British rapper Skepta has issued a challenge to American rappers, proposing a transatlantic rap battle to settle the long-running debate over the dominance of UK versus US rap.
In a post shared on his official X account on Thursday, the Grime pioneer said, “I wanna clash an American rapper anyway, finally get this UK/US rap debate sorted.”
The rapper also suggested a series of hypothetical matchups between top UK and US artists. Among them, he paired Ghetts with Eminem, Chip with Kendrick Lamar, Dave with Lil Wayne, and Youngs Teflon with Meek Mill.
Additional matchups included Blade Brown against Pusha T, Queenie versus Megan Thee Stallion, Central Cee facing Jack Harlow, Lancey Foux taking on Travis Scott, and JME clashing with Tyler, The Creator.
Skepta argued that UK rappers are well-prepared for lyrical combat, owing to their training in the Grime scene.
“The microphone training you get from being in the grime scene is top level, Oxford Uni level training, we’re not easy, lol,” he added.
The debate over which country produces superior rap artists has persisted for years, with fans on both sides defending their preferred styles and artists.
Grime, a genre rooted in UK underground culture, is known for its rapid delivery, aggressive beats, and freestyle battles—traits that Skepta believes give British rappers a competitive edge.
While no American rapper has yet responded to the challenge, the post has sparked widespread discussion among fans and artists on social media.
