Skepta, Suggs & Chase & Status kick off the ‘Fork & Knife’ era with ‘Innocent Smile’
The 'Fork & Knife' campaign is officially underway, with Skepta kicking off the rollout for his first album since 2019’s 'Ignorance Is Bliss' with 'Innocent Smile', a new collaboration with Suggs and Chase & Status.
Skepta also took over Piccadilly Circus with 'DILIGENT', an installation featuring 24 statements drawn from his lyrics, with signed limited-edition prints also made available. The activation offered the first major glimpse into the world surrounding 'Fork & Knife', setting the stage for the music to follow.
On 'Innocent Smile', Skepta puts his pen front and centre, reflecting on the journey that took him from growing up as the child of Nigerian immigrants to becoming one of the defining figures in British rap. His writing carries the confidence of someone looking back on a career built through persistence, ambition and a refusal to compromise.
The track initially draws from Ska, with Suggs’ unmistakable presence connecting the record to a distinctly British musical tradition. Chase & Status then push the production into a more frenetic breakbeat space, giving the track an up-tempo energy that brings its different influences together. At its heart, 'Innocent Smile' celebrates the multiculturalism that has shaped modern Britain, using Skepta’s own story as a reflection of the communities and sounds that continue to influence the country’s musical landscape.
Directed by Aidan Zamiri, the accompanying video extends that world visually, arriving alongside the single to further establish the tone of 'Fork & Knife'. With the campaign now in motion, 'Innocent Smile' offers an early indication of the ideas, influences and ambition surrounding Skepta’s long-awaited next chapter.
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