Everything Is Borrowed
Mike Skinner, aka The Streets, has become synonymous with the suburbia of lads holidays and asbos, whilst emerging as the long-term hope for British hip-hop. With three successful albums in the bag he now seems settled with his back catalogue and lifted from the pressure to shift units. Thankfully this has led to a departure from his clubbing culture roots, judging by new single Everything Is Borrowed, Skinner is on the comedown.
Whilst Skinner still displays an indulgent array of cushioning beats and crafty loops they hide a growing maturity. The subject matter here, believe it or not, regards the self, faith and spirituality. The uplifting lyrics lead to an optimism and euphoria that shadows Skinner’s adept, charming turn of phrase. Simply from the chorus ‘I came to this world with nothing. And I leave with nothing but love. Everything else is just borrowed.’, you get the sense of someone seeing the light.
Who would have thought it, Mike Skinner borrowing a choir for celestial harmonies.