Mike Skinner in concert
Background information
Birth name	Michael Skinner
Born	November 27, 1978 (1978-11-27) (age 28)
Origin	Birmingham, England
Genre(s)	Electronica, UK garage, Hip Hop
Instrument(s)	vocals, keyboards, guitar
Years active	2000 - present
Label(s)	679 Recordings
Website	www.the-streets.co.uk

Mike Skinner (born November 27, 1978), more commonly known by his stage name The Streets, is a rapper from Birmingham, England.^[1] Image File history File links Streets-logo2. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (647x813, 151 KB) This is a magazine cover. ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England. ... Birmingham (pron. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Electronic music. ... UK garage (also known as UKG or just garage) refers to several different varieties of modern electronic dance music generally connected to the evolution of house in the UK in the mid 1990s. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The home of Anne Lilia Berge Strand (Annie) and others Categories: Record label stubs ... is the 331st day of the year (332nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... Rapping is one of the elements of hip hop and the distinguishing feature of hip hop music; it is a form of rhyming lyrics spoken rhythmically over musical instruments, with a musical backdrop of sampling, scratching and mixing by DJs. ... See also Birmingham, USA, and other places called Birmingham. ...

History

Skinner acquired his first keyboard at the age of five after moving to Birmingham from Barnet, North London. As a teenager, he built a miniature recording studio in his bedroom. He began writing hip hop and garage music in his home in West Heath in Birmingham, with a crew of other rappers including best friend Chris Panton. He describes his background as "Barratt class: suburban estates, not poor but not much money about, really boring"[1]. Skinner started making songs at the age of fifteen. Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... High Barnet or Chipping Barnet is a town in the London Borough of Barnet. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... West Heath is an area of Birmingham, England. ... Barratt Developments plc is one of the largest residential property development companies in the United Kingdom. ...

He has suffered from epilepsy since the age of seven. ^[2]

In the late 1990s, Skinner was a student at Sutton Coldfield College, near Birmingham, and was working in fast food jobs while trying to start his own independent record label and sending off demos. The Streets started out as a group project but quickly became a one-man act as band members fell away. At the end of 2000, the Locked On label, who had had success with The Artful Dodger featuring Craig David, agreed to release "Has It Come To This" under the name The Streets. Skinner moved from Birmingham to Brixton to pursue his recording career. Sutton Coldfield College is an F.E. college in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, England. ... An independent record label is variously described as a record label operating without the funding (or outside the organizations) of the major record labels, and/or a label that subscribes to indie philosophies such as DIY and anti-corporate art. ... For other uses, see demo. ... Locked On is a popular radio show on BURST, the University of Bristols student radio station. ... The Artful Dodger are a UK Garage band, who became famous through their 2Step hits and gave Craig Davids career a boost after he appeared on the number 2 hit Re-Rewind (When the Crowd Say Bo Selecta) in December 1999. ... Craig Ashley David (born 5 May 1981), better known as Craig David, is an English R&B singer and songwriter who has sold about thirteen million albums worldwide as of 2007. ... Brixton is an area of South London, England, part of the London Borough of Lambeth. ...

Despite having been raised in Birmingham, an area with a distinctive regional accent, he speaks with a London-influenced accent. He can be heard speaking in his normal accent at the beginning of the song "Fake Streets Hats." Because of his accent, Skinner is identified with Birmingham; a keen supporter of Birmingham City he even wore the club's replica shirt on stage. However he was born in Barnet and moved to the Midlands when he was five; his family moved south again in 2004 Brummie (sometimes Brummy) is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England, as well as being a general adjective used to denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum. ... Birmingham City Football Club are an English football club based in Birmingham, in the heart of the West Midlands. ...

Career breakthrough

"Has It Come To This" proved to be a breakthrough hit for The Streets, going top-twenty in March 2001. For his debut album, Original Pirate Material, Skinner wanted to take UK garage in a new direction with material reflecting the lifestyle of clubbers in Britain. The track "Let's Push Things Forward" reflects the philosophy of the album. The album was released and proved to be successful both with critics and the general public alike. In the UK, the album was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize and was favourite with the bookies to win it (it was later won by Ms. Dynamite). The Streets was nominated for best album, best urban act, best breakthrough artist and best British male artist in the 2002 BRIT Awards. The NME named it as one of their top five albums of 2002. The cover image is Towering Inferno by the acclaimed photographer Rut Blees Luxemburg. Original Pirate Material is the debut album by UK act The Streets. ... UK garage (also known as UKG or just garage) refers to several different varieties of modern electronic dance music generally connected to the evolution of house in the UK in the mid 1990s. ... The Mercury Music Prize, now officially known as the Nationwide Mercury Prize, is a music award given annually for the best British or Irish album of the previous 12 months. ... Ms. ... Urban is in or having to do with cities, as distinct from rural areas. ... The Brit Awards are the annual United Kingdom pop music awards founded by the British Phonographic Industry. ... The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a weekly magazine about popular music published in the UK. It is unlike many other popular music magazines due to its intended focus on guitar-based music and indie rock bands, instead of mainstream pop acts. ... Rut Blees Luxemburg is a German photographer who gained her last formal education at Westminster University. ...

Subsequent singles included "Don't Mug Yourself", "Weak Become Heroes" and "Let's Push Things Forward" which all reached the top 40 in the UK. Many of his songs have a UK garage feel but have in the main found popularity in the 'indie' scene. Original Pirate Material had debuted and peaked at number 12 in the UK album charts, and wouldn't reach any higher until his next album was released. UK garage (also known as UKG or just garage) refers to several different varieties of modern electronic dance music generally connected to the evolution of house in the UK in the mid 1990s. ... In popular music, indie music (from independent) is any of a number of genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic and cultural attributes, characterised by perceived independence from commercial pop music and mainstream culture and an autonomous, do-it-yourself (DIY) approach. ...

The success of Original Pirate Material in the UK led to a US release of the album through Vice/Atlantic in late 2002. Despite Skinner's lack of understanding of hip hop culture in the US and failure to catch on with American audiences it quickly became a critical favourite with Rolling Stone, Spin Magazine, The New York Times, Blender, USA Today and the LA Times all nominating it as one of the albums of the year. The album was named Entertainment Weekly's "album of the year". The album reached number two on the Billboard electronic charts and the top 20 on the independent and Heatseeker charts in the US in 2003. Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... Hip hop is a cultural movement that began amongst urban African American youth in New York and has since spread around the world. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Spin is a music magazine that reports on all the music that rocks. Founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Blender is an American magazine that bills itself as the ultimate guide to music and more. ... USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. ... This just IN !!!:paris hiltons new dog. ...

Live Line-up

The Streets regularly plays live, and has also performed at several Festivals.

Up until recently his playing line up was: Mike Skinner, Leo "The Lion" singing backing vocals, Eddie "The Kid" playing keyboard, Johnny Drum Machine playing drums, and long-time friend Morgan Nicholls playing bass and guitar. Leo Ihenacho (also known as Leo The Lion) is a British singer and songwriter. ... Morgan Nicholls is a British musician, who has formerly played in early-90s band Senseless Things, a semi-solo project called Morgan and The Streets, amongst others. ...

His current live-line up consists out of Kevin Mark Trail on backing vocals, Wayne Vibes on guitar and bass, Crispy Brown on keyboards, Magic Mike on samplers and Johnny Drum Machine as drummer and Musical director. Kevin Mark Trail is a British R&B / Soul / Reggae / Hip Hop singer-songwriter. ...

Topping the charts

In May 2004, he released a new single, "Fit But You Know It" which became his highest debuting and highest selling single to that point, reaching number four in the UK. Skinner revealed the song was an ode to his lust for pop star Rachel Stevens. Rachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an English singer and actress and an occasional model who lives in Hampstead, London. ...

"Fit But You Know It" is from his second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free which is a concept album about a short period in the protagonist's life. The events depicted include losing a thousand pounds, the start of a new relationship, going on holiday, breaking up, and eventually finding the grand again. The MC's remix of "Fit But You Know It" features formerly underground MCs such as Kano, Tinchy Stryder, Donae'o and Lady Sovereign. A Grand Dont Come for Free is the second album for UK garage musician Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, released on May 18, 2004. ... In popular music, a concept album is an album which is unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical (Shuker 2002, p. ... “GBP” redirects here. ... Kane Brett Robinson (born 21 May 1985 in East Ham, London), better known as Kano, is an English rapper. ... Louise Amanda Harman (born December 19, 1985), known as Lady Sovereign, is an English MC[1][2]. // Lady Sovereign was raised in northwest Londons Chalkhill Estate. ...

The album debuted at number two in the UK album charts, but later reached the number one position. Soon after the album was released, his success grew even larger in July 2004, with the second single "Dry Your Eyes" debuting at the top of the chart in the UK. The success of this album and its singles led to a re-kindling of interest in the first album Original Pirate Material, which re-entered the UK album charts and beat its original chart peak of two years earlier. "Blinded By the Lights", the third single from "A Grand Don't Come for Free", hit the Top 10 in September 2004, and a fourth and final single, "Could Well Be In", was released in late 2004. Dry Your Eyes was the second single from The Streets album A Grand Dont Come for Free. ...

The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living

Skinner's third studio album under The Streets moniker, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, was released on 10 April 2006 in the United Kingdom and on April 25, 2006 in North America. In the UK it debuted at #1 on the album chart. It was a change in direction from the last two albums, the lyrical theme of "Hardest" moved away from the stories about working class Britain and now studying on the ups and downs of fame, a problem Skinner has encountered since the huge success of his last album. This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ...

The lead single, titled "When You Wasn't Famous", was released two weeks prior to the album. The song is about Skinner's troubles with trying to date a famous person, following his new found fame. It was also named 'Track of the Week' by NME in early March 2006, but when it came into the UK singles charts, it only reached the latter course of the top 10, peaking at #8. There has been much speculation over which celebrity "When You Wasn't Famous" is about - Rachel Stevens and Cheryl Cole are two names that have been ruled out, despite Skinner dedicating the song to Cole on Top Of The Pops. [2] This reluctance to reveal the subject may be more than simple politeness, as some of the descriptions of the unnamed starlet in the track are potentially damaging. At one point, Skinner discloses "my whole life I never thought I'd see a pop star smoke crack". When You Wasnt Famous is the first single from The Streets third studio album The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. ... Rachel Lauren Stevens (born April 9, 1978) is an English singer and actress and an occasional model who lives in Hampstead, London. ... Cheryl Ann Cole, (née Tweedy) (born 30 June 1983) is an English singer and member of the girl group Girls Aloud. ... Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, was a long-running British music chart television programme, made and broadcast by the BBC. It was originally shown each week, mostly on BBC One, from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. ... A pile of crack cocaine ‘rocks’. Crack cocaine is a highly addictive form of cocaine. ...

The second single, "Never Went to Church", is a tribute to Skinner's late father, and appears to use the chord progression of The Beatles' "Let It Be" as a backing beat. Never Went To Church is the second single to be taken from The Streets number one album, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living. ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ... Let It Be track listing Dig It (5) Let It Be (6) Maggie Mae (7) Let It Be is a song written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon/McCartney), released by The Beatles as a single in March 1970 and later the same year as the title track of their...

The Streets appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 26, 2006 to promote the new album. Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. ... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items into other sections and removing inappropriate items. (June 2007)

• While Mike Skinner performs using a Cockney accent, his Birmingham upbringing has caused critics to level him with "Mockney" accusations.^[3]
• Skinner has been an ardent fan of Reebok Classics shoes; he is often seen wearing a pair of white Workout Plus trainers, and has even mentioned them in the lyrics for his song "Let's Push Things Forward," in which he raps, "Let's put on our Classics and have a little dance, shall we?". In 2005 he signed up to appear in a 12 month ad campaign for Reebok, joining other prominent celebrities in Reebok's "I Am What I Am" campaign.^[4][5][6]
• Has stated on his blog on his website that the fourth Streets album will be released in 2008.^[7]
• Skinner collaborated with PETA2 in a campaign urging KFC to demand that chickens raised for them be treated more humanely.^[8]
• The song "Same Old Thing", from the album "Original Pirate Material", was used as the soundtrack in professional skateboarder Sven Kilchenmann's section of the Darkstar Skateboards production "Battalion".

Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Reebok International Limited is a British producer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories and is currently a subsidiary of Adidas AG. The name comes from Afrikaans/Dutch spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle. ... Peta can refer to: Peta (prefix), a prefix meaning times 1015 in the International System of Units People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), an animal-rights organization People Eating Tasty Animals, a parody of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Peta, Greece, a town in the prefecture... KFC is a food chain based in Louisville, Kentucky, known mainly for its fried chicken. ...

Discography

Original Pirate Material May 25, 2002 Locked On Records

A Grand Don't Come for Free May 18, 2004 Vice Records, Atlantic Records

The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living April 10, 2006 Locked On Records

Image File history File links OriginalPirateMaterial. ... Original Pirate Material is the debut album by UK act The Streets. ... is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 2002 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2002 Record labels established in 2002 // 2002 was marked by significant trends in rock music. ... Locked On Records is a subsidiary of Beggars Banquet Records. ... Image File history File links The_Streets-A_Grand_Dont_Come_For_Free. ... A Grand Dont Come for Free is the second album for UK garage musician Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, released on May 18, 2004. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 2004 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2004 Record labels established in 2004 2000s in music. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label, and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... Image File history File links The_Streets-thehardestwaytomakeaneasyliving. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 2006 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 2006 Record labels established in 2006 Ti // January – James Nicholl, drummer of Pay*Ola became ill and was admitted to hospital. ... Locked On Records is a subsidiary of Beggars Banquet Records. ...

Album sales

Also see: 2002 (number). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Singles

“UK” redirects here. ... This article is about the island of Ireland. ... For other uses, see Australia (disambiguation). ... “Deutschland” redirects here. ... For other uses, see Sweden (disambiguation). ... Original Pirate Material is the debut album by UK act The Streets. ... Kevin Mark Trail is a British R&B / Soul / Reggae / Hip Hop singer-songwriter. ... Weak Become Heroes was the third single from The Streets album Original Pirate Material. ... The Irony of It All is a song by The Streets. ... Fit But You Know It is a song by The Streets. ... A Grand Dont Come for Free is the second album for UK garage musician Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, released on May 18, 2004. ... Dry Your Eyes was the second single from The Streets album A Grand Dont Come for Free. ... When You Wasnt Famous is the first single from The Streets third studio album The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. ... This article or section needs additional references or sources. ... Never Went To Church is the second single to be taken from The Streets number one album, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living. ... Prangin Out is the third single to be released by The Streets from their third album The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The Streets website
• The Streets MySpace
• All Music Guide The Streets page
• The Streets videos
• CNN interview with The Streets