Skrapz

West London rapper Skrapz balances two contrasting approaches in his work, one rooted in intense, shadowy road rap and the other leaning toward smoother, reflective melodies. Upon finishing school in 2002 he immersed himself in garage rap and grime alongside the SLK collective, whose members included Flirta D, Van Damage, and Lady Envy. Following the arrival of his first daughter in 2007, he withdrew from music for a period. He reemerged two years later, redirecting his focus toward rap and aligning with the Ice City Boyz crew alongside his longtime associate Nines. His debut album, Skrapz Is Back, arrived in 2011, yet a three-year prison sentence prevented any supporting tour; during his incarceration the crew issued the Shutdown Season mixtape. Near the end of his term, day-release privileges allowed him to lay down tracks for his follow-up project, Skrapz Is Back 2, which he completed once freed and which surfaced in 2014. Later that year he issued the 80's Baby mixtape, marking the initial showcase of his more understated, melodic material. In 2015 he delivered his third album, The End of the Beginning, which merged his heavier and lighter sensibilities; although the project resonated with listeners, repeated police interventions at his performances hampered promotion. Discouraged, he withdrew again for two years before restoring his momentum by 2016. His fourth studio album, Different Cloth, followed in 2017 and included contributions from Nines, Chip, Richy Diamonds, and Donae'o.