The Streets

The Streets is the recording name used by Mike Skinner, an English rapper born in Barnet, North London, in 1978. He moves to Birmingham soon after birth and is associated with that city, while his accent is sometimes described in press coverage as “Mockney”. He also identifies as a Birmingham City fan and has epilepsy, which he has had since childhood.

Style and background

The project is associated with hip hop and UK garage. Skinner begins performing and recording as The Streets in the early 2000s and signs a five-album deal in 2002. Under that agreement he releases a run of albums that includes Original Pirate Material (2002), All Got Our Runnin's (2003), A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004), The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006), Everything Is Borrowed (2008) and Computers and Blues (2011).

Live line-up

In live performance, Skinner is joined by Kevin Mark Trail on backing vocals, Johnny Drum Machine on drums, Wayne Fibes on guitar and bass, Chris Brown on keyboards, and Magic Mike on samplers.

Career notes

Skinner stops performing as The Streets in 2011, then revives the project in 2017.