Skrapz

Born Christopher Kyei on 11 November 1986, the UK rapper Skrapz makes hard-hitting hip-hop that reflects his experience as a West Londoner. Originally known as Skrapsta, he joined the British grime crew SLK in 2004 and appeared on the group's hit single "Hype! Hype!" which reached Number 3 on the UK Dance Singles Chart and Number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. After pausing his music career to raise his baby daughter, he returned in 2009 as a member of the rap group Ice City Boyz, then made his solo debut with 2011's Skrapz Is Back. A three-year jail sentence prevented him from touring in support of the album's release, but Skrapz made the most of his time behind bars, even recording his second solo album, Skrapz Is Back 2, during his final months as an inmate. The album was released in 2014, followed later that year by the mixtape 80s Baby. The latter release featured old-school American hip-hop beats and a newfound emphasis on melody, while 2015's The End of the Beginning made room for Skrapz's aggressive rap roots as well as his melodic makeover. Following another break from the music industry, he returned in 2017 with Different Cloth, an album that featured appearances by Richy Diamonds, Nines, and Donae'o. He partnered with Nines once again for 2021's "Jumpout," a viral hit that began climbing the UK charts that February. The song reappeared later that summer on Be Right Back, a 10-track mixtape that helped solidify his standing in the British rap community. In 2024, Skrapz was charged with perverting the course of justice for assisting in the disposal of evidence in connection with the murder of Craig Small. He was given a sentence of 4 years and 9 months but was released due to time already served in custody. Reflection, the follow-up to Be Right Back, arrived in March 2024 and peaked at number 10 in the UK.