Two big-deal London rappers from two very different generations have teamed up on a new single. The underground sensation fakemink has come up in just the past couple of years with a murky, zoned-out lo-fi sound that stands starkly apart from the fast and hyperactive grime and drill tracks that previously defined UK rap. His style doesn't necessarily translate to live shows, but his recent album Terrified . landed on our mid-year best-of list. Since it came out, he's released one-off singles like "Love Is A Dog From Hell ." and "Love Of The Game 3 ." Now, he's got a new song with Skepta.
You know Skepta. He came up in the early grime scene, made a bunch of hits, and became one that world's biggest stars. Skepta recently branched out into the EDM DJ world, and he released his single "Innocent Smile," an absolutely bananas team-up with dance producers Chase & Status and Madness frontman Suggs, last month. He is 44 years old, more than twice fakemink's age.
fakemink and Skepta met earlier this year, when both of them played Warsaw's CLOUT Festival, and they both appear in a new Stone Island ad campaign. fakemink co-produced the new single "Chiltern Firehouse ." with Angelus and Musa, and it starts out as a fully fakemink track, druggy and whispery and insular. But then Skepta erupts onto the song, and the sharp clarity on his vocals almost sounds harsh. He attacks the beat, while fakemink just floats. It's a true styles clash, but I think it sounds pretty cool. Listen below.
fakemink's Terrified . is out now on EtnaVeraVela. Skepta's new album The Fork And Knife is out 11/6 on Big Smoke/Epic/Sony.