The Streets
| Company type | Music project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | Early 1990s |
| Founder | Mike Skinner |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United Kingdom |
| Products | Studio albums, singles |
The Streets represents a British music endeavor spearheaded by singer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Skinner. Originating in Birmingham during the early 1990s, the project officially debuted in the early 2000s. In its initial period, The Streets delivered five studio 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), and Computers and Blues (2011). The project also achieved several UK Top 40 hits, such as "Has It Come to This?", "Fit but You Know It", "Dry Your Eyes"—its sole chart-topping single—"When You Wasn't Famous", and "Prangin' Out". Following a hiatus beginning in 2011, Skinner engaged in other musical projects before relaunching The Streets in 2017. Subsequently, a mixtape titled None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive appeared in 2020, with the sixth studio album, The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light, released in September 2023.
Widely recognized as a major force within UK hip-hop, garage, and grime music, The Streets have significantly shaped these genres. In 2020, Pitchfork described Original Pirate Material as "a landmark for UK rap", while Dazed reflected in 2018 that the album "captured an era – moving past the Britpop aftermath and New Labour optimism."
2001–2003: Original Pirate Material
Mike Skinner forwarded a demo tape to a record store in north London managed by A&R executive Nick Worthington. This demo developed into Skinner’s inaugural single under The Streets, "Has It Come to This?", which reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart in October 2001.
The Streets’ first album, Original Pirate Material, was released in March 2002 and received both critical acclaim and commercial success. It earned nominations for the Mercury Prize and British Album of the Year. Additionally, The Streets were contenders for several BRIT Awards in 2003, including British Urban Act, British Breakthrough Act, and British Male Solo Artist. The album was ranked third best of 2002 by NME. Notable singles from this release included "Don't Mug Yourself", "Weak Become Heroes", and "Let's Push Things Forward".
2004–2005: A Grand Don't Come for Free
In May 2004, Skinner unveiled the single "Fit but You Know It", which climbed to number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. This track was also featured in EA Sports' video game FIFA Football 2005. It was included on The Streets' sophomore album, A Grand Don't Come for Free, which initially entered the UK album charts at number two before ascending to the top spot after six weeks. The album's follow-up single, "Dry Your Eyes", debuted at number one in the UK. The third single, "Blinded by the Lights", reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart during 2004.
2006–2007: The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living
The third studio effort from The Streets, titled The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living, was released on 10 April 2006 and immediately secured the number one position on the UK album chart.
2008–2009: Everything Is Borrowed
September 2008 saw the release of The Streets' fourth studio album, Everything Is Borrowed. Skinner characterized this work as embodying "peaceful, positive vibes" in contrast to the "weird guilt-ridden indulgence" found in its predecessor. He also mentioned that the album deliberately avoided contemporary references to preserve a more intimate atmosphere.
2010–2011: Computers and Blues and Cyberspace and Reds
In November 2010, Skinner revealed plans for a mixtape called Cyberspace and Reds, comprising tracks recorded after finishing Computers and Blues. The mixtape was initially released in January 2011 exclusively via The Streets' iPhone app, with a deluxe version later made available for wider digital download. The fifth studio album, Computers and Blues, was launched on 7 February 2011, featuring "Going Through Hell" as its lead single.
2017–present
On 22 December 2017, The Streets returned with two new songs: "Burn Bridges" and "Sometimes I Hate My Friends More Than My Enemies", marking their first fresh material in six years.
Throughout 2018, three singles were issued: "If You Ever Need to Talk I'm Not Here" (31 January), "You Are Not the Voice in Your Head..." (30 March), and "Call Me in the Morning" (22 November).
On 1 April 2020, Skinner announced a new single collaboration with Australian act Tame Impala, featured on the mixtape None of Us Are Getting Out of This Life Alive, which was released on 10 July 2020. The track premiered on BBC Radio 1 during Annie Mac's show.
Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions announced by the UK Government in March 2021, The Streets released "Who's Got the Bag (21st June)". This song alluded to the earliest date nightclubs could reopen and referenced government officials; Skinner described it as an "end of lockdown celebratory track".
In October 2023, The Streets unveiled their first studio album in twelve years, titled The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light.
Band members
Current members
- Mike Skinner – vocals, arrangement, composition, mixing, keyboards, synthesizers (1994–2011; 2017–present)
Current contributors and live musicians
- Kevin Mark Trail – vocals, production, composition (1994–2003, 2007–2011, 2018–present)
- Wayne Bennett – bass guitar, composition, guitar (2007–2011, 2018–present)
- Rob Harvey – vocals, guitar (2011, 2018–present)
- Cassell the Beatmaker – drums (2011, 2018–present)
Former contributors and live musicians
- Johnny "Drum Machine" Jenkins – drums, percussion, orchestration, production (1994–2011)
- Morgan Nicholls – bass guitar, guitar, percussion, programming, piano, synthesizers (2003–2005; 2008)
- Leo the Lion – vocals (2003–2007)
- Mike Millrain – synths, soundboard, guitar, bass guitar, production
- Chris Brown – synths, piano, keyboards
- Eddie Jenkins – keyboards, piano
- Stuart Coleman – bass guitar
- Steve Corley – keyboards
- Laura Vane – vocals
- Rich Wheatley – keyboards (2002–2003)
Discography
- 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)
- Computers and Blues (2011)
- The Darker the Shadow the Brighter the Light (2023)