Skepta dismissed outdated energy constructions in Hip-Hop and revealed his subsequent album, Fork & Knife, will drop in early 2026 throughout a wide-ranging interview for British GQ‘s Men of the Year subject.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Big Smoke (@skepta)

The North London rapper didn’t maintain again when requested concerning the present state of the music business, particularly these nonetheless clinging to the thought of gatekeeping.

“Old people always gonna be old people, innit?” Skepta stated. “Old people are still in their heads of like, ‘You ain’t done this,’ but they don’t have to. There ain’t no gatekeepers. Whoever thinks they’re a gatekeeper needs to look again at that gate.”

Known for his sharp lyricism and unfiltered perspective, the 43-year-old Konnichiwa artist has been a key determine within the evolution of British Hip-Hop.

But as of late, Skepta is extra centered on legacy and longevity than proving himself to business veterans.

Skepta Reveals Inspiration Behind Album Title

His upcoming sixth studio album, Fork & Knife, will probably be his first solo venture since 2019’s Ignorance Is Bliss.

The title, he stated, was impressed by his mom’s phrases rising up.

“‘In this life, we have to work hard, so one day, we’ll eat with fork and knife,’” Skepta defined.

That phrase, rooted in immigrant perseverance, formed the album’s theme. Originally teased in 2024 beneath the reversed title Knife and Fork, the venture explores twin identities and cultural distinction.

“I wanted the album to be about the immigrant mindset,” he defined. “Being in my house, and it smelling this way and looking this way and feeling this way and sounding this way, and then I leave my house and [through] the front door is like going to Narnia; you’re in the U.K.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by British GQ (@britishgq)

Beyond music, Skepta has been steering his vogue label MAINS into new territory, reworking it into a completely impartial design studio.

However, essentially the most important shift in his life could also be fatherhood, which has reshaped his view of success and goal.

“I don’t want my son to be [anything] like me,” he stated. “I want my son to be a regular, nice boy. Like, that’s what we’re doing this for.”

With Fork & Knife slated for launch within the first few months of 2026, Skepta’s subsequent chapter appears to mix private development with cultural storytelling — all on his personal phrases.

Related