i've been a big fan of mike skinner's work for a very long time. from the first time i heard "turn the page" and the incredible opening that it has, i've been hooked on his ability to tell a story, make you laugh, and completely devastate you with just a simple chorus. his beats are different than what you find in american hip-hop. he's grown from being just a skinny kid who liked to tell stories about his friend's problems with heroin, the days when music was grand, and about not calling a girl the day after you go out with her to being a genuine superstar in the uk and telling stories about banging popstars and watching them smoke crack. when eminem was rapping about being a nobody, he was great. when he got money, he lost his 'edge', and wasn't the same person anymore. skinner's been able to adapt to his success by remaining accessible.

this here is my tribute to skinner.

i've collected many vinyl records of his - i own singles that i've had to order from overseas, i've made a point to go out and buy his records the day they're released, and i've even bought stuff that doesn't have his name on it but has his involvement (kano, for example). in total, you've got 26 tracks available. the 'featured' tracks are available for solo download, the rest are available in .rar format for download.

disc one are tracks that skinner has more of a direct involvement with. they're b-sides to his tracks or they're a direct spoof of a skinner track. tracks like 'soaked by the ale' and 'streets score' are both wonderful songs that you don't get hear normally because they were released on singles. both of the spoof tracks are ones i've made readily available - as they are sort of related to the world cup (both are making fun of the british soccer team) and are pretty clever, all things considered.

disc two are tracks that others have had their way with. remixes, mashups, and covers, including the truly amazing guillemots 'never went to church' cover that's really a perfect father's day track. i've got plenty of streets mashups, but these three are far and away the best ones - and i apology for the many 'blinded by the lights' remixes, but it's one of skinner's best tracks and probably deserves the attention. the 'weak dare' mashup by dj snag is just awesome, i have to say - it's a great combination of two great songs and should be getting some serious airplay on your ipod over the next month.

this was a labor of love for me to pull this all together. i hope you enjoy it. right-click and save, please. if you want a full disc, right-click and save the "disc 1" or "disc 2" link.

disc 1:
1. the streets - turn the page (live)
2. the streets - all got our runnins (b-side)
3. the streets feat. chris martin - dry your eyes (unreleased b-side)
4. the streets - give me my lighter back (b-side)
5. the streets - let's push things forward (mc remix)
6. the streets - when you wasn't famous (prof. green remix)
7. the streets - soaked by the ale (b-side)
8. the streets vs. bloc party - apology to jo whiley (remix)
9. the streets - don't mug yourself (live @ the bbc)
10. the streets - streets score (b-side)
11. raymondo - dry your eyes, becks (the streets spoof)
12. not the streets - engerland are really shit (the streets spoof)
13. the streets - streets score (instrumental)

disc 2:
1. the streets - blinded by the lights (the mitchell brothers remix)
2. the streets - don't mug yourself (mr. figit remix)
3. the streets - don't mug yourself (fusion remix)
4. the streets - fit but you know it (featuring kano, donae'o, lady sovereign, and tinchy stryder)
5. the streets - it's too late (high contrast edit)
6. the streets - it's come to this (high contrast remix)
7. the streets - weak become heroes (royksopp memory lane dub) i am aware there is a little 'glitch' in this track. apologies.
8. bromhead's jacket - when you wasn't famous (the streets cover)
9. guillemots - never went to church (the streets cover)
10. the futureheads - fit but you know it (the streets cover)
11. the streets vs. radiohead vs. moby - blinded by the gloaming (mashup)
12. the streets vs. azzido da bass - blinded by the night (mashup)
13. the streets vs. the gorillaz - weak dare (extended version) (mashup)

as per usual, if there's a problem with any of these tracks being available, please contact me and i will remove them. this right here is a labor of love, many of these tracks available only on vinyl, internationally, or not at all. i heart vice records, the streets, and atlantic.