The Streets is considered one of the most important and influential acts within the trajectory of hip-hop, garage and grime music within the UK.[2] In 2020, Pitchfork described Original Pirate Material as "a landmark for UK rap",[3] while Dazed wrote in 2018 that the album "soundtracked the beginning of a decade – recovering from the Britpop hangover and comedown from New Labour euphoria – but also defined it."[4]
History
2001–2003: Original Pirate Material
Mike Skinner sent a demo tape to a record shop in north London, run by A&R Nick Worthington.[5] The song developed into Skinner's first single, "Has It Come to This?", and was released under the name The Streets.[5] The song peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart in October 2001.[6]
In May 2004, Skinner released the single "Fit but You Know It", which peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.[9] The single was later used by EA Sports as part of the soundtrack for its video game FIFA Football 2005.[10] "Fit But You Know It" appeared on The Streets' second album, A Grand Don't Come for Free. The album entered the UK album charts at number two, but later reached number one after six weeks.[11] The album's second single, "Dry Your Eyes", debuted at the top of the chart in the UK.[12] "Blinded by the Lights", the third single from A Grand Don't Come for Free, peaked at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in 2004.[13]
In September 2008, The Streets released their fourth studio album, Everything Is Borrowed.[15] One song from the album was on Skinner's Myspace page for a while before being replaced by a cover of "Your Song". In a posting on his Myspace blog, Skinner noted that the group's upcoming LP would contain "peaceful, positive vibes" in comparison with 2006's "weird guilt-ridden indulgence" that was The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living.[16]
In a blurb about the album on Skinner's Myspace, he says, "This album started off life as parables but then I realised that it might get a bit cheesy so I got rid of the alien song and the devil song replaced them with more straight up songs. I've pretty much kept my promise that I made to myself not to reference modern life on any of them though which is hard to do and keep things personal at the same time."[citation needed]
2010–2011: Computers and Blues and Cyberspace and Reds
Mike Skinner and Kevin Mark Trail performing live in Sydney, 2011
In November 2010, Skinner announced on the official The Streets website, that he would release what he referred to as a mixtape album called Cyberspace and Reds, consisting of various recordings he had made since he had finished work on the final Streets album, Computers and Blues.[17]Cyberspace and Reds was released in January 2011, initially only for download via the Streets iPhone app.[18] A so-called "deluxe" edition was later made available for general download through the Streets website.[19]
On 22 December 2017, The Streets released two new tracks: "Burn Bridges" and "Sometimes I Hate My Enemies More Than My Friends".[21] It was The Streets' first new music released in six years.
In 2018, The Streets released three singles: "If You Ever Need to Talk I'm not Here" was released on 31 January,[22] "You Are Not the Voice in Your Head..." was released on 30 March,[23] and "Call Me in the Morning" was released on 22 November.[24]
In March 2021, following the UK Government's announced COVID-19 restriction easing timetable, The Streets released the single Who's Got the Bag (21st June). Referencing the earliest possible date when nightclubs could reopen and the names of members of government[26] the single was described by Skinner as a "lockdown agreement song".[27]
