Solas Sounds 1 Skepta
Tottenham born Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr., otherwise known as Skepta, is a Nigerian British Grime MC, Producer, DJ, Visual Artist, Fashion Designer and Filmmaker. He is also, more importantly, a father, son, brother and a friend to many.
It's clearly hard to categorize Skepta. That is why he is a great example of what it means to have a rún identity.
He has won the Mercury Prize (UK and Ireland's top music award), headlined Ibiza as one half of the DJ collective Mas Tiempo, sold his paintings with Sothebys, and showcased his MAINS clothing during London Fashion week. However, one particular achievement stands out to us.
“The MBE got rejected, I'm not trying to be accepted”
During 2018, while visiting his parents home state of Ogun in Nigeria, Skepta was made a Chief. He claims to have rejected an offer of an MBE the previous year.
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It's similar to being a Member of the Order of Canada, Order of Cultural Merit (South Korea), Order of the Rising Sun (Japan), or the Presidential Medal of Freedom (USA).
Skepta wore traditional attire to the ceremony, including akòko leaves and an agbada. According to the Yoruba people, without akòko leaves, one cannot be pronounced as chief. Skepta is half Yoruba and half Igbo.
On the other hand, Skepta is proud to support his hometown in the UK. In 2016, using his £25K Mercury Prize earnings, Skepta directly funded and opened a youth music studio in Tottenham. He personally mentored 12 local young artists, covering everything from beat-making to social media strategy.
Skepta embodies the essence of rún, not just as a musician, but as a force of culture, resistance, and reinvention. In a world that constantly tries to categorize, Skepta reminds us that identity is layered, lived, and luminous. That’s what it means to have a rún identity, and that’s why he’s our first solas sound.
Listen to Skepta and more on rúns Solas Sounds playlist on spotify.
