- Mike Skinner (musician)
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Mike Skinner 
Mike Skinner in concertBackground information Birth name Michael Geoffrey Skinner Born November 27, 1978 Origin Birmingham, England, United Kingdom Genres UK garage, electronica, hip hop Instruments Vocals, keyboards, guitar Years active 1983 – present Labels Locked On/679 Recordings (UK)
Vice/Atlantic Records (US) (2000–2010)
Warner Music (Worldwide)Website the-streets.co.uk Michael Geoffrey "Mike" Skinner (born 27 November 1978) is a British rapper, musician and record producer from Birmingham, United Kingdom, best known for the rap project, The Streets.[1]
Contents
Early life
By the time he was five-years-old, Mike Skinner had begun playing with keyboards.[2] Skinner began experiencing symptoms of epilepsy at age seven which worsened in his early teens.[3] He began writing hip hop and garage music in his home in West Heath and would later build a sound booth within his bedroom, using a cupboard and a mattress.[2] In the mid-1990s, following secondary education at Bournville School, Skinner became a student at Sutton Coldfield College, in Sutton Coldfield, and was working in fast food jobs while trying to start his own independent record label and sending off demos.
Although born in Birmingham, Skinner has often been criticised for using a Mockney accent during interviews and in many songs.[4][5] He can be heard speaking in his normal accent at the beginning of the song "Fake Streets Hats". He describes his background as "Barratt class: suburban estates, not poor but not much money about, really boring."[2] Skinner has however always identified himself with Birmingham and he is a keen supporter of Birmingham City. He has worn the club's replica shirt on stage. He also wore it in the music video for his remix of Bloc Party's single "Banquet".
Music career
The Streets: 1994-2011
Main articles: The Streets and The Streets discographyThe Beats Recordings: 2005-2007
In 2005, Mike Skinner and Ted Mayhem launched the independent record label The Beats Recordings. A subsidiary of 679 Recordings, The Beats was home to British hip hop acts such as The Mitchell Brothers, Example and Professor Green. The label closed in 2007.
The D.O.T.: 2011-present
After shelving The Streets, Mike Skinner launched a new project, called The D.O.T., along with Rob Harvey of The Music. Together they have recorded 14 songs, all of which can be streamed on the project's official website.[6]Harvey does most of the vocals, allowing Skinner to "further develop his production approach".[7]
Acting and movie work
The Inbetweeners
The soundtrack album for the British film The Inbetweeners Movie was released in 2011, featuring nine new compositions by Skinner.
Beat Stevie
An online channel currently presented by Mike and business partner Ted Mayhem, Beat Stevie is an "anything goes" blog/music show also shown on Channel 4 in their 4Music late night strand. The episodes often include backstage footage and onstage hijinks.
In one of the episodes, Mike and Ted get trained by pickup artist and dating coach 5.0 of Love Systems on how to approach and talk to women.[8]
Acting
Skinner had a cameo role in the fifth series of Doctor Who as a security guard, featuring in the episode "The Time of Angels".[9]
In a recent interview Skinner also revealed that he would be starring in a film, a thriller set in a hospital.[10] Adding that it won't be a "blockbuster" and that it will take around two years to complete.
Promotional and campaign work
Skinner is an ardent fan of Reebok Classics shoes; he is often seen wearing a pair of white Workout Plus trainers, and has mentioned them in the lyrics for his song "Let's Push Things Forward", in which he raps, "Let's put on our Classics and have a little dance, shall we?". In 2005, he signed up to appear in a twelve-month ad campaign for Reebok's "I Am What I Am" campaign.[11][12][13]
References
- ^ "The Streets bio at Yahoo! Music". http://music.yahoo.com/ar-296908-bio--The-Streets. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ a b c "Mike Skinner: Voice of The Streets". BBC News website (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2003-01-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/2262033.stm. Retrieved 2007-09-30. "The Streets, who have been given four Brit Award nominations, is the one-man band better known as Birmingham musician Mike Skinner."
- ^ Thompson, Ben (April 25, 2004). "Interview: The Streets". London: Guardian. http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,1200042,00.html. Retrieved 2007-09-14.
- ^ "Review of Original Pirate Material on musicOMH.com". http://www.musicomh.com/albums/streets.htm. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ The Streets biography on Absolute Radio. Retrieved 27/11/10.
- ^ http://www.the-dot.net/
- ^ http://www.prefixmag.com/news/the-streets-mike-skinner-starts-new-band-the-dot/57749/
- ^ 5.0 and Beat Stevie
- ^ "Mike Skinner of The Streets lands Dr Who role | The Sun |Showbiz|TV". The Sun. 2009-08-07. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/2575462/Mike-Skinner-of-The-Streets-lands-Dr-Who-role.html. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
- ^ "Mike Skinner not sad at Streets demise". BBC. 2011-07-02. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12350700. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
- ^ "Softpedia article detailing relationship between Skinner and Reebok". Softpedia. 26 August 2005. http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Streets-Star-Mike-Skinner-the-New-Face-of-Reebok-6971.shtml. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ Farey-Jones, Daniel (25 August 2005). "Brand Republic article detailing relationship between Skinner and Reebok". Brand Republic. http://www.brandrepublic.com/login/News/492425/. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
- ^ "Evening Standard article detailing relationship between Skinner and Reebok". This Is London. 25 August 2005. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-20175989-details/Streets+star+is+new+face+of+Reebokarticle.do;jsessionid=PW1wGfTQ18h54R1b0DSnm7vYFptpLyLNT613fLQw8h21R2L7DbHn!-1763085256!-1407319224!7001!-1. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
External links
The Streets Mike Skinner • Johny Drum Machine • Kevin Mark Trail
Morgan Nicholls • Wayne Vibes • Chris Brown • Magic MikeStudio albums Original Pirate Material (2002) · A Grand Don't Come for Free (2004) · The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living (2006) · Everything Is Borrowed (2008) · Cyberspace and Reds (2011) · Computers and Blues (2011)Extended plays All Got Our Runnins (2003)Singles "Has It Come to This?" · "Let's Push Things Forward" · "Weak Become Heroes" · "The Irony of It All" · "Don't Mug Yourself" · "Fit But You Know It" · "Dry Your Eyes" · "Blinded by the Lights" · "Could Well Be In" · "When You Wasn't Famous" · "Never Went to Church" · "Prangin' Out" · "Everything Is Borrowed" · "Going Through Hell"Other songs "Fake Streets Hats" · "Empty Cans" · "Who Knows Who" (with Muse) · "The Escapist" · "Heaven for the Weather"Related articles Categories:- 1978 births
- Living people
- English male singers
- English rappers
- People from Birmingham, West Midlands
- People with epilepsy
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