The King of Grime Skepta to headline Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice!

The king of grime in Katowice! Unrepeatable flow on raw backing tracks, great charisma and artistic magnetism – SKEPTA will perform live on Saturday, June 22. The London-based rapper and producer joins the lineup for the 14th edition of the festival.

Thanks to him, grime has returned to mainstream music. It was his backing track and chorus that catapulted A$AP Rocky’s “Praise The Lord (Da Shine)” to the top of global charts. His outfits are copied by thousands of young people around the world. SKEPTA is currently one of the most influential artists on the contemporary urban music scene.

Born in London in a family of Nigerian immigrants, he defined the sound of British streets in the second decade of the 21st century. Joseph Aneduga Jr., because that’s Skepta’s real name, has recorded 4 studio albums and 5 unofficial mixtapes. His fourth record, “Konnichiwa” from 2016, was his greatest success so far. Since then, Skepta’s music has rocketed up the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, while his songs and image have even inspired Polish rappers (e.g. “Jak Skepta” by duo Białas & Lanek).

SKEPTA is an icon of the street style hybrid called grime. The unique sound of this genre came to life at the beginning of this century in London. It’s a 100% British blend of raw, almost melodeclamated rap and broken, electronic beats, intertwined with the echoes of Jamaican soundsystems, dub and dancehall, 2step and UK garage, and more recently also with American trap and drill. Over the previous decade, the icon title belonged to Dizzee Rascal, but after his short-term success, the mainstream dimension of grime faded away. The explosion of Skepta’s talent has transformed grime and elevated this British response to rap to a global phenomenon. He’s received the prestigious Mercury Prize, BET Award, MOBO Award, NME Award, among other achievements, and was nominated for the BRIT Award. The Londoner has collaborated with A$AP Rocky, Dizzee Rascal, A$AP Nast, Lil’ B, P.Diddy (Puff Daddy), Wiley, Flatbush Zombies, and many other rappers.

SKEPTA is famous for his tremendous charisma and energetic concerts. He’s a flamboyant artist who likes to surprise with a free, illegal street performance in London or accepting the tile of the governor of a Nigerian village. The residents of the village in the state of Ogun in South-West Nigeria awarded him with the title for the “time and love” he’s dedicated to his parent’s homeland. On Saturday, June 22, Skepta will dedicate his time to the audience gathered at Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice and it will be one of the most awaited concerts of this year’s edition of the festival.

On June 20-22, the Culture Zone in Katowice will once again be taken over by the hottest and the most intriguing sounds from around the world. With an annual lineup of fascinating artists and a remarkable location in the very heart of Silesia, Tauron Nowa Muzyka Katowice is considered one of the most recognised and appreciated music festivals in Europe. It’s well worth another visit!