Since the release of his debut single in 2016, North West London rapper Knucks has remained consistently true-to-form. His latest record is a breathe of fresh air.
Sample heavy, jazz influenced beats, and laid-back flows untypical of the current UK rap scene have helped the 25 year-old Kilburn native cultivate a distinct and noteworthy sound. Quickly following up 2019’s ‘NRG 105’, his sophomore record, ‘London Class’ takes a candid look at life in the capital. Knucks strives to have ‘a message or concept behind every song’ he makes, and with topics on this record spanning from falling in love to police brutality and BLM, those concepts seem relevant and clear as ever.
The prolific nature of Knuck’s back catalogue, now featuring 2 albums and over 20 singles, comes from his unwavering drive and is summed up in the ‘No Days Off’ tag that fans of his will know well. ‘No Days Off’ is a philosophy that Knucks and his team live by, making sure they do something musically productive every day. The result is a constant stream of quality music, and ‘London Class’ maintains this high standard.
The album opens with one of four skits scattered throughout. The intro is an audio clip from Legend, Tom Hardy’s 2015 portrayal of the infamous Kray twins: “London is going to be the Las Vegas of Europe” says an American character, a quote which Knucks juxtaposes throughout the record, proving that London is a city of chaos and excitement in its own right.
‘Thames’ immediately illustrates Knucks’ nonchalant but considered style. In a casual and unconcerned tone, he explains on the hook: “If my words got you hurt then they meant to / If I ever did you dirty then I meant to.” While his delivery is relaxed, Knucks means what he says.
The second track, ‘Fxcked Up,’ is a jazz-influenced bass-heavy anthem describing the “very thin line” between success and failure as a kid growing up in London. The track features South London MC Sam Wise, who himself has received cult and critical acclaim for his work as an integral part of hip-hop ensemble House of Pharaohs.
Three other artists feature on the record alongside Sam Wise: up-and-coming North London artist KXYZ, talented Pimlico vocalist Kadiata and, perhaps most surprisingly, internationally-successful Croydon rapper Loyle Carner. The common thread between all feature artists is their London roots, and their collective experience growing up in the capital.
Carner’s feature track, ‘Standout,’ does as the title suggests. Offhand delivery and playful lyricism that have become defining characteristics of both Knucks’ and Loyle’s work, and so their collaboration results in scintillating chemistry. Other highlights on the record include closing track ‘Muva’s Life’, the subdued and synth-driven kadiata feature; and ‘Duchess,’ a tongue-in-cheek love song built around a memorable but unexpected hook: “I can’t believe that we ain’t f*****d yet.’
The most emotive and impassioned moment on the album comes in the seventh track, following an skit called ‘Under Class’, which includes an audio clip of Akala making powerful and important points regarding blackness exists as a ‘class signifier.’ ‘Your Worth’ sees Knucks weigh in on topical social and cultural issues, particularly the murder of George Floyd and the resultant resurgence of the BLM movement. “Take you knee of my neck, what the heck / when did it become so casual making casualties” Knucks pleads in between snippets of a Dave Chapelle monologue which form the chorus: “He knew he was gonna die / he called for his mother.” Knucks’ use of samples has never been so creative and so poignant. With Akala, Chapelle and Knucks providing frank and honest words, the closing part of the album acts as a reminder of the inequality and injustice faced by the black community both in the UK and abroad.
“I stand out like a black man in Kazakhstan,” Knucks boasts on the opening line of ‘Standout,’ and he’s not wrong. With consistent high-quality output, Knucks is quickly making a name for himself as one of the most impressive, and most laidback, names in UK hip-hop.
8/10