The Last Skeptik
- Text by The Last Skeptik
- Photography by Ed Andrews
![The Last Skeptik](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/the-last-skeptik_2023-04-03-101330_idxk.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
London-based deejay, producer and occasional rapper The Last Skeptik is constantly grinding to make a living as a professional musician. With eclecticism being key to this struggle, he’s shared stages with Damon Albarn, Flea and Danny Brown, produced for the likes of The King Blues, Kate Nash and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly, and recorded albums with rappers like Rewd Adams, Verb T and Sway.
Come Spring 2013, he’s set to release his long-awaited solo instrumental album, Thanks for Trying, something that he calls his “magnum opus”, on the prestigious BBE Records. Here, he digs out some of the vinyl that’s made him who he is today.
Indo Jazz Fusions 2
by Joe Harriott & John Mayer
My dad gave me this record when I was too young to really understand what a fusion of anything really was. The mix of jazz and Indian instruments blew my mind, in the same way I’m sure this record blew his way back when it was released. I sampled the shit out of it, obviously.
Babylon – The Original Soundtrack
Various
Jeez! This has to be one of the best reggae-related soundtracks ever made. The Dennis Bovell original score tracks are so unbelievable I’ve lost weeks listening to them. Serious dubbed-out madness. I sampled it on my first-ever release when I was sixteen, which surely was about fifty years ago now. I forget.
Respiration
Black Star
This is one of those songs I never know whether to cry or punch someone to. There is more emotion in this one song than any human can comprehend. The production is galactically incredible.
Wordsearch
The Last Skeptik
Well, this was my first-ever release on vinyl. I was at university at the time, and had thought my entire life that my biggest dream was to have a song on wax. I got it. I Ran to the uni radio station, and the moment the needle touched the record I knew I had to try and set myself bigger dreams. Moral of the story: don’t have dreams.
Shut ‘Em Down (Remix)
Public Enemy
Those horns! Those Pete Rock adlibs! This shit right here changed the whole game. It’s one of, if not the best remix of ANYTHING. For the simplicity, the swing of the drums and Flav’s adlibs. I spent years copying the filtered bass line and horn decay.
Sinatra at the Sands
Frank Sinatra
If you don’t like Sinatra, you’re a dick. This guy has to be the most listened-to dude on my iTunes. I listen whatever mood I’m in and this album in particular has got me through a lot. Quincey Jones produced it. Count Basie plays on it. And Frank has more swag than any rapper out today. Big band ftw.
Suicide
Stray
Stray were a little-known 1970s prog rock band that my dad was really into, so I inherited these quite rare copies of the records (ha, and you won’t get ’em back now!). The Suicide album is perfect in every way. Completely bonkers and each song switches eight billion times within itself. When I heard this, in some weird way it taught me never to settle on one loop. Always make all your songs textured, layered and constantly changing.
As a HUCK exclusive, have a listen to Park Champ, the first leaked track from The Last Skeptik’s new cinematically epic solo album, Thanks for Trying, out on April 29 on BBE Records.
Latest on Huck
![Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/Huck81_Socials_HeroImage_SkateboardingIsNotASubculture_240618_V2-1.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Is skateboarding really a subculture anymore?
With skate’s inclusion in the Olympics, Kyle Beachy asks what it means for the culture around the sport, and whether it’s possible to institutionalise an artform.
Written by: Kyle Beachy
![Autism cannot be cured — stop trying](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/shutterstock_2322534063.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Autism cannot be cured — stop trying
A questionable study into the ‘reversal’ of autism does nothing but reinforce damaging stereotypes and harm, argues autistic author Jodie Hare.
Written by: Jodie Hare
![Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/Hashem-Shakeri-from-the-series-_Staring-into-the-Abyss_.-%C2%A9-Hashem-Shakeri.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Bristol Photo Festival returns for second edition
After the success of it’s inaugural run, the festival returns this autumn with exhibitions, education and community programmes exploring a world in constant motion through still image.
Written by: Ben Smoke
![Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/web-Eyanna-has-always-been-Maliks-primary-caregiver.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
Documenting the life of a New York gang leader paralysed by gun violence
New photobook ‘Say Less’ is a complex yet humanising look into a life wrecked by gun violence and organised crime.
Written by: Isaac Muk
![The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/7_ULTRAMAGNETIC-MCS_NYC-1990.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
The woman who defined 80s Hip Hop photography
A new exhibition brings together Janette Beckman’s visionary and boundary pushing images of an era of cultural change and moral panic.
Written by: Miss Rosen
![In photos: the dogs of Dogtown](https://images.huckmag.com/tco/images/Huck/saguy_dogtown_02_RGB.jpg?w=1920&q=75&auto=compress&format=jpg)
In photos: the dogs of Dogtown
A new photobook documents Venice Beach’s four legged friends and their colourful cast of owners.
Written by: Isaac Muk