Skepta

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Skepta's Mercury Prize win for Konnichiwa was a historic moment for grime, proving that independent music could achieve the highest recognition. He is one of the few artists to have self-produced a Mercury Prize-winning album. His collaboration with ASAP Rocky on "Praise the Lord (Da Shine)" became a global hit, introducing grime to a massive international audience. Skepta's influence extends beyond music: he has been recognised as a cultural ambassador for UK rap, received a Nigerian chieftaincy title, and been listed on Debrett's 500 most influential people in the UK. He has also been honoured with an honorary doctorate from the University of East London for his contributions to music and culture.

AwardsSkepta won the Mercury Prize in 2016 for his album Konnichiwa. He has won multiple MOBO Awards, including Best Grime Act in 2016 and 2017, and Best Video for "Shutdown" in 2017. He won the BET Award for Best International Act: UK in 2017. At the NME Awards, he won Best British Album for Konnichiwa and Best British Male Artist in 2017. He also won Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song for "Shutdown" in 2017, and several BBC Radio 1Xtra and Urban Music Awards.

Honours & Distinctions

Amuludun of Odo-Aje (Nigerian Chieftaincy)

Traditional ruler of Odo-Aje, Ogun State, Nigeria·2018

Received the chieftaincy title for his contributions to music and culture.

Debrett's 500 List

Debrett's·2017

Listed as one of the most influential people in the UK.

Honorary Doctorate

University of East London·2022

Awarded for his contributions to music and culture.

Rankings & Lists

Greatest Grime MCs of All Time

NME·2016

Best Grime MCs of All Time

Complex UK·2017

Greatest Grime Albums of All Time

Mixmag·2017

Top 50 Albums of 2016

The Guardian·2016

#14

Best Albums of 2016

Pitchfork·2016

Greatest Grime Albums of All Time

Rolling Stone UK·2022

Magazine Covers

GQ UK

October 2017

Skepta: The King of Grime

Complex UK

June 2016

Skepta: The Man Who Saved Grime

The Face

Spring 2019

Skepta: The Grime Legend

Dazed

Spring 2016

Skepta: The Grime Lord

i-D

Summer 2019

Skepta: The Creative Force

Records & Feats

First independent grime artist to win the Mercury Prize

Historic First·2016

Skepta's album Konnichiwa won the Mercury Prize in 2016, making him the first grime artist to win the award as an independent act.

Highest-charting single for both Skepta and ASAP Rocky on the Billboard Hot 100

Chart Record·2018

"Praise the Lord (Da Shine)" peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018, the highest chart position for both artists.

Self-produced Mercury Prize-winning album

Awards·2016

Konnichiwa was entirely self-produced by Skepta, making him one of the few Mercury Prize winners to produce their winning album themselves.