Skepta’s album “The Fork and Knife” has been out since November 6. Its 15 songs include “Aloe Vera” with Asake, “Broken Hearts” with Central Cee and Jorja Smith, and “Chippie” with Aya Nakamura, released on his Big Smoke Records under licence to Epic.
The credits show how much of it he built himself. Apple lists Skepta as producer on 11 of the 15 tracks and executive producer on 13. The opener, “Secrets of Patriarchy,” and “Revenge” are his alone. Elsewhere he shares the boards with Novelist on “Outside” and “Belly,” F1lthy on “Currency,” Chase & Status on “Innocent Smile” and DJ Zinc, who gets additional production on “Broken Hearts.”
“Aloe Vera” is the song listeners here have waited on. Skepta first teased it in December 2025 with a list of names, Asake, Lex Luger, Vanco and JAE5, and the final credits match it. Lex Luger, FRANKIE XY and Vanco produced it with Skepta, JAE5 plays keyboards, and Asake is credited as a writer under his legal name, Ololade Ahmed.
In the preview, “Aloe Vera” is the most melodic of the tracks sampled, with keys carrying the beat at a full, steady volume. The clip is Skepta’s verse, a flirt aimed at someone on the dance floor: “let me see your wine, like a belly dancer.”
The other previews move differently. “Secrets of Patriarchy” opens low and restrained before the clip jumps sharply in its final stretch. “Revenge” and “Melody” are the most drum-heavy, and “Melody,” built with M1onthebeat and Prince Galalie, has the deepest low end of the set.
Four songs were out before release day. Apple dates “Gas Me Up (Diligent)” to January 2024, “Victory Lap” with Fred again.. and PlaqueBoyMax to June 2025, “Chippie” to May and “Pandora’s Box” to October 23. In late October he posted the tracklist printed inside a map of Nigeria, with “Aloe Vera” at track 10, as covered here at the time.
He first announced the album on January 1, 2024. Close to three years on, it arrives largely as his own work at the controls, and “Aloe Vera” sits in the middle of it as the clearest line to Lagos.
Listen on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ng/album/the-fork-and-knife/6817874931
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5cld8q9clkWf6DtcUy9STc