The Streets

Offering a distinctly British take on hip-hop, Mike Skinner's (aka The Streets) lager-swilling social commentary, humour and honesty melded garage, rap, punk and dub into brash, swaggering portraits of youth culture. Equally popular with urban, indie and pop fans, debut album Original Pirate Material (2002) introduced Skinner as a razor-tongued urban poet telling tales of binge-drinking party nights. Working around the concept of Skinner searching for a mislaid £1,000, follow-up A Grand Don't Come For Free (2004) shot straight to Number 1 in the UK and produced the smash hit singles Fit But You Know It and Dry Your Eyes. Established as one of the UK's most popular and respected stars, The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living (2006) gave him another Number 1 album, with the hits When You Wasn't Famous and Never Went To Church, before fourth album Everything Is Borrowed (2008) showed Skinner in a more contemplative, peaceful mood - trying to purge himself of the excess and indulgence.