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Two lads from same tough streets ... one was shot dead by cops, the other's now worth £2m and starring in movie with Harry's girl

THEY both grew up in the same tough area in North London and had brushes with gangs, guns and the law.

But while one found fame as a grime artist, the other became a household name after his death at the hands of police led to riots throughout the country.

When Mark Duggan, 29, was shot in Tottenham in 2011 by police who believed he was armed, Joseph Junior Adenuga wrote on Twitter: “RIP Mark Duggan a real straight up and down respected man. LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Joseph is now 34 and known as Skepta — and he has just had the year of his life.

He clinched the Mercury music prize with album Konnichiwa and his triumphant home-coming gig at London’s Alexandra Palace last weekend saw him perform to a sell-out 10,000 crowd.

He also starred in crime film Anti-Social, next to Prince Harry’s new girlfriend Meghan Markle, re-released on DVD this month.

And just last week he was partying with Kate Moss and rock star Marilyn Manson at the British Fashion Awards.

But his life could have been very different.

Known to his friends as Skeppy or Junior, he grew up in a gritty gang culture awash with guns, arrests and assaults.

His best friend Lukey ­Maxwell was stabbed to death in their local park last year.

Lukey’s mum Lynn Jones, 54, told us: “Junior and Lukey were like brothers, they were so tight.

He carried casket at Lukey’s funeral

“They had a special bond. It’s quite incredible how one’s career has gone into orbit while my son is no longer around. Junior even carried the ­casket at Lukey’s funeral.

“It’s heartbreaking Lukey hasn’t seen what a year his closest friend has had. He would be smiling now.”

Skepta is now worth an ­estimated £2million. His parents moved to the council estate in Tottenham from Nigeria just a few years before he, brothers Jamie, 31 — fellow grime MC Jme — Jason, 24, and and sister Julie, 28 — a radio DJ — were born.

Skepta’s father Joseph was a businessman and mother Ify worked for Enfield and Haringey council.

Jason said: “Our parents always made sure we kept our feet on the ground.

"Growing up in Tottenham was not that glamorous but we’ve always been a close family and that has always got us through.

“It’s quite incredible to think where our brother has got to and who he’s mixing with.

“But he’s always known that hard work pays off.

“He took mum to the Mobo Awards a few months ago and he makes sure he shares the love. We have a WhatsApp group that we always keep up to date on.”

Early on Skepta struggled to steer clear of trouble.

He used to carry a gun, what he calls a “strap”, when he travelled out of his ­Tottenham territory, saying: “I was from North London and most of the crews are from East London.

“I am going to a show with a strap. I’m sitting here now thinking, ‘Why would I put myself in a position where I would have to go to a show with a strap?’.”

His father had to arrange bail several times because of his son’s fighting and in 2006 Skepta, then a DJ on a pirate radio station, spent time in jail in Cyprus after a row in an Ayia Napa bar.

In 2010 he was convicted for a separate attack but declared on Twitter in ­November that year: “I finished my last five hours of ­community service last week for GBH and now I’m driving legally.

"I will NEVER see another court room again.”

A year after he vowed to turn his life around, gangster Mark’s death sparked the worst UK riots since the 1980s.

Of his own dealings with the police, Skepta said: “There was a shooting on my estate.

“Someone was writing about shooting someone [on their pirate radio station], so the police took my records, saying they were going to investigate everything on the vinyl.

“They took my stuff, I had nothing to do. So I just started rapping.”

He and his brother Jamie joined a group of rappers from Tottenham which included Wretch 32 and Chipmunk, now called Chip.

In January last year he and his brother had crossover success at the Brit Awards when they appeared on stage with Lukey.

But that June Lukey, an aspiring musician, was found dead. He had been stabbed in the back in Tottenham’s Northumberland Park.

Lukey’s mum Lynn said: “The news was ­devastating. Skepta, like all his friends, were so upset they came round giving me money.

“Skepta even paid for part of the get-together after his funeral.”

He released a tribute song called Lukey World, in which he rapped, “Just last week you were talking about your mix tape dropping . . . now I’m on Google searching coffins”.

A month later 50,000 fans held lighters aloft at Wireless Festival in Hyde Park as Skepta performed the song with US sensation Drake.

Speaking of his grief after the show, Skepta said: “I know there will be a time where I think of my friend and it will make me happy.

"I know in my head what he would want me to do and I’ll stay doing that.”

The star has also faced troubles in his love life. He was believed to be dating athlete-turned-blogger Alanna Wain, from Stoke.

Alanna, 31, said: “Our relationship is really private. I just don’t think what’s going on between us is anything to do with anyone else.”

But last week her mum Janet told The Sun on Sunday they had split up.

Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry has claimed she shared a kiss with the Grime artist at a party in Ibiza.

Speaking in August about her holiday, she said: “I was having such a good time and kissed Skepta. He was just there and we necked on. I haven’t spoken to him since, though.”

Last year Skepta told how an ex-girlfriend lost an unborn child and that the heartbreak inspired him to strive for further success in music.

Speaking to a US radio station, he said: “This girl that I was with a while ago, she had a miscarriage.

“I remember at the time wanting to have a child. It was at the stage where you can’t tell no one.

"So when that happened I felt I had lost something I really wanted, and all this other stuff I’m chasing, I would give it all up for that.”

In September, when he pipped legend David Bowie to the Mercury Prize, he announced he was donating the £25,000 award to disadvantaged kids.

After his win his mum, who now runs his label Boy Better Know, said: “This is definitely the highlight to the max. This made all my driving him around at the beginning of this worthwhile.”

Now Skepta is the proud owner of a black Porsche and white Bentley. Yet despite his fame and fortune, his family say he will never forget his roots.

He regularly returns to the estate where he grew up to see friends.

He also still watches his favourite TV show — EastEnders — and goes to Nando’s, where he “can’t get enough”.

Jason said: “My brother has never changed. He’s just himself for good or bad.

“He’s remembered where he has come from. It doesn’t matter how many parties or celebrities he’s met, he’s still the same person.

“That’s why we’re so proud of him.”


assistant: THEY both grew up in the same tough area in North London and had brushes with gangs, guns and the law. But while one found fame as a grime artist, the other became a household name after his death …