WE ARE BACK!!!!

YOUNG KINGZ 2 (pre order link in bio) 07-02-25

Young Kingz dropped independently 11 years ago, so Young Kingz 2 had to drop independently too. Full circle moment.

Its been 5 years, sorry for the wait

Lets get this show on the road, New music coming in 3…2… pic.twitter.com/nOFqDsEgco

— Krept & Konan (@KreptandKonan) September 11, 2024

‘Young Kingz II’, mainly recorded in Jamaica, sees no dulling to their dynamic, razor-sharp lyricism. As soon as the first two tracks are underway, we’re met with a barrage of clever punchlines, with bars like “I had to Offset my account so that the grind could Takeoff” referencing Migos, or “The south of France is the only way I’m going to the can (Cannes) again”.

It also taps into more tender moods, like in the two-track run of ‘Nala’s Song’ and ‘Delroy’s Song’, the first dedicated to Krept’s daughter, and the latter in remembrance of Konan’s father. There’s a broad range of style on this record, hitting ambient mood-music on ‘100 Mistakes’, bouncy dancehall on ‘Smooth Lovin’, lightning-fast grime flows on ‘Rage’ and even a drumless, strings/piano-centred backing on ‘Situations’. The new album plays host to an exciting range of features, including fellow UK rappers Ghetts, Chip, Potter Payper and Youngs Teflon, dancehall and reggae royalty Sizzla and Popcaan, and even actors Damson Idris and Michael Ward.

Speaking to Music Week about the impressive list of contributors, Konan said: “They’re very talented individuals, man. They all bring themselves and that’s what we wanted. Popcaan came to the studio to do ‘Smooth Lovin’, that song originally was a bit more greazy and we wanted that tropical element. Same with Sizzla, he just popped into my brain and that was very smooth. Krept reached out to Potter and he delivered his verse. With Youngs Teflon, I had a hook and verse and thought who could do this with us and I was randomly listening to one of his tunes. He delivered mad quickly, so it was all literally a puzzle.”

Now, after recently parting ways from a decade-long partnership with Virgin EMI, Krept & Konan are independent again. Konan said their new freedom inspired them to name this album as a sequel: “Young Kingz was the last time we were independent, 10 years ago. Everything just aligned so we decided on Young Kingz II. It made sense.”

@reneeeats BIG NEWS! @Krept & @Konan very own @Savewayssupermarket is officially OPEN! Saveways Supermarket, 102 Beddington Ln, Croydon, CR0 4YX 8 AM to 10 PM everyday From household essentials to halal meat, world foods, wholesale deals, and more—they’ve got EVERYTHING you need under one roof! This is more than just a supermarket—it’s a Black-Owned business that deserves all the love and support. So, pull up, shop smart, and spread the word! And don’t forget to hit that follow button – I’m your go-to for all things Black-Owned! @flakebakepatties @Nala’s Baby #kreptandkonan #savewayssupermarket #saveways #supermarket #wholesalers #blackownedbusiness #blackowned #supportyourown #croydon #southlondon #blacktiktok #caribbeantiktok #fyp #fypシ゚ #lookpondimenu #reneeeats ♬ Smooth Lovin – Popcaan – Krept & Konan

Besides the music, they’ve been keeping themselves busy with their business ventures. Lately, Krept has won awards for his baby skincare brand Nala’s Baby, and both Krept & Konan recently opened Saveways, an inclusive supermarket in Croydon that caters to its diverse population.

Reviews for ‘Young Kingz II’ have been positive so far, with The Skinny saying it “delivers on all fronts, drawing from a wide range of influences, full of personal touches and boasting accomplished features. The result is, for once, a sequel that lives up to the original.”

It will launch on February 1 in Croydon, on a 15,000 sq. ft retail site close to Asda and IKEA on Beddington Lane.

The supermarket will feature a halal meat and poultry counter, fresh and frozen exotic fish, a bakery, fruit and veg, tinned and ambient foods from around the world, and household essentials, including hair and beauty products. It will also sell foods from global brands like McCain and Heinz and has made a distribution deal with Martin’s potato rolls from the US.

Speaking to BBC London, Konan said “We like to get involved with businesses that solve problems and give back to the community.” The South London rappers say that Croydon, a diverse area with over 250,000 residents of black, Asian and mixed backgrounds, is under-served by smaller food shops that “often lack in product variety, hygiene standards, parking and fair pricing”.

Krept added that he “immediately” understood the space for a supermarket that could meet the needs of Croydon’s diverse population when their business partner and co-founder, Kaysor Ali pitched it to them.

He explained that “Having the experience of going shopping and having to go to multiple places – have to go to here for my meat, here for my fruit and veg and then for certain seasonings I have to go here – not everything is in the major supermarkets,”

“They just have one world food aisle, and it was like, ‘imagine that, but a whole supermarket.'”

It’s not the first business venture the industrious UK hip hoppers have launched. In 2018, the ‘Freak of the Week’ hitmakers teamed up with grime veteran J2K to open Crepes & Cones, a restaurant in Croydon that offered desserts, fast food, cold drinks and cocktails.

More recently, Krept and his former partner, model Sasha Ellese, have created Nala’s Baby, a skincare range for young children. Currently valued at £17 million, their brand has seen great success and garnered multiple industry awards, including the Mother Baby Gold Award for the Best Baby Skincare Range for two years in a row. It’s even had investments from figures such as Marcus Rashford, Jaden Sancho and Anthony Joshua.

In an interview with the Telegraph, Krept said “I’ve always wanted to branch out and not just do music. I’m really keen on different streams of income. I also want to create a life for my daughter that I wasn’t able to have. I don’t want her to go through the sort of things that we did as kids.”

Krept and Konan are currently gearing up to return on the UK music scene with their fourth studio album, ‘Young Kingz II’, described as a more mature version of their breakout mixtape ‘Young Kingz’. The album will be released on Feburary 7 through their independent label, Play Dirty.

The Croydon artists have dropped a few singles for their rollout, including a smooth drill track “Low Vibrations”, and two introspective tunes, “Nala’s Song” and “Delroy’s Son” – the first a tribute to Krept’s daughter, and the second to Konan’s father, Jamaican reggae singer Delroy Wilson.

The album is currently available for pre-save on the duo’s Spotify page here.

The video opens with a tender montage of Krept cradling Nala, paired with scenes of him guiding her through childhood milestones. Krept’s lyrics weave seamlessly through the visuals, including shots of him gazing lovingly at clips of his daughter. He also reflects on his own upbringing; the lessons he has learnt about love and friendship and the pure determination to be the best kind of father who creates a better future for his child. The video places Krept’s poignant lyrics front and centre, making it a completely raw and emotional narrative.  

Adding to the video’s impact, the appearance of many familiar faces from the grime scene, as well as Krept’s close friends and family, each joined by their own daughters. The likes of JME, DJ Target and Docta Cosmic are filmed interacting with their children, crafting a powerful visual statement about fatherhood in modern society. For the collective, many of whom are black fathers, this representation holds even greater significance, challenging the stereotypes perpetuated in mainstream media. It is a clear celebration of love, resilience and responsibility, breaking down societal stigmas while showcasing these artists as being well deserved role models.   

 While the project opens a broader conversation about fatherhood in black communities, Krept doesn’t shy away from addressing the significance of Nala’s mother. He highlights the struggles and sacrifices she endured during pregnancy, ‘I watched your mum cry in pain as she carried you, so keep that in mind before you give her any attitude’. Using his lyrics, he ensures Nala will grow up understanding her mother’s strength and the challenges she overcame to create Nala. Krept also pays tribute to Nala’s late ‘uncle’ Cadet, a talented grime artist and Krept’s cousin, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 2019. He emphasises the importance of reaching out to loved ones and making sure to cherish every moment with them. By acknowledging both the journey of parenthood alongside Nala’s mother and honouring Cadet’s memory, Krept paints a fuller picture of the people who have shaped his daughter’s life. The song beautifully captures how grief and love coexist, underscoring his determination to teach his daughter to live life fully and love deeply.  

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TALLY (@kreptplaydirty)

 Looking ahead, Krept has teased an exciting 2025. As one half of  Krept & Konan, the duo has announced the release of their fourth studio album, Young Kingz II, on February 7, 2025. This marks their first album since 2019’s Revenge is Sweet, which reached number five on the official album charts. The upcoming album is expected to expand on the themes introduced in ‘Nala’s Song’, further cementing Krept’s reputation as an artist unafraid to showcase vulnerability and love, both as a father and as a musician.  

In the seasons closing episode, Layyah left Kenny Allstar speechless with her final freestyle, giving an emotional performance with soulful hooks, operatic backing vocals and verses detailing struggles with depression and friends who’ve passed away, as well as confidently asserting her ability, rapping “I was born for this, I was meant for this.”

@layyah_2000 @rapgameukbbc SEASON 6 WINNER I’m completely overwhelmed from the support I’ve received since yesterday’s final of @rapgameukbbc it’s been a journey and the people I’ve met along the way has made this so special. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead @bbcthree @bbciplayer #layyah #layyahmusic #rapgameuk #therapgame #rapfans #ukrap #artist #ukartist #fyp #raptok #foryoupage #foryou ♬ original sound – LAYYAH2000

Kenny Allstar was watching on with excitement, smiling, bopping, and giving a wheel-up halfway through the performance for her to run it again – the DJ’s highest gesture of praise for the MC’s. He told the cameras in an interview after that she was “special” and has “the potential to be a generational talent”.

Talking to BBC Newsbeat after her victory, Layyah expressed her joy at winning the renowned rap reality show. “It is a dream come true. I really do hold this title highly and want to make the absolute best of it.”

She went on to cite influences both musical and familial, noting Lauryn Hill and Little Simz as two artists she looks up to, as well as drawing inspiration from the “strong females” in her life – “My mum, my grandma, aunties, even my little sister, she’s so strong beyond her years.”

Liverpool native Haydog came in at a close second – he gave consistency throughout the whole contest, with his brand of hard-hitting, authentic street rap and hungry personality shining throughout. He even managed to secure 1^st place in a challenge co-judged by one of his greatest influences, Potter Payper.

Speaking to the Wirral Globe, he said, “Being a part of the show was a surreal experience. I feel like I have learned a lot and improved a lot as an artist. I am forever grateful for the opportunity, and I hope to inspire people through my storytelling.”

This season saw a milestone for the show, becoming the longest running unscripted show in the UK focused on Black British music and culture, across all mainstream television platforms over the past 25 years.

Hosted, judged and mentored by UK-rap stars Krept & Konan, and iconic grime pioneer DJ Target, the show has gathered a sizeable audience and accolades, breaking viewing records among under 25’s, and winning an Edinburgh TV Award for Best Entertainment Series in 2020, as well as BAFTA and RTS Television nominations.

In an interview with the BBC during previous seasons, Target says “I think the show is super important. The fact that the BBC commissioned a show like this and let us bring what we bring to the table in terms of knowing how to make this authentic, which was one of the main things we wanted when we got on board.”

As the first female MC to take the top spot, Layyah hopes her win can help to make change in the male-centric industry. “In the music scene, there’s a bit of a boys club. The guys stick together, not so much the girls. So there should be more support for the females.”

All episodes of The Rap Game UK can be streamed on BBC iPlayer, here.

A brand new BBC Three documentary, Krept and Konan: We Are England, will follow the duo as they seek advice from Manchurian rapper Aitch and meet the players from the England squad, including Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings and West Ham’s Declan Rice. The documentary will also Krept and Konan meet England manager Gareth Southgate and TV chef Big Zuu in the run-up to June’s UEFA Euros Tournament.

BBC Three’s controller Fiona Campbell said: “This film explores the idea of cultural and national identity through music and sport – all of which is at the heart of what’s important to our audience.” She continued: “Krept and Konan have been fundamental to the success of The Rap Game and we’re really excited for BBC Three viewers to get an exclusive preview into the making of the track as well as exclusive access to football talent at the top of their game.”

️⚽️ Follow @KreptandKonan as they make a new England football anthem for #Euro2020 – with the help of the England players and manager @GarethSouthgate – in an exclusive documentary for @BBCThree – https://t.co/xB7FnMOXpH pic.twitter.com/mJoxfr7gyH

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) May 19, 2021

 Jaimie D’Cruz, acme films Creative Director and Executive Producer of the 60-minute film, said: “We’ve come a long way from the lad culture of 96 and now live in a nation where our young ballers and rappers represent the very best of us. Krept and Konan are what national pride look like and sound like in 2021.”

The official song of Euro 2020, ‘We Are The People,’ was released earlier this month and features an iconic collaboration from U2’s Bono, The Edge and Martin Garrix. Marketing director at UEFA, Guy-Laurent Epstein, said in a statement: “Football and music have the power of bringing people together. They are vectors of passion and emotion and combining them will extend further the fan celebration of the tournament, as well as reaching out to new audiences. With the star-studded line-up we have pulled together to create the tournament’s official music, we are confident of doing just this.”

The Euro’s will kick off in Rome at the Stadio Olympico on 11 June 2021 as Turkey and Italy go head to head. Keeping the name Euro 2020 after being postponed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the tournament will see England play their first match against Croatia at London’s Wembley Stadium on 13 June 2021. 

Krept and Konan: We Are England will be available on BBC iPlayer in June.

The new album will be the first body of work from Krept & Konan since their 2017 double album ‘7 Days & 7 Nights’. The duo has definitely kept busy though, opening their restaurant Crepes & Cones in Croydon, South London last year to hosting their own Beats 1 show on Apple Music, Play Dirty Radio.

With the current complex political climate, ‘Ban Drill’ manages to convey a message concerning Britain’s class inequalities and takes aim at the countries’ decision makers for being oblivious to the realities of the wider demographic – Krept raps “Where we’re from you know how hard it is to better yourself? Upper class won’t understand ‘cos you inherited wealth.” Whilst addressing the consequences of banning drill music, the duo has also started a petition to stop police silencing musicians in the U.K. In a recent interview with The Guardian Konan states “These bans stop our communication with the severely disadvantaged youth of our society. Yes, drill contains violent language but the solution isn’t, and should never be, censorship.”

A very important moment for uk music

Krept & konan – Ban Drill directed by @realrapman Out Now https://t.co/YztJA0baMI

(We have also started a petition to STOP the police silencing musicians and i would love if you could share and sign it) Thankyou #BanDrill pic.twitter.com/HLtmu5bJid

— TALLY (@kreptplaydirty) 13 June 2019

‘Ban Drill’ is narrated with lyrics by Krept & Konan and follows the life of Jayden (played by Gerrome Miller), an inner-city adolescent raised in a poverty-stricken neighbourhood who ends up caught in a life of crime. He eventually finds his musical talent in prison and uses it as hope for life after bars, vouching to pursue his dream once released.

Jayden is then shown in the booth of a recording studio, a friend interrupts after noticing that his previous video had been taken down following a government crackdown on drill music. This leads Jayden back to a life of crime as a means of financial support, inevitably ending badly.

In an alternate ending where drill hasn’t been banned, Jayden is interrupted in the studio again, only this time letting him know that his video has reached 1 million views. Ecstatically wanting to utilise this positive energy, he senses success is near and decides to resume the recording session. This ultimately sees his would-be killers frustratingly leave the scene, consequently saving his life.

‘Ban Drill’ is directed by Rapman, the artist behind the viral 3-part rap drama series ‘Shiro’s Story’. His first feature film ‘Blue Story’ based on his 2014 trilogy by the same name, will be developed and co-financed by BBC Films alongside worldwide distributors Paramount and is set to be released later this year.