by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

They said the U.K. would spawn a rapper capable of breaking wide in the North American market right around the same time swine got airborne. Then along came Mike Skinner, aka the Streets. With his explosive '02 debut Original Pirate Material and pensive, narrative-driven follow-up A Grand Don't Come for Free, Skinner found plenty of ears for his honest, un-gangsterized yarns of pints and pot, parties and Playstations, "geezers" and garage, fast food and fisticuffs. Moreover, he'd opened the door for U.K. grime rhymers like Dizzee Rascal and Wiley.

Mirror: One thing I like about your music is all the unfamiliar British slang. Are you picking up on slang elsewhere, now that your music is taking you abroad?

Mike Skinner: We know most American slang anyway, because we get all their TV programs and films. So there's very little that a British person will hear over here that they haven't heard before. There are some words, though - what was it someone said this morning? "Smash," meaning to have a chat. Smash with you. Some girl said that in Seattle.

M: What's your perception of the political climate in the U.K., after the recent EU elections?

MS: I don't really pay much attention to politics, but I think it was a case of, the war was obviously not just about straight up doing what's right. There are a lot of other things going on in the world that they're not straightening out, and why they should pick up on that particular country to help sort 'em out obviously has something to do with something else. But I think the media do a good job of keeping the politicians in check - in England, certainly. We don't have Clear Channel and all that, owning the flow of information like they do in America.

M: A few years ago, I asked the guy from Cornershop what he thought I should look out for in new music from the U.K.. He told me to watch for this kid the Streets. In that tradition, I'm going to ask you the same question.

MS: On the garage scene, I think Kano's gonna do well. He's the next one, just a rapper coming through the garage scene. Just like Dizzee, really, but he's really exciting. I think he's going to be really big.

With guests at Club Soda on Saturday, June 26, 8pm, $25

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