Fumin

Fumin is the stage name of Tony Skerritt, a grime MC from Newham in East London, United Kingdom. He is born in 1985 and first builds a reputation in the early years of his career through pirate radio, appearing on stations including Deja Vu and Flava FM.

Career

Fumin becomes known for freestyles and live appearances alongside Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder, which helps establish his profile in the UK underground scene. He is regarded as a forceful MC and gains respect from other artists in the grime circuit. Dizzee Rascal names him as an MC to watch, and Mike Skinner of The Streets later names him among his favourite MCs. Skinner also contributes production and appears on Fumin’s debut album.

He is a founding member of Fire Camp. He also appears on Lethal B’s track “Forward Riddim” (also known as “Pow”), which reaches the UK Top 10 and brings him wider attention. That release leads to a MOBO Award for Best Single of the Year and a Sidewinder Best Newcomer award nomination.

Mixtapes and debut album

Fumin’s mixtape The Official Paid in Full Vol. 1 features Wiley, Jammer and Ice-Kid and receives heavy rotation on club circuits and on grime radio shows, including those hosted by DJ Logan Sama on Kiss 100, Tim Westwood on Radio 1, Ras Kwame on 1Xtra and DJ Limelight on BBC Asian Network. This exposure raises his underground profile further.

His debut album Year 7 presents him experimenting with different rhythms and beats. The record includes production from Dialtone on “Close”, Ghetts on “Now Now”, Mike Skinner on “Cross that Line”, Flukes of Crazy Cousinz on “Afterparty” and Heatwave Productions on “No One”, with Heatwave also having produced “Run way” from the Paid in Full mixtape.

Style and place in grime

Across his early radio sets, freestyles, mixtapes and album work, Fumin is positioned as a notable figure in UK grime and hip-hop, with a career shaped by pirate radio, collaborative appearances and a reputation for direct, often controversial lyrics.