Skepta Announces "Fork & Knife" Album For Early 2026-Rejects Hip-Hop Gatekeepers

Skepta dismissed outdated power structures in Hip-Hop and revealed his next album, Fork & Knife, will drop in early 2026 during a wide-ranging interview for British GQ's Men of the Year issue.

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The North London rapper didn't hold back when asked about the current state of the music industry, especially those still clinging to the idea of gatekeeping.




"Old people always gonna be old people, innit?" Skepta said. "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 figure in the evolution of British Hip-Hop.




But these days, Skepta is more focused on legacy and longevity than proving himself to industry veterans.

Skepta Reveals Inspiration Behind Album Title

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




The title, he said, was inspired by his mother's words growing up.




"'In this life, we have to work hard, so one day, we'll eat with fork and knife,'" Skepta explained.




That phrase, rooted in immigrant perseverance, shaped the album's theme. Originally teased in 2024 under the reversed title Knife and Fork, the project explores dual identities and cultural contrast.




"I wanted the album to be about the immigrant mindset," he explained. "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."

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Beyond music, Skepta has been steering his fashion label MAINS into new territory, transforming it into a fully independent design studio.




However, the most significant shift in his life may be fatherhood, which has reshaped his view of success and purpose.




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




With Fork & Knife slated for release in the first few months of 2026, Skepta's next chapter looks to blend personal growth with cultural storytelling - all on his own terms.







































via: https://allhiphop.com/news/skepta-new-album-fork-knife-rejects-hip-hop-gatekeepers/