UK Rap Rundown: feat Kano, Ghetts, Rude Kid and A2

Considering the momentum UK Rap and Grime has generated over the past few years, it would be impossible to sum up a whole week of music in a few paragraphs but, every week, I will do my best to cover some of the main highlights in the Rap Rundown, whether it be new music, interviews or live shows.

As 2015 came to an end, all your favourite UK rappers began to declare their pioneering plans for the new year and as much as I wish success for the whole UK scene, sometimes I feel like it’s just something you have to say as a musician and these cliché announcements become a bit ambiguous. However, an artist who has proved his longevity in the music scene and doesn’t need to reassure fans of his hard work is Kano. Last year saw him release a few anthems and strong videos and, following this, he has started 2016 with a new track and the confirmation of a new album and UK tour.

Last week, Kano released ‘3 Wheel-ups’ ft. Giggs as well as announcing that his new album ‘Made In The Manor’ is available for pre-order and will be out on March 4th. The video, directed by Kano himself embellishes the production with the inclusion of the sax players and features a pretty hard hook and verse from the East London rapper as well as a some shellings from the Hollowman.

Another artist, from the same generation of Grime MCs, who has also gone beyond the point of having to prove himself is Ghetts and last week saw him release one gritty, old school freestyle with the help of Risky Roadz as well as the visuals for ‘One Take’ taken from his latest EP ‘653’.

The freestyle was a bit of nostalgia for the Ghetto fans. He liberated the energetic character that we used to know and brought back that greezy Grime that new fans might not be as familiar with.

His track ‘One Take’ was one of the ones I really enjoyed from the collaborative tape he released with Rude Kid. Full of familiar samples and quotable bars, the track was always going to be a banger and the visuals would only add to that. The only criticism I would have is that, considering the title, surely the video should have been shot in one take. When I heard that the visuals had been released, before I watched it, I already assumed that’s what they had done. However, I’m not a director or a videographer so I wouldn’t even know how you would go about shooting it like that and the final product was decent anyway so I’m not complaining.

Finally, with the promise of his ‘BLUE’ (Before Love Undoes Everything) mixtape on the horizon, A2 dropped ‘Me Vs You’ which to me feels like a prelude to the project. As the release of the track was pretty enigmatic due to the fact that A2 just tweeted the link without explanation, I’m not sure whether it will be included on the tape but even as a stand alone single, it bangs.

If you’re familiar with A2, you will know what to expect from his latest release. His laid back, almost lethargic vocals create a vibe for you to zone out to and if ‘Me Vs You’ is anything to go by, I will be eagerly anticipating the release of ‘BLUE’.

Words by Patrick Fennelly