The Streets broke through in 2002 with the Mercury Prize nominated Original Pirate Material – widely regarded as one of the most influential British albums of the decade. Four BRIT Award nominations came that year too, for best album, best urban act, best breakthrough artist best British male solo artist. “Dry Your Eyes”, from 2005 follow-up album A Grand Don’t Come For Free, won an Ivor Novello for Best Song Musically And Lyrically. There was also a BRIT Award win that year, for best British Male Solo Artist.
Since then, and across his other records and guest features, Skinner has collaborated with a whose who of British music – from Kano, to Pete Doherty, to Giggs. In recent years, and with his Mike Skinner LTD label, he’s worked with acts like Flohio, Ghetts and Grim Sickers. When The Streets announced a comeback tour in 2017, tickets for the dates sold out in less than a minute. It’s all testament to the impact The Streets have had, across several generations of musicians.
