkreinTax project with Dr Syntax – ‘The Scene Stealers’.
The guests on the album read like a roll call of the UK scene; the Foreign Beggar fam, who featured him on one of the stand out tracks from their ‘Asylum Speakers’ LP, drop in on the massive ‘Reign In Blood’ and long time confidant and NME darling, Plan B hijacks Wyt Fang’s beat with his dubious thug teachings on ‘How’s It Feel’. Doc Brown, Dubbledge, Stig Of The Dump, Farma G, Shameless, Verb T, Supar Novar and Dr Syntax are all present and accounted for across tracks that range from the hilarious ‘Skrizzle’ to the back in the day reminiscing of ‘Where It All Started’.
The boy Skrein hasn’t scrimped on production either, soliciting the likes of Dag Nabbitt, Ghost Town and Brummie newcomer Kelakovski to show their skills on the boards. Mixed by the baby god of the decks that is DJ IQ, Jehst’s tour DJ blends in cuts and scratches as well as finding time to provide beats for the hazy, summer vibes of current single ‘The Weary Traveller’. Covering topics from why women like a bastard, to the state of the planet and dodgy dealings with women of a certain age, Skrein’s playful and individual rhymes range from the barbed to the blasé, but are always on point.
Tracklisting
1. Intro (Produced by Jimmy Wha’ Gwaaan) 2. Where It All Started (Produced by Dyversity / Cuts by Jabba The Cut) 3. Reign In Blood ft. Foreign Beggars (Produced By Opia) 4. Skrizzle (Produced by Kelakovski / Naff phone messages by Dubblewedge, Stigmund Freud and Prizzle) 5.Bastard Like ft. Dubbledge 6.Crazy Tone Skit I (Performed by Crazy Tone The Crackhead) 7.Stop The Clock ft. Foreign Beggars (Produced by Dag Nabitt) 8.The Weary Traveller ft. DJ IQ, Graziella (Produced by DJ IQ) 9.How’s It Feel ft. Plan B (Produced by Wyt-Fang) 10.Mother Earth (Produced by Kelakovski) 11.Raise Ya Glasses ft. Stig Of The Dump (Produced by Ido) 12.Listen! (Produced by GhostTown) 13.The Eat Up pt I ft. Shameless (Produced by Dag Nabitt) 14.Pineapples And Pistachios ft. Tau Rai 15.Crazy Tone Skit II (Performed by Crazy Tone The Circus Freak) 16.Mine For The Taking ft. DJ Scully, Dr Syntax, Verb T, Farma G (Produced by Dag Nabitt / Cuts by DJ Scully) 17.Drug Opera (Produced by GhostTown) 18.The Eat Up pt II ft. Doc Brown, Supar Novar, Metropolis (Produced by Dag Nabitt) 19.Ghost Town ft. Dubbledge (Produced by Kelakovski) 20.Outro (Produced by GhostTown)
Links:
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/skrein
Label - http://www.dentedrecords.com