Skinnyman

Skinnyman (born Alex Holland ) is a rapper born in Leeds, who moved to Finsbury Park, London at a young age. He formed the seminal Mud Family alongside Mongo and Chester P (now of Taskforce) with whom he released a number of EPs. These included such underground hits as Itchy Town and Lash Suttin, a reworking of Redman's Smash Something. After a period of incarceration for dealing marijuana and the collapse of a record deal with Mo' Fo' Me Records/Sofire Records UK, which include other artists such as Monkane. Skinnyman released his much delayed solo album, Council Estate of Mind in 2004.

The album Council Estate of Mind was well received by fans and critics, the highest new entry in the UK's charts on the week of its release, to some surprise. Heavily autobiographical and socially analytical, the album makes much use of samples from Made in Britain, a British film from the early 1980s (and Tim Roth's acting debut). Since the album's release, Skinnyman has been one of the few UK hip-hop artists from the very insular scene to branch out and work with grime artists such as Wiley and Shystie.

He has received considerable attention from United Kingdom. He was featured in Tower Block Dreams, a documentary by the BBC premièring in January 2004 looking into the underground music scene in council estates. He also played a small part in the 2005 interactive TV series Dubplate Drama.

His latest release Change Your Heart Feat. Nemesis & Arrogance was released by Real Records in August 2006.

His song, "No Big Ting", samples "I'm Not to Blame" by Bobby Byrd.

His single, titled "Live Right", is to be released in 2007 will feature Monkane.

Discography

Fuck The Hook (EP), 2003
Council Estate of Mind, 2004
I'll Be Surprised/Never Gonna Happen (single), 2004
No Big Ting (single), 2004
Not Bonnie and Clyde (single), 2004
Forever Rangers (single), 2005
Holla/None Of Them (single), 2005
Live Right (featuring Monkane), 2007

Appearances

The London Convention - The London Allstars (single), 1997
New Mic Order - Taskforce, 1999
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 Jail- 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 (2006) (NGU Records)

External links

British Hiphop.co.uk - The original UK Hip Hop History
http://www.musicrooms.net/strictlyuk/skinnyman/- UK-Flava.com - Strictly UK
http://www.ukhh.com/features/interviews/skinnyman/index.html - Interview Ukhh.com
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/exposed/skinnyman431p01.shtml - BBC Radio 1 Interview