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Skinnyman

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For the Static-X song, see Start a War.

Skinnyman
Birth nameAlexander Graham Holland
Born (1974-11-09) 9 November 1974 (age 50)
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
OriginFinsbury Park, London
GenresHip hop, jazz, folk
LabelsLow Life
Websitewww.skinnyman.co.uk

Skinnyman (born Alexander Graham Holland, 9 November 1974) is a British rapper who was born in Chapeltown Leeds, Yorkshire and moved to Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He is best known for his sole album Council Estate of Mind.

Biography

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Skinnyman was born in 1974 in Chapeltown, Leeds, an area with large West Indian community. When he was aged ten he moved down to London with his mother and two siblings.[1] The family lived on the Six Acres Estate next to Andover Estate. Among his friends was fellow Leeds-born, London-raised Cornwall DJ Pat Mckay.

In the early 1990s he was part of The Bury Crew. Later he formed the Mud Family with Mongo, Chester P and Farma G. The group which released a number of EPs including the Mud Family EP in 2002.[2][3] They also released "Itchy Town" and "Lash Suttin", a reworking of Redman's "Smash Something". Later Mr. Ti2bs, Uncle Festa and more joined the group.

Skinnyman appeared in the first episode of Tower Block Dreams, aired in Janaury 2004. It was a documentary series on BBC Three which looked into the underground music scene in council estates.[4]

Council Estate of Mind (2004 - present)

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Skinnyman released his sole solo album, Council Estate of Mind in 2004. The album was released on Low Life Records in 2004, shortly before Skinnyman was again incarcerated.[citation needed] It spent two weeks in the official album chart, with a peak position of number 65.[5] Notably many samples on the album are taken from the 1982 television play Made in Britain.[6]

He played a small part in the 2005 interactive TV series Dubplate Drama.[7]

In 2011, Skinnyman was sentenced sixteen months for threating his ex-girlfriend and damaging her car.[8]

Skinnyman claimed in a 2019 interview with The Face to have "never been paid a penny to this day from Council Estate of Mind."[1]

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[9][10] 		UK
R&B
[11] 		UK
Ind.
[12]
Council Estate of Mind 65 15 6

Singles and EPs

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  • Fuck the Hook EP (2003, Low Life)
  • No Big Ting / Council Estate of Mind (2004, Low Life)
  • I'll Be Surprised / Never Gonna Happen (2004, Low Life)
  • Creatures of the Night / My Life in Rhymes (2004, PM Muzik)
  • Forever Rangers / Not Bonnie & Clyde (Instrumentals) - Skinnyman & DJ Flip (2005, Netgroove)
  • Sensi Skank - Ruben da Silva feat. Skinnyman & Manasseh (2011, RR008)
  • Music Speaks Louder Than Words (2011)[13]
  • Ya Fool - K*ners & Skinnyman (2022)

Guest appearances

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  • The London Convention – The London Allstars (single), 1997
  • New Mic Order – Task Force, 1999
  • putt the word out – mystro & jargon, 1999 deal real records
  • U.S.S.R. Life from the Other Side – DJ Vadim, 1999
  • The Unknown – Mark B & Blade, 2000
  • Twilight Of The Gods – Skitz (single), 2000
  • Word Lab – Various Artists, 2000
  • Big Tings We Inna – Rodney P (single), 2001
  • Biro Funk – Braintax, 2001
  • Countryman – Skitz, 2001
  • The Legacy: Episode 1 – Various Artists, 2001
  • Bang Y2K – DJ Vadim (single), 2002
  • U.S.S.R. The Art Of Listening – DJ Vadim, 2002
  • Straight Outta Botley- WESTWOOD VOLUME 2, 2002
  • Asylum Speakers – Foreign Beggars, 2003
  • Civilians – Dark Circles, 2003
  • The World According to RZA – Various Artists, 2003
  • Basementality EP (Part 1) – Underground Alliance, 2004
  • Elementz Universe Vol. 1 – The Elementz (single), 2004
  • Have Patience – Karl Hinds, 2004
  • Lets Av It – Karl Hinds Feat. Skinnyman 2004
  • When I Give My Heart To You – DJ Mentat (single), 2004
  • Bar Fight – First Rate (single), 2005
  • Fame And Money – The Booty Bouncers (single), 2005
  • Skitz Homegrown Vol. 2 – Various Artists, 2005
  • Tip of Da Mysberg Volume 1 – Mystro, 2005
  • Up Your Speed (remix) – Sway, 2005
  • The Whole Nine - Sway, Life & Skinnyman 2006
  • U Must Learn - Skinnyman, KRS-One, Paradise 2006
  • Change Your Heart – Nemesis & Arrogance Real Records, 2006
  • One Less Gun – Delta, The Lostralian LP 2006
  • Another Day – Angela Lawriw, 2006
  • Shakespeare (remix) Akala
  • The Boy Who Cried Wolf – Dap C feat. Skinnyman & S.Kalibre NGU Records, 2006[14]
  • Down – Lunar C, 2017
  • Thriller - Fliptrix (Prod. Joe Corfield) High Focus Records, 2019
  • Jack - RATS, When I Say Run Records, 2019
  • All In Together - Ricky Lix feat. Cappadonna, Skinnyman & Harry Ixer (2021)
  • TrueMendous - Yourself or The World?(Prod. Illinformed) High Focus Records, 2022
  • Price of Love - Blacksmith, 2022

References

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  1. ^ a b "The real story behind Skinnyman's Council Estate of Mind". The Face. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  2. ^ Bells, ColumBo (13 September 2024). "Skinnyman: The UK Hip-Hop Icon Who Gave Voice to the Streets". Itch FM. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  3. ^ "UK Rap Map | Mud Fam". UK Rap Map. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Tower Block Dreams: Spitting and Shottingq". The Radio Times. No. 4163. 1 January 2004. p. 98. ISSN 0033-8060. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  5. ^ "council estate of the mind | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  6. ^ "CD: Skinnyman, Council Estate of Mind". The Guardian. 30 July 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  7. ^ Dubplate Drama (TV Series 2005– ) - IMDb, archived from the original on 24 November 2010, retrieved 3 May 2021
  8. ^ "Holloway rap star Skinnyman jailed for 16 months". Islington Gazette. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Skinnyman | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 506. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  11. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart Top 40: 15 August 2004 - 21 August 2004". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50: 15 August 2004 - 21 August 2004". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  13. ^ Skinnymanmudfam (20 April 2011). Skinnyman - Music Speaks Louder Than Words - Mud Fam Music. Retrieved 12 December 2024 – via YouTube.
  14. ^ Dap-C - The Boy Who Cried Wolf, 2006, retrieved 10 November 2023
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