Kano (British musician)
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Kano | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Kane Brett Robinson |
Also known as |
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Born | East Ham, London, England | 21 May 1985
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 2002–present |
Labels |
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Website | kanomusic |
Kane Brett Robinson (born 21 May 1985), better known as Kano, is a British rapper, songwriter and actor from
Music career
1985–2003: early years
Kane Robinson, born in East Ham, London was raised by
He joined the East London-based, N.A.S.T.Y. Crew (Natural Artistic Sounds Touching You), whose original line-up consisted of Kano, Marcus Nasty, Jammer, D Double E, Ghetts, Demon, Stormin, Mak 10, Monkstar, Sharky Major, Armour, and Hyper. N.A.S.T.Y Crew had a popular show on pirate radio station Deja Vu. Airing Monday nights from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, the sets featured established up-and-coming guests, including
2004–2005: Home Sweet Home
In 2004, Robinson modelled Hugo Boss's Spring/Summer collection,[2] but declined to begin recording and touring commitments. Shortly afterwards he released his debut major label solo single, "P's & Q's", on a 12" vinyl-only release, which was an underground hit.
In 2005, he released his second single, "
"Nite Nite" was released as the next single from the album, hitting No. 25 in the UK charts and spending six weeks altogether in the top 75. Shortly after the release of "Nite Nite", a promotional video for "Reload It", which featured live performance clips and backstage footage, was released to UK video station,
Robinson's music was also featured on
2006–2007: London Town
On 23 March 2006, Robinson performed at Anson Rooms in
Prior to the album's release, Robinson put out a mixtape (simply called Mixtape on the front cover), which included new material and his own versions of hip-hop songs, including Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement", Nas's "Black Republican" and Kanye West's "My Way Home". The mixtape also included a preview of "Buss It Up", a song that featured on the later release London Town. The album was released on 10 September 2007, preceded by the single "This Is The Girl", featuring Craig David, on 27 August. Along with David, the album featured collaborations with Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn, Kate Nash, and Vybz Kartel. Robinson toured the UK in support of the record, as well as performing the whole album at the Jazz Cafe in October 2007 alongside a live band.[4] Kano also sold out London Astoria in the same month to put on an entertaining show also promoting Tinchy Stryder on his tour.[5]
2008–2009: 140 Grime St and MC No. 1
In 2008, Robinson was no longer signed to 679 Recordings as he wished to return to his "grimier roots" and had posted all new freestyles on his
A second single, "Rock N Rolla", was first premiered on Radio 1xtra DJ Mista Jam's radio show. The single was officially released in October. "More Than One Way" also premiered on Mista Jam's 1xtra radio show. The video was also released on Kano's official YouTube page.[6] The track was written for a campaign to promote the Diploma and was given away for free exclusively from The Diploma website.[7] The music video was made with the help of students from around the UK. The TV ad shows Robinson walking through a crowd of students whose Diploma qualifications pop up in bubbles above them. Creative and media students helped in producing the video and construction students helped make the set.
2010–2013: Method to the Maadness and mixtapes
Robinson's fourth album, Method to the Maadness, was released on 30 August 2010 and charted in the UK Albums Chart at number 45, making it the rapper's fourth successive album to appear in the Top 50. The lead single, "Upside" (featuring Michelle Breeze), was released on 23 August 2010. That same year he provided vocals on the third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach. He collaborated with fellow British rapper Bashy and the National Orchestra for Arabic Music on the track "White Flag".
In September, Robinson announced a four-track collaborative EP with the producer Mikey J. The EP was entitled Not for the A List because Robinson did not want anything to stand in his way when it came to making the music.[8] Part of the EP was to make one track a week and to release it to a DJ to play on radio, ensuring it was a different DJ each week over a timeline of four weeks. The first track was "Random Antics"'[9] the second track, "Alien", and featured Maxsta, the first label signing by the SBTV founder Jamal Edwards.[10] The third week was a track titled "E.T", featuring Wiley, Scorcher and Wretch 32.[11] The fourth track, "House of Pain", featuring Ghetts, was delayed due to the length being 7+1⁄2 minutes. The DJ had to get permission from his boss to play it.[12] It was expected Robinson is using the EP to build anticipation for his fifth studio album, to be released in 2012.
On 13 November 2011, Robinson announced via Twitter that he would release a mixtape some time that month entitled Girls Over Guns. On 1 January 2012, he released a mixtape called Jack Bauer 2.4 as the follow-up mixtape to the 2010 edition.[13]
2014–2018: Made in the Manor
On 26 April 2014, Robinson released a music video via
The album entered the UK Albums Chart at number 8, becoming Robinson's highest-charting album since London Town (2007).[16]
2019–present: Hoodies All Summer
On 30 August 2019, Robinson's sixth studio album Hoodies All Summer was released following its announcement the month previously. The album would be later shortlisted for the Mercury Prize 2020, the second time in his career. He provided vocals again in 2020 for the seventh Gorillaz studio album Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez, along with Spanish singer Roxani Arias for the song "Dead Butterflies". In October 2020, Robinson collaborated with Fraser T. Smith in the production of Smith's debut album "12 Questions".[17]
Acting career
In October 2011, Robinson made his acting debut in the Channel 4 drama Top Boy. His character, Sully, was originally written as an Asian drug dealer. Casting director Des Hamilton, director Yann Demange and writer Ronan Bennett were so impressed with his chemistry test with co-star Ashley Walters, causing the character to be rewritten. The original run of the show went for two seasons, before Channel 4 cancelled it in 2014.[18]
In 2017, it was announced that streaming platform Netflix would be reviving Top Boy, with Robinson reprising his role as Sully. The revival was, in part, due to the interest of Canadian rapper Drake, who was a fan of the original series and whose team co-produced the new episodes.[19] The third and fourth series premiered on Netflix in September 2019 and March 2022, respectively.[19] A fifth and final series was announced on 31 March 2022, and aired in September 2023.
Robinson plays the lead role in The Kitchen, a dystopian thriller for Netflix directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, which premiered at the 67th London Film Festival on 15 October 2023.[20]
Awards, nominations and recognition
Robinson was voted Best Newcomer award in 2004 at the
In 2022, Robinson won a MOBO Award for Best Performance in a TV Show/Film for his performance in the fourth series of Top Boy.
Personal life
Robinson is a supporter of Liverpool F.C.[21]
Political views
In November 2019, along with 34 other musicians, Robinson signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the 2019 UK general election with a call to end austerity.[22][23] In December 2019, along with 42 other leading cultural figures, he signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party under Corbyn's leadership in the 2019 general election. The letter stated that "Labour's election manifesto under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership offers a transformative plan that prioritises the needs of people and the planet over private profit and the vested interests of a few."[24][25]
Discography
- Home Sweet Home (2005)
- London Town (2007)
- 140 Grime Street(2008)
- Method to the Maadness (2010)
- Made in the Manor (2016)
- Hoodies All Summer (2019)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Rollin' with the Nines | Kano | |
2007 | Point Blank | Akil | Short |
2012 | Tower Block | Mark | |
2023 | The Kitchen | Izi |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2011–2023 | Top Boy | Sully | Series 1–5 |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2007 | Def Jam: Icon | Himself | Video game character |
References
- ^ "Rock & Pop: A one-man grime wave". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007.
- ^ "Kano – Free download only track available". Contactmusic.com. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "True Grime". The New Yorker. 21 March 2005. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ "Electric Proms 2007 – Kano presents London Town". BBC. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- ^ Perrone, Pierre (5 October 2007). "First Night: Kano, The Astoria, London". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "kano". YouTube. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ [1] Archived 14 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Mikey J & Kano EP Announcement!!". YouTube. 6 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Kano & Mikey J – Random Antics [Official Video]". YouTube. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "SB.TV – Kano & Mikey J feat. Maxsta – Alien [Music Video]". YouTube. 19 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Kano & Mikey J – "E.T." ft. Wiley, Wretch 32 x Scorcher (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 25 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Not 4 The A List Update: Where Is "House Of Pain" ft Ghetts". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Kano – Girls Over Guns (Mixtape) | Free Download". SoulCulture. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ "Chart Log UK" (Txt). Zobbel.de. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Adele's 25 returns to the top of the Official Albums Chart while her world tour wows the UK". Official Charts. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
- ^ "RSL Honorary Fellowship: Fraser T Smith". RSL Awards. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (11 May 2018). "Top Boy season 3 for Netflix will shoot from July". Digital Spy.
- ^ a b Chu, Henry (8 November 2017). "Drake Revives British Drug Dealer Drama 'Top Boy' for Netflix". Variety. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
- ^ "World premiere of Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya's The Kitchen to close the 67th BFI London Film Festival". BFI. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Kano Interview". MTV UK. 9 August 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ "Musicians backing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour". The Guardian. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- ^ Gayle, Damien (25 November 2019). "Stormzy backs Labour in election with call to end austerity". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
- ^ "Vote for hope and a decent future". The Guardian. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
- ^ Proctor, Kate (3 December 2019). "Coogan and Klein lead cultural figures backing Corbyn and Labour". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
External links
- Kano at IMDb
- Kano on Aunomay Music
- Kano on Myspace