Skepta calls for UK vs US rap clashes, framing it as lyrical sport
-AFP
Skepta reignited the long-running UK vs US rap debate on July 4, suggesting that a lyrical clash could settle ongoing conversations about influence and originality between the two scenes.
I wanna clash an American rapper anyway, finally get this UK/US rap debate sorted.
He described rap as a competitive art form and called for dub-style clashes, track-for-track, bar-for-bar, to determine lyrical dominance. Rather than approaching it with hostility, Skepta framed the idea around skill and tradition, reposting a fan who called it a “sport.”
You don’t need beef to have a clash. It’s sport
He addressed the format directly, pointing out that reply-for-reply clashing doesn’t come from American rap but from dancehall culture. In his words, “anybody clashing today going dub for dub, reply for reply is a style from dancehall… the best reply wins. Simple.” He dismissed attempts to over-intellectualize the genre’s roots, saying: “This ain’t ancestry.com, you’re going too far back.”
Skepta also commented on the evolution of UK rap, defending its independence from U.S. influence. He highlighted the unique identity of grime and road rap, styles born from local conditions and creativity. He emphasized that the UK didn’t copy, it built its own path.
As some questioned his energy online, Skepta clarified that he was high on psychedelics, not cocaine, and brushed off any drug-related jokes with humor.
When asking what I’m high on, think psychedelic not coke. I’m an Y2K London shotta, you didn’t sniff it you sold it, even my friends that sniff know not to do that around me cos I’ll look at them sideways. Take your coke jokes elsewhere lol https://t.co/UxvdplfXD5
Though no American rapper has responded publicly, the thread sparked renewed discussion across social media.