It's now ten years since Skibadee was awarded our very own best MC accolade – the first in a long line of awards for one of the scene's most celebrated lyricists.

A decade from his first major breakthrough, the man who inherited Stevie Hyper D's crown is ready to launch the next stage of his career with the release of his long-awaited debut album early next year. Knowledge caught up with Skiba to see how things are progressing.

"I won three awards again this year but I feel it's time to go to the next level now because it's long overdue," Skiba explains. "People like Dizzee and Wiley have come in and shown that it can be done but I love my drum & bass so I've stayed true to that throughout."

With several tracks already at the mastering stage, he may not have to wait too long. The as-yet unnamed album is expected to be released in February 2010 and will feature a number of collaborations with the afore-mentioned Wiley, Shy FX and even Twisted Individual's new interesting interpretation of the MCing art – Granny Basher.

"I've made a few connections with people outside of drum & bass so it's going to be a mixture of styles - I thought that was the best way to go to. It's going really well. I kind of started it and then took a break for a while to concentrate on MCing out but I've been working hard on it again recently. I've had shitloads of tracks lying about for a while so I thought it was time to get it all sorted.

"The whole theme of the album has changed because a couple of months ago it was purely drum & bass but I'd been making different types of tunes so I thought why wait? We're talking to a few labels but it's too early to say who it will be just yet. I just want to get everything ready and then we'll see who wants to get into bed with it. I think this can help to move my name up the artist ladder because it's ten years since I won my first-ever award and I feel that it's time to move things on now."

With albums from his UNCZ collective and Harry Shotta ready to follow hot on the heels of that release, it's clear the artist who made his first steps into the jungle scene as far back as 1994 is looking to the future.

"The climate for MCs is looking good and I think people will be more ready for it now. Hopefully I can start getting some other achievements other than best MC now!"

Dizzee and Wiley had better watch their backs...

 

 

• Skibadee

Related Links:

• Dot Rotten V Wiley
• Funsta Interview
• Issue 40
• Wiley vs Geesus Host
• Issue 47

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