Skepta has taken the next step toward releasing his first solo LP in five years. On Monday, January 8, 2024, the London native unveiled the artwork for the project’s lead single, “Gas Me Up.” The Cardo-produced track will reportedly hit streaming services on Friday, January 26. As for the album’s release date, Skepta has simply indicated that Knife and Fork is “loading this year.”
“It’s been years since I dropped my last album and I want to thank you for all the love during my hiatus. I’ve seen the messages, tweets and Tik Toks, I’m truly grateful that my music is still resonating with the world, even in my absence,” he wrote.
A lot has happened since Skepta released his fifth solo studio album, including a global pandemic, an attempted insurrection in the U.S., a few international conflicts and much more. Not to mention, the music scene in the U.K. has had its fair share of twists and turns. Specifically, acts that were considered emerging or new in 2019 like Dave and Central Cee have become household names and broken into the U.S. market. Also, a number of U.S. artists have made an increased effort to collaborate with U.K. acts. Jay-Z has shouted out Giggs on “God Did,” Moneybagg Yo has worked with Digga D and Stormzy has been in the studio with Shawn Mendes and Kirk Franklin. With an established career, years of experience and a loyal fan base, it appears Skepta is more than ready to take advantage of all that has changed and enter the next chapter of his music career.
