Skepta Crowned British GQ’s First-Ever Man of the Year: A Grime Legend’s Long-Overdue Triumph in Fashion and Culture

 British GQ has shattered conventions by naming grime pioneer and cultural icon Skepta as its inaugural Man of the Year for the 2025 edition, a historic nod to the Tottenham-born visionary who has redefined urban music, streetwear, and British identity for over two decades. At 43, Joseph Olaitan Adenuga Jr.—better known as Skepta—steps into the spotlight not as an upstart, but as a legacy-builder whose raw authenticity and relentless innovation have finally earned the recognition they’ve always demanded. It’s about time.

From the gritty anthems of Konnichiwa that put UK grime on the global map to high-profile collaborations with Drake and Central Cee, Skepta has been a lightning rod for culture since his 2003 debut as a DJ with the Meridian Crew. His 2023-relaunched clothing label, Mains, has stormed London Fashion Week and powered blockbuster campaigns, blending bold graphics with tailored precision—exemplified by his geometric double-breasted suit at last year’s GQ Men of the Year event. Now, as he gears up for his first album in six years, tentatively titled Knife & Fork, Skepta reflects on a career that’s evolved from street clashes to festival curation with his Big Smoke event, all while championing the next generation’s creative freedom.

“Skepta isn’t just shaping 2025; he’s been the blueprint for British creativity all along,” said GQ Editor-in-Chief Dylan Jones. “In a year of sonic and screen royalty, naming him our first Man of the Year celebrates the unfiltered energy that’s always defined him—from Tottenham’s estates to the world’s stages. This isn’t a crown; it’s a coronation of the culture he built.”

Skepta’s feature graces the cover of British GQ’s December 2025 issue, part of “The People Who Shaped Culture,” alongside luminaries like Pierce Brosnan, Cynthia Erivo, Tom Hiddleston, and Maro Itoje. In an exclusive interview, the rapper opens up about his Nigerian roots, crediting his mother’s Princess Diana-inspired flair for his early style experiments (“She dressed me like Prince Harry as a kid”), and his shift toward legacy: mentoring young artists, separating art from life in the social media age, and embracing fatherhood without losing the fire that fuels tracks like “Shutdown” and “That’s Not Me.”

This milestone arrives as Skepta prepares to host the second edition of Big Smoke festival in south London, featuring a mix of heavy-hitters and underground talent. “I’m not from a time where hardship is the only path to success anymore,” Skepta told GQ. “You can create online, keep it separate—that’s the magic. At 43, I’m walking slower offstage, but the energy? It takes full control.”

The GQ Men of the Year 2025 awards ceremony, celebrating actors, musicians, TV stars, and sports icons who owned the year, takes place on November 18 at a star-studded London gala hosted by Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone. The full December issue hits newsstands on November 17, with digital access available immediately via GQ.com.