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After the nominations, the plaudits, the chart assaults East Ham’s finest has returned with a new album and, with a little bit of luck, a brit hop homecoming that supersedes Home Sweet Home’s rapturous popularity. With Gigwise fully aware that the maturing Kane Robinson has a distain for the more mundane of questions (they [Popworld] ask stupid fucking questions” he spat in our first meeting) the scene was set for this catch up chit chat to be purely about, the music… well, mostly about the music.
“It’s all good man” the laconic greeting comes as a gentile reminder of Kano’s laid-back demeanour but come talk of ‘This Is The Girl’, his latest single and collaboration with R&B smoothie Craig David, he livens up. “The process was really straight forward you know we went to see each other and it was great man we just done it – it was undeniable when I heard it that it’s a song that needs to come out” From 2004’s debut single to this smoothly done number the new transgression of Kano’s skills is evident. The smart rat-a-tat-tat lyricism of ‘Ps & Qs’ has been substituted for a chilled out R&B number infused with Kano’s trademark of infectious rhymes – it’s a welcome move that takes him away from the rawness of his debut release and sends him to the big city sheen of his capitally titled sophomoric release.
When questioned about London Town Gigwise feels Kano’s exterior thaw as he lends an insight. “It’s different in terms of how I made Home, I mean with Home Sweet Home it was a collection of material that I had then I got a record deal and made a few more tracks and then that finished the album”. But with this release, he makes a solemn promise: “it’s gonna be a bit different”…
“From start to finish I was creating, so I think it sounds better as a whole – it’s well rounded, better and more together”. Kano’s talent is matched by an excusable confidence that convinces when he assure us of his skills. “I’ve improved lyrically, musically and as a producer”. With an album brimming with promise and progression his confidence confirms that the impending release is bound to be a hit. It’s appeal? The straight solid grime of his debut has evolved into a different beast altogether. With the smooth collaboration of his new single comes a clutch of tracks recorded with some of indie’s finest; yes fans, Kano is flying the flag for a grindie England. “I do like a bit of indie… but not too much” he laughs, this slight interest manifests itself through two collaborative album highlights which starts with a catchy track featuring gobby guitar princess Kate Nash on ‘Me And My Microphone’. “It was before she kind of blew up, I wrote these lyrics and just needed a vocalist - and I really needed this style - and I just found her on Myspace”.
En route from this comes London Town’s crowning glory, ‘Feel Free’, a layered track recorded with officially the most versatile man in rock: Damon Albarn. “I made something I never would have made, something he never would have made”. Commenting on the former Blur front man Kano lays down a workman affection that shines through in the track itself. “He inspired me a lot man” he comments, “I was into the Gorillaz and it made me really wanna work with him and when we were in the studio its was just… cool you know – he’s a really creative guy and I think it’s unique – it’s one of my favourite tracks I’ve done”.
With the hype raised for an album brimming with creative promise Kano handles questions on anarchy England with a careful consideration, polite seeing as just a year ago it was his live shows that suffered at the hands of gun crime and the frantic mediation of events past. But this time around his confidence once again carries him through the hail of consistent headlines spewing forth stories of youth black youth at war. “I think it depends where I play. I think it will be easier in a way because I’ve been through it. If the people that made these decisions just came to my show they would just see music lovers there are girls, boys, blacks, whites, Asians, Chinese you know… it’s a mixed crowd man”. When this reporter reminds him that none other than Kanye West has experienced a shooting at a British tour date to Kano’s tidy show history he chuckles, “yeah man and he’s talking about Jesus so what’s that about?”, but focusing back onto his own impending tour and the selected venues he remains stoic in the face of any bad press. “Anything that happens around that area is associated with you, it’s silly but you’ve just gotta take it on the chin”.
Granted that Kano’s star is set to rise throughout the year what comes next? A clutch of drum and bass style mix ups are promised when he finds the time to hook up with some old producing pals; confirmation of work on the latest Streets album seems a no no (“I haven’t been called yet” he jokes); but a hint for the future comes in the most unlikely – and unmusical – of places. Eagle-eyed fans may have spotted their favourite rapper kicking some yankee chin in recent next gen beat-em up, Def Jam: Icon. Could a trip across the pond be his next big step? Fortunately for us little has changed since Gigwise’s last meeting with Kano remaining grounded and intent. “Nah I would read any thing into that – it’ll come, but only when the time is right. You see it involves going away for too long and it means neglecting this audience and I can’t do that man, but it’ll come”.
With conversation rounded up over the current footie season – a subject where Kano injects some of his own enthused hype – the buzz for this young rapper’s entry to centre stage seems set.
