Music > Interviews

Kano

23/02/16

The grime revival has taken the UK by storm in the last year, with acts like JME and Stormzy gaining millions of views on YouTube with their tracks. But Kano, original OG and creator of four of the best grime and hip hop albums from out of the UK in years has been playing the long game, and spending three quiet years on what could be his best album yet. A serious musical contender, Kano digs deep and intelligently into subjects he’s passionate about, but still manages to bring the party and the edge that grime is all about. I spoke to him ahead of his set at the Waterfront this month.

You started off a successful early career as a footballer with Chelsea and Norwich as an under-13. How come you decided to knock that on the head and get into music instead?

I wasn’t really doping the two things at the same time to be honest. I stopped playing football and then a couple years later I really go into music. So there never really was a time when I had to sit down and weigh up whether I wanted to be a footballer or an MC.

What has driven you through your career so far?

I think just to better myself, you know? I guess I focus less on trying to become bigger and more on trying to outdo my previous work, or do something different and push boundaries, experiment with a new flow or beat. I just like to discover the new, that’s what’s really pushed me.

Your breakthrough hit was P’s and Q’s back in 2004. When you were writing it did you realise it had something special to it?

I really liked it. I’d be lying if I said I though it would, after all these years, be considered one of the tunes from our scene, but I did like it. Here’s an interesting story; the producer, Davinci, didn’t really like it when we made it. He said “It’s a good song, but it’s not great”.  Ha ha! I said “Listen, trust me on this one!” I had to convince him that the tune was alright enough to be released. I think he was wrong! I haven’t told him I told you so yet, but the next time I see him I will pull that card on him.

Your debut album Home Sweet Home did incredibly well, and even people like Nas and the RZA bigged it up. That must’ve been pretty amazing?

It’s always nice when people you actually respect acknowledge or respect your work. It still matters to me so much what my peers think, you know what I mean? I released a tune the other day and Wretch texted me and told me he loved it, and Ghetts, Giggs and I are always playing tunes to each other. We like to know what each other think, and that’s just my peers, so when people who have inspired me, people who I look up to like my music that’s really great.

Why do you think it is that grime is still pretty much a London based genre and seems to be only slowly filtering through to other places?

I reckon it’s spread more recently compared to when we were coming up. Now you have crews coming out of Manchester, Bugsy Malone from Birmingham and Mez from Nottingham who’s doing really well. So yeah, there’s still not such a big scene as in London but there are more people getting involved now. Maybe for the first ten years of hip hop it was very New York-centric; for the first five years it was probably just the Bronx, you know, so it might take a bit more time for us to see it grow even bigger, and I think it will.

Your brand new album Made in the Manor is just about to drop. Can you tell us what we can expect from it?

I’ve already released some stuff from it with some videos and some tracks like 3 Wheel-Ups and Garage Skank and those are the most energetic moments from the album. So you’re gonna definitely get those grime influenced tracks but also there’s a deeper level, lyrically. I’ll be visiting some subjects I’ve never really spoken about before. Honesty. You can expect honesty, vulnerability..it’s the most autobiographical record I’ve made to date.

The album’s taken three years to make; is it perfect now?

To be honest there’s one bassline I want to change at the moment but it’s already gone to press so it’s too late! For me, it can never be perfect but it was all about making it important. Why am I putting out a fifth album? I wasn’t going to put a record out just for the sake of it. There has to be a reason, I have to tell people something about me that they haven’t learnt before. For me it has to have substance. I would have loved to have released it earlier but that’s just how long it took.

I know you’ve worked with Damon Albarn on several occasions and on the new album. What is it about that guy that just clicks with you?

We just get on, you know. The first tune we did together was back in 2007 on my second album; then I did some work with Gorillaz and we went out on a world tour, so we bonded through that. Musically we’re so different but we get each other and I think sometimes magic can happen when you put two people like that together. He always brings a unique perspective to whatever I’m doing and he always surprises me with what he brings to the table. I love working with him; he’s one of our country’s greats. I have the same affection for what Wiley’s done for our country’s music, he’s a real pioneer. It’s great to work with him and with Giggs, who’s a big part of this country’s hip hop culture.

Who can you recommend we check out that’s new on the grime scene?

If you haven’t checked out Little Simz, you need to. She’s really good, commands the stage really well, brings loads of energy and is really into her lyrics. She brings a female perspective as well. Grime still seems to be a male orientated genre but when you see her you don’t think of her as a great female MC you think of her as a great MC.

You were in the first two series of Top Boy.. there’s been some rumours about a possibility of a season 3. Can you fill us in on what you know and whether you’d like to be involved?

I’ve heard the rumours as well but people assume I know more; I only know what everyone else has heard! I think it’s important that it stays true to its roots and maintains its intention and that it doesn’t get polished up or not as real. I would definitely be up for Top Boy as we know it.

What did you think of the Grime Symphony Prom at the Royal Albert Hall last year?

I was there! It was great! I came out and did a little appearance on a verse with Wretch 32 and Chip. I’m big into instrumentation and strings and brass but to see it done on that scale and at level was sick. To hear Pow from Lethal B with an orchestra was like oh my god! I think it showcased the musicality within grime. People think we just knock beats out but don’t really know anything about music but when you see it performed in such a way on such a prestigious stage it gains a lot more respect from some people. I remember Pow was actually banned from being played in some clubs and now it’s being played in the Royal Albert Hall!

What’s next for Kano?

I’m having a busy summer playing loads of festivals and then a European tour and then I might try and squeeze another UK tour in if I can. I’d love to get back in the studio and record some music too as I’m really feeling the energy right now.

We can’t wait to see you at the Waterfront. What’s a Kano show like?

My support will be a young MC called Jammz from London, and two other MC’s from Birmingham. We’ll all bring the energy and just put on a great show that people will remember and happy to a part of. If you’ve been a fan for a while you’ll hear stuff from my back catalogue, from all my albums, but if you’re a brand new fan you’ll get to hear tunes from the new album too. There’s something for everyone!

Kano plays The Waterfront on 17th March. Tickets available from ueaticketbookings.co.uk