Skepta Age, Height & Biography

Skepta is a 44-year-old British grime rapper from Tottenham, London, best known for “Shutdown” and his Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa. Born Joseph Junior Adenuga on September 19, 1982, he co-founded the grime collective Boy Better Know and helped take British grime from underground pirate radio to the top of the charts.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Joseph Junior Adenuga
Stage Name	Skepta
Age	44 years old
Date of Birth	September 19, 1982
Birthplace	Tottenham, London, England
Nationality	British
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Occupation	Rapper, record producer, songwriter
Known For	“Shutdown”, Konnichiwa, Boy Better Know
Years Active	2003–present

Who Is Skepta?

Skepta is a British grime MC, rapper and record producer from Tottenham, north London. He is one of the most important figures in UK grime, co-founding the collective Boy Better Know in 2005 with his brother JME. His breakthrough came in 2015 with the single “Shutdown”, and his fourth album, Konnichiwa, won the Mercury Prize in 2016.

Skepta, whose real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga, is of Nigerian descent and is the older brother of fellow grime artist JME and broadcaster Julie Adenuga. He is also known for his fashion label Mains London and his collaborations with Nike, and he has worked with artists including Drake, A$AP Rocky and Wizkid.

Early Life & Background

Skepta was born Joseph Junior Adenuga on September 19, 1982, in Tottenham, London, England, to Nigerian parents. He grew up in Tottenham with his younger brother JME and his sister Julie, and he became involved in the UK grime scene in the early 2000s, performing on pirate radio and at underground events.

He began his music career as a DJ and producer before turning to MCing, and in 2005 he co-founded Boy Better Know with JME. The collective became one of the most influential crews in grime, releasing music independently and building a loyal following through pirate radio, mixtapes and live shows.

Career

Skepta released his debut album, Greatest Hits, in 2007, followed by Doin’ It Again in 2011. His breakthrough came in 2014 with the single “That’s Not Me”, featuring JME, and in 2015 with “Shutdown”, which became a grime anthem and charted in the UK top 40. Drake’s endorsement of the track helped bring Skepta to a global audience.

His fourth album, Konnichiwa, was released in May 2016 and reached number two in the UK Albums Chart. It included “Shutdown”, “That’s Not Me” and “Energy (Stay Far Away)”, and it won the Mercury Prize in 2016, beating David Bowie’s Blackstar. Skepta also appeared on Drake’s More Life playlist in 2017 and was featured on A$AP Rocky’s hit “Praise the Lord (Da Shine)” in 2018.

His fifth album, Ignorance Is Bliss, was released in 2019, followed by Knife and Fork in 2024. Away from music, Skepta founded the fashion label Mains London in 2017 and designed a Nike Air Max 97 trainer the same year. In 2018 he was honoured with a chieftaincy title in Nigeria.

Facts About Skepta

• He was born in Tottenham, London, to Nigerian parents.
• He co-founded the grime collective Boy Better Know in 2005.
• “Shutdown” (2015) was his breakthrough hit.
• Konnichiwa (2016) won the Mercury Prize.
• He founded the fashion label Mains London and designed Nike trainers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Skepta?

Skepta is 44 years old. He was born on September 19, 1982, in Tottenham, London, England.

How tall is Skepta?

Skepta is 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) tall.

What is Skepta’s real name?

Skepta’s real name is Joseph Junior Adenuga.

What is Skepta best known for?

Skepta is best known for “Shutdown”, his Mercury Prize-winning album Konnichiwa and co-founding Boy Better Know.

Did Skepta win the Mercury Prize?

Yes. Skepta won the Mercury Prize in 2016 for his album Konnichiwa.

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