City Beats - Kano

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”.